Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office of Toronto for Social & Multi-cultural Development

TNO

Serving the Thorncliffe Park community since 1985

TNO is committed to building a safe and healthy community through sup-porting and strengthening the quality of individual and community life in

Thorncliffe Park.

Annual Report

2005/2006

Message from the Chair of the Board and the Executive Director A thriving community, a vibrant organization It was a good year for Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (TNO) and the community we serve. The agency is growing with each passing day. We are build-ing our capacity to deliver programs and services that the community needs and expects. We are improving our skills and ability to provide services with our excel-lent and professional team of staff and volunteers.

As we celebrate our 20 years of service we continue to reflect on our past while concentrating firmly on the coming years and the road ahead. Many remarkable accomplishments and mini setbacks are part of the proud tradition and rich legacy of this humble institu-tion. TNO is experiencing growth in every service area and demands on its programs are steadily increasing. We have a solid institutional and infrastructural founda-tion that we continue to develop and enhance. We are striving to build a showcase agency serving a model community.

We are fortunate to be at the heart of a vibrant community and in the middle of a thriving neighbour-hood. Thorncliffe Park is a unique community with remarkable diversity and passionate residents. People are fully engaged in the neighbourhood, deeply care for its well-being and invest in its development and improvement. They are passionate defenders and tire-less promoters of the community and they inspire us.

TNO’s latest proud addition is the long awaited for Youth Centre. Ever