Remembering Jean Young, Founder of Town and Country
Many remember Jean as a passionate leader. She was one of the community champions who played a foundational role in building Town and Country Support Services. The agency was founded in 1978 in Wingham when it was determined that an organization would help to bring together homemakers working in Huron County. Jean, and the late Betty Cardno of Seaforth, along with other interested citizens founded Town and Country and in that first year the agency served approximately 500 clients.
The organization operated in response to the healthcare and community needs of small-town and rural Ontario. The agency grew through the years and was known and respected as a leading non-profit home and community care agency serving residents across Huron and Perth Counties. To mark its 25th anniversary in 2003, Town and Country expanded its Homemaking and Personal Support Services into neighboring Perth County. That same year, it received a provincial grant to introduce a mobility van transportation service with the purchase of an accessible van.
Jean played a pioneering role in the development of Town and Country Support Services, dedicating 34 years of service to building the agency’s capacity to help individuals age safely and comfortably in their own homes. Under her leadership and vision, the organization established a strong presence in the community, with key locations rooted in local history. These included the extensively renovated, historically designated CNR Railway Station in Wingham and the establishment of the Betty Cardno Memorial Centre in Clinton.
In 2011, Town and Country Support Services officially amalgamated with other local care agencies to form ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services, carrying forward the commitment to providing essential care and support to individuals and families throughout the community.
Jean will be remembered for her passion, dedication, and vision, as well as the lasting foundation she helped build for the organization we know today. Her 34 years of service made a meaningful and enduring difference in the lives of those she served, and her legacy continues through the work of ONE CARE.
