Respite and Our Story

Over the past fifteen years, there has been an increasing reliance on home based care for family members with special needs. The demand for respite care has also been rising steadily since the mid 1990’s. Respite is the ability to provide temporary out of home care; giving care-givers/family members a break from their care- giving duties. In an early study published by the Canadian Association for Community Living, it was concluded that “managed home-care is indisputably more cost effective than keeping a child in a hospital or institution” and recommended that government programs “improve access to respite care” for families.

Red Roof Retreat began in 2001by providing summer camp for children with special needs. It recognized the growing need for respite among Niagara families and developed a mission to provide quality recreational, educational and respite services to children and young adults with special needs. Currently, there are over 3500 special needs families in the Niagara region. Red Roof Retreat accommodates approximately 32 children per week in summer camp and five children or young adults per weekend for respite with an existing waiting list.

Originally, Red Roof Retreat’s camps took place at the home of its founder, Steffanie Bjorgan. With growing attendance each year, a new venue was found at its current site, the ranch, located in rural Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. This new site is able to accommodate year round weekend respite care in addition to the summer camps.

The Ranch is an 11 acre hobby farm that provides fully accessible walking trails, a fishing stream, tranquility pond, therapeutic riding corral and interaction with gentle farm animals.

Red Roof Retreat is licensed under the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth Services. They have community links with local agencies and educational facilities including: the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre, the Association for Community Living, Niagara College and Brock University. They have also partnered with the District School Board of Niagara to provide educational outings for elementary classes to learn about the ranch facilities and components of nature.

In 2004, Red Roof Retreat received the Community Service Award from the Association for Community Living.

• Summer camp for ages 5 to 21
• Respite services for overnight, weekend and emergencies
• Daytime activities for young adults
• Continuing education for care givers and professionals
• Awareness of issues for people with special needs
• Educational school trips for all ages
• Therapeutic experiences such as therapeutic riding

• Long term residential care
• Expanding therapeutic experiences to include alternative communication camps
• Community partnerships with organizations interested in providing creative opportunities for people with special needs