About Us
Introducing Beginnings
“At Beginnings, we believe that our connections to one another are our greatest strength. We believe in creating a space for everyone where families can imagine what is possible together.”
Amanda Baigent, MSW, RSW, Executive Director
Beginnings provides counselling and support to expectant parents experiencing unplanned pregnancies and assists people wishing to grow their families through adoption and embryo services.
Beginnings Family Services
What We Offer
Our History & Growth
In the early 1980s, four dedicated Christian founders combined their expertise in social work and theology to address a critical need: compassionate, dedicated support for expectant mothers. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Beginnings was established in 1984.
From day one, the organization has sought to reflect the core values of its roots through practical hope, genuine compassion, and service to all. Prioritizing the dignity and inclusion of every person remains the foundation of our work.
What began as a local response has grown into a leading provincial resource and national service provider. Guided by an unwavering commitment to professional excellence, Beginnings proudly honors this legacy of faith and service by meeting the diverse needs of all families who seek support.
Milestones of Impact
- 1985: Incorporated as a charitable organization and licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide essential counselling, fostering, and adoption services.
- 1990s: Expanded into community-based pregnancy counselling with centres across several regions to empower parents with resources, offering dignity, hope, and respect.
- 2009: Renamed Beginnings Family Services to reflect our holistic focus on the family unit and the lifelong importance of lasting connections.
- 2010: Launched Canada’s first Open Embryo Program, becoming a national leader in child-centred embryo donation and infertility support.
- Today & Beyond: Serving as one of Ontario’s largest adoption agencies and a trusted national leader in embryo donation. We continue to expand our reach through:
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- Education, outreach, and professional training
- End-to-end support via self-paced interactive learning modules, ongoing support & education groups, and peer-led initiatives
- Compassionate post-service counselling
Meet the
Beginnings Team
Beginnings is governed by an elected Board whose members serve 3 year terms and are responsible for:
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Hendrik (Hank) Bylstra
Hank was born in the Netherlands in 1952 and emigrated to Canada that same year. His family settled in Hamilton where hegrew up and was part of the Paradise Road Reformed Church. He attended Hamilton District Christian High School and later lived for three years In the Netherlands for study purposes. Hank attended McMaster University in Hamilton for his Bachelors degree in History. He attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky for his Masters Degree in Divinity. Hank is married to Connie and they have two adopted Children and now three grandchildren. He spent ten years as a Pastor in the Free Methodist Church in Southern Ontario before going to Mississauga in 1996 to serve for seven years with two small Reformed Churches in the GTA. Hank took a 2 year course of studies in Conflict Management at Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo and has served since 2003 as Pastor/Chaplain at Holland Christian Homes in Brampton. Hank enjoys reading, photography, travel and family times.