Day One Society Board Feature: Carol Tennessy

At Day One Society, Board members bring a range of experience and perspective to the work, all grounded in a shared commitment to care, dignity, and service. For Carol Tennessy, Secretary of the Day One Society Board, that commitment is rooted in compassion, community, and the belief that people deserve support when life takes a difficult turn.

Carol moved to Kamloops 12 years ago after retiring from a long career with the Business Development Bank of Canada. Over the course of her career, she gained significant experience in finance, public affairs, and human resources. She also spent time working at BDC’s Head Office in Montreal. She retired as Director of Human Resources for Western Canada.

Since moving to Kamloops, Carol has become active in the community through serving on the Board of the Rotary Club of Kamloops West and eventually taking on the role of Club President. She has also supported local initiatives, including the Food Bank drive, the Boys and Girls Club school breakfast program, the Salvation Army, and 100 Women Who Care.

For Carol, joining the Day One Society Board was inspired by her belief in the strength of community. “In my mind, building a strong community rests with our willingness to show kindness, understanding, and compassion for all, despite our differences and positions in life,” she says.

She believes anyone can face life changes and challenges that leave them vulnerable, and that no one is immune to hardship. Day One is there to help people with the steps to recovery if, and when, addiction of any kind has been the road taken,” Carol explains.

Carol’s understanding of local needs deepened after moving to Kamloops. After living in larger cities across Canada, she found that life in a smaller community allowed her to see the hardships many people face from a closer perspective.

“Life in a large city can make one somewhat immune to the hardships and challenges faced by people that you walk by every day,” she says. “Moving to a smaller community, I witnessed more closely these challenges, and I came to recognize what was being done to help and perhaps what still needed to be done.”

Her first involvement in giving back in Kamloops came through Rotary, where she began volunteering for programs focused on food security. That experience reinforced for her how real and complex the challenges of vulnerability can be, and how important it is for communities to respond with care.

For Carol, Day One Society plays a vital role in offering hope to individuals and families affected by addiction. She sees the organization as a place where professional, caring people are ready to support someone when they are ready to take steps toward recovery.

“Having an organization of professional, caring people and a well-set-up facility available when the time comes for someone facing addiction and wanting to recover, gives people hope,” Carol says. “Hope that they can put their lives back together, rebuild family trust and become contributing members of society.”

She also believes that this work requires ongoing commitment from the broader community. “The Day One Society needs the continued support of all stakeholders,” she adds. “We cannot give up on people, as this is not the way we build community.”

The strong leadership, commitment, and culture of care that Carol sees within Day One Society are what continue to motivate her to do this important work. “This is an environment in which judgment and negativity do not exist. Everyone needs hope, and I feel Day One offers this,” she says.

Through her role on the Day One Society Board, Carol brings professional experience, community awareness, and a steady belief in kindness and compassion. We are grateful for her thoughtful leadership and her continued commitment to helping build a healthier, more supportive community.