Meghan Churchill Receives the Sadie Benner Award
Each year, Fanshawe College honours an apprentice student who embodies the values and core competencies of the developmental services sector through the Sadie Benner Award. This prestigious award recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in fostering independence, advocating for others, showing initiative and resilience, solving problems creatively, and building respectful, collaborative relationships.
This year, the decision was unanimous. As one member of the selection committee put it, “We all just said, Meghan Churchill. There was no doubt.” Meghan’s passion, empathy, and dedication to the field exemplify everything that the award represents.
Honouring Sadie Benner’s Legacy
The award commemorates Sadie Benner (1905–1982), who lived in the London area during a time when supports for people with intellectual disabilities were scarce. Her advocacy and compassion for inclusion and dignity paved the way for the services and attitudes that form the foundation of today’s developmental services sector. Each recipient of the award carries forward her spirit of advocacy and community leadership.
Meghan Churchill: A Champion for Inclusion
Meghan Churchill’s journey into the developmental services sector began unexpectedly, during one of the most challenging times in recent history—the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially joining KW Habilitation through a staffing agency, she quickly demonstrated her natural ability to connect with and support others. Her compassion and professionalism stood out so clearly that she was soon hired as a part-time, then full-time Developmental Services Worker (DSW).
However, Meghan’s commitment didn’t stop there. To strengthen her qualifications and deepen her understanding of the field, she enrolled in Fanshawe College’s DSW Apprenticeship Program, a three-year program designed to provide hands-on, flexible learning for working professionals.
A Journey of Learning, Growth, and Advocacy
In a speech Meghan gave at the Provincial Network HR Forum this Fall, Meghan reflected on her experience in the apprenticeship program:
“I entered the sector by chance, with zero experience, during a period of isolation, fear, and uncertainty. What I discovered was a field filled with compassion, purpose, and opportunity.”
She shared how the apprenticeship program allowed her to balance both work and education, with incredible support from her employer and Fanshawe College faculty. Courses were flexible, affordable, and directly applicable to her daily work. She credits professors and mentors such as Holly Duff and Mark Benner for guiding her journey, as well as Director of Human Resources, Jamie Russell, for encouraging her growth.
Through Fanshawe’s program, Meghan developed crucial technical and behavioural skills like documentation, advocacy, communication, and collaboration while also learning to recognize and challenge systemic barriers and stereotypes.
“The apprenticeship program has not only made me a stronger student and worker, but also a better person. It has given me the tools to advocate for positive and meaningful change.”
Today, Meghan is completing her final semester in the DSW Bridge Program, expanding on the foundation built through the apprenticeship. Her ongoing professional development reflects her deep commitment to the people and communities she serves.
Carrying the Torch Forward
Meghan’s story embodies the spirit of the Sadie Benner Award. Resilience, initiative, and advocacy in action. From entering the field during a global crisis to becoming a leader and role model within KW Habilitation, she has shown what it means to support people in living the lives they choose with dignity, independence, and belonging.
In honouring Meghan Churchill, Fanshawe College and the developmental services community celebrate not only her individual achievement, but also the enduring legacy of Sadie Benner and the countless advocates who continue to build a more inclusive world. We’re proud to congratulate Meghan and grateful she chose to start her career here, at KW Habilitation.