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Family Service Toronto has awarded two contracts following separate competitive procurement processes this spring.

FST awarded an Internal Audit contract to KPMG LLP for its PassportONE project and selected Greenway Property Solutions Inc. for a one-year cleaning services contract at its new downtown office podium opening May 23.

The cleaning contract was awarded following a review of bids from three vendors through a public procurement process launched in March. That contract is effective May 1, 2018 and ends April 30, 2019 with an option for renewal.

The audit contract relates to FST’s new role as the consolidated payment agency (now called PassportONE) for the province-wide Passport program. FST won an expression of interest issued last year by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) to be the provincial payment agency.

FST is developing its system and supporting processes as well as setting up the infrastructure to support this initiative. PassportONE will go live in phases starting in May 2018. KPMG LLP will be auditing the PassportONE processes, systems and data migration methodologies.

FST is celebrating National Volunteer Week by recognizing and thanking those who give their time and skills to make a difference in their community and share our vision of a city in which individuals, families and communities are resilient and thriving.

This year’s national recognition event runs from April 15-21 and celebrates Canada’s 12.7 million volunteers and the value of volunteering – “building confidence, competence, connections and community.”

FST’s history of volunteer involvement dates back to 1914 when we were founded by volunteers who worked to address growing levels of poverty in Toronto. Volunteers continue to play an essential role at FST and are engaged in many aspects of our work. Learn more about their contribution and our appreciation of their work on our YouTube channel.

Ontario is celebrating the contributions of more than 11,000 volunteers at several Ontario Volunteer Service Awards ceremonies across the province this spring. Two FST volunteers – Erin Hoult and Judy Curry – were recognized at a Toronto ceremony in March.

An FST counsellor who has worked in the Violence Against Women (VAW) field for the last 20 years has been named as one of 2018’s Soul of a Warrior Awards recipients by the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (ACT).

Congratulations to Vania Sukola, who was honored with the Leadership Award for her work as FST’s lead counsellor working with women labelled with intellectual disabilities and who have experienced violence. She was one of four women recognized by the council. Other recipients were Tashawna Thomas, Silvia Olivas and Victoria Roth.

“These ‘warriors’ are front-line staff working within the Violence Against Women sector who are recognized for their commitment to advocacy for improving the lives of women and children experiencing violence, the council said in a statement on its website.

Congratulations to Margaret Hancock, Family Service Toronto’s Executive Director, who has been named as one of 2018’s Women of Distinction award recipients by the Toronto YWCA.

“Margaret Hancock’s work has created a ripple effect of inclusivity and social justice,” the YWCA states on its website.  “When Margaret comes to the table she has the unique ability to harness the power of collective action to improve the lives of others.”

“Her effective consensus building battles oppression and creates solidarity with social justice networks. Her work is guided by her core beliefs of equity, inclusion, and justice… In all of Margaret’s work one aspect is unchanging: she is resolute in her commitment to make sure justice is not just for some but for all.”

The award announcement comes on International Women’s Day which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world. FST joins all organizations supporting a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Also named as recipients of this year’s Women of Distinction award are Toyo Ajibolade, Zanana Akande, Pat Armstrong, Julia Deans, Lynn Factor, Marcie Ponte and Milica Radisic.

The awards will be presented May 24 at a Fairmont Royal York dinner to raise funds for the YWCA for their work with women and girls in the city.

Margaret Hancock is the fourth woman associated with Family Service Toronto to receive the YWCA Women of Distinction award. Previous winners were:

Pat Israel (1989) for her work as founder of the DisAbled Women’s Network and her advocacy on behalf of the disabled. Pat is a support worker with FST’s Seniors and Caregivers Support Services and Violence Against Women units.

Tamam McCallum (2007) a former FST counsellor recognized for her community development work.

Fran Odette (2008) for her access and equity work and advocacy for women with disabilities and on behalf of deaf women. Fran is a former member of FST’s board of directors and served as chair from 2010 to 2012.

