Port Cares is a lot of things to a lot of different people. Whether you need food, a reach-out centre, eviction prevention, or even an affordable place to live – Port Cares does everything in their power to help however they can.
At the forefront of their incredible work in Port Colborne is Christine Clark Lafleur, who started with Port Cares in June 2014.
Clark Lafleur had spent 20+ years working in healthcare, with a background in public affairs and communications, so the jump to social and human services was no small feat. She says when she started, Port Cares wasn’t nearly the same organization that it is in 2025, adding that it was struggling financially with debt and consecutive years of operating deficits.
Now in 2025, Port Cares is well over 40 years into its existence, now with its debt eliminated and programs expanded. This winter, they’re in the process of opening a new affordable housing build on Chestnut Street that will ease the pressure from low-income seniors and single-parent households, with all rent prices geared to the tenant’s income.
Clark Lafleur says there was a lot of desperation in righting the ship that is Port Cares, which had her motivated both professionally and personally because she feels it’s something the community in Port Colborne needs.
To hear more from Christine, listen to the podcast below.
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