How Safetynet was founded
Growing up in Willowdale (Toronto) in the late 1960s, Bill Shields was raised by a single mother, and understood at a very early age in life what it feels like to be marginalized.
Bill took a natural leaning to doing social service work. In his career he has worked with street youth and children with disabilities. He worked for the Children’s Aid Society in Toronto for nine years before moving to Oakville with his wife in 2003. He soon realized that in his new community there was a real need for assistance and followed his desire to be able to give back to the community he lives in.
Since Safetynet Children & Youth charities was established in 2006, Bill has been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with over 5000 families.
Safetynet Founder,
Bill Shields
Bill founded Safetynet Children & Youth Charities in 2006 after 30 years in the field of social services.
He started his career working with children with developmental differences at the Salvation Army and a number of agencies servicing the homeless.
Bill then moved on to work with children/youth at the Children’s Aid society in Toronto, working in group homes, and then operated a mixed modality home.
Bill's selfless, tireless contributions to the community were recognized in late 2017 when he was presented with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award by the three Oakville Rotary Clubs. In 2022 Bill was awarded the prestigious Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pin for his outstanding service.
Bill lives in Oakville, with his wife Rhonda, and has four children.