 

Family Service Toronto recognizes the dedication and commitment of social workers and social service workers as we mark Social Work Week from March 5-11 across Ontario.

This year’s theme is Social Workers on the Front Line of Real Issues and activities are focused on helping the public understand the value of social workers in Ontario.

For more on the importance and history of social work in Ontario click here.

Family Service Toronto is pleased Ontario is moving to bolster its commitment to ending domestic and sexual violence by launching a new strategy to support survivors and end the cycle of violence.

The plan will help survivors and families get the support they need, when they need it, as well as help to prevent violence through early intervention.

It was announced March 1 by Harinder Malhi, Minister of the Status of Women, Michael Coteau, Ministry of  Community and Social Services, and Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General.

Further details are available at It’s Never Okay: Ontario’s Gender-Based Violence Strategy.

In a newly published Op Ed, Campaign 2000 and partners write about how sitting politicians’ responses to sexual misconduct allegations should move beyond shock and disgust.

Governments at all levels are called on to engage immediately and meaningfully in gender-responsive budgeting and investments to address gender inequity.  This means investing much needed services – such as accessible housing, social services, counselling, legal representation –  for low-income women, girls, gender-diverse people living with disabilities, Indigenous women, and LGTBTQ people across the country affected by violence.

The article concludes: “Without making the badly needed investments in under-funded services and supports, the words of shock by many politicians will be nothing but empty rhetoric. Times are changing; our approach to protecting and investing in the public good needs to change, too.”

Leaders Who Truly Support #MeToo Should Prove It At Budget Time

Family Service Toronto is engaged in indigenous cultural competency training (ICCT). For all full and part-time permanent staff in February, the three full-day sessions are led by facilitators from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC). FST’s board of directors also engaged in ICCT at their retreat in January.

Motivated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, we seek to be part of the journey to reconciliation with Indigenous communities.  This begins with the recognition that healing and reconciliation first require an understanding of the historic experience and current position of Indigenous communities in Ontario.

The intent of the OFIFC’s ICCT is for organizations to contribute to the development of necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that support the development of meaningful and informed relationships with the Indigenous community.  The full-day session focuses on the early relationship in Canada with Indigenous people, intergenerational trauma and an introduction to OFIFC’s relationship framework.

Facilitators will guide participants through a series of questions:  who are Indigenous peoples?; where have they been?; where are they going?.  Learning can then focus on answering the question “what are our responsibilities?”.  These questions offer a critical pathway to action that strengthens cultural awareness, informs relationship building and begins to enhance organizational programs and policies.

Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

December 6 is known as Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.

It is a day to pay tribute to the memory of the murdered women and remind ourselves that we must continue our important work to eliminate violence against women while making our city safer for all residents.

About one third of all women worldwide experience either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization.

November and December are important months for raising awareness of gender-based violence in Canada and around the world. Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence began Nov. 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends Dec. 10, with International Human Rights Day.

FST is celebrating International Volunteer Day by recognizing those who give their time and skills to make a difference in their community

The United Nations chose Dec. 5 as an annual day to pay tribute to volunteers at local, national and international levels.

FST volunteers share their leadership skills on our Board of Directors and committees, assist in groups and workshops, provide counselling support, write newsletters, help out at special events, provide administrative support, conduct research, visit individuals in the community and are engaged in many other activities.

Dec. 1 marks World AIDS Day as well as the beginning of Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week.

World AIDS Day, held for the first time in 1988 as a response to the widespread silence and stigmatization surrounding HIV/AIDS, unites worldwide efforts against the disease.

Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week was launched by the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) to raise awareness and continue discussions on Aboriginal HIV and AIDS issues in Canada and runs from Dec. 1-6.

Family Service Toronto and David Kelley Services support those in our communities who are living with/affected by HIV/AIDS and commit to renewing efforts in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, combating stigmatization, and honouring those whose lives have been lost to HIV/AIDS.