Passing the torch: A new era at North Central Family Centre as founder Sandy Wankel retires

Almost 20 years after opening the North Central Family Centre, Sandy Wankel is getting set to retire, allowing room for the people she once mentored to take over.

In 2002, the North Central Family Centre (NCFC) opened on Fifth Avenue. Wankel said there was an apparent need for a safe space to go in the community, especially for children.

“We are an example of divine intervention. I think sometimes when you start something, it’s with a hope and a prayer and a dream,” Wankel said. “So many people came together to make the NCFC exist.”

What first started as a centre for children is now open to families, providing services that help each family member overcome barriers.

“It’s about the miracle that happens when people from all walks of life come together to make a difference in a child’s life,” she said.