Willowbridge Community Services Harnesses Power of AI to Better Serve Community Thanks to $99,200 OTF Grant from Ontario Government

On December 4, a representative from the office of local MPP Will Bouma met with the team at Willowbridge Community Services (Willowbridge) to learn how a $99,200 Seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has helped the agency implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to improve service delivery.

“Willowbridge Community Services has been providing vital support services to the community for over a century” said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant. “This funding will help enhance their service capability and help increase access to community resources for people in need. I am pleased to be a part of a government that supports organizations like Willowbridge, who offer life-changing assistance and help improve lives.”

Thanks to the OTF grant, the Willowbridge counselling team adopted a cutting-edge, privacy-compliant ambient scribe technology that securely transcribes client sessions. The new ambient scribe assists counsellors by automating case notes, assessments and treatment plans, which has significantly reduced administrative work and allowed counsellors to treat more clients. The grant also funded the purchase of ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot, along with comprehensive staff training, to assist with document translation and routine clerical tasks such as meeting minutes, document creation and compliance reporting.

“This investment from OTF has allowed us to explore the responsible use of AI to improve both staff efficiency and client experience,” says Leslie Josling, Executive Director of Willowbridge Community Services. “By reducing time spent on paperwork, our team can focus more on what truly matters—helping people.”

Willowbridge is proud to continue investing in resources and tools to improve efficiency, ensuring more people in our community receive the care and support they deserve. The agency will continue adopting AI technology to support staff, improve workflow and enhance service accessibility for its clients and participants.

Willowbridge’s mission is to bring positive change to life in our community through services and supports that ensure no one is left behind. Founded in 1914, Willowbridge Community Services continues to offer culturally responsive and inclusive counselling, developmental services and autism programs to individuals and families across Brantford, Brant County, Hamilton and surrounding areas.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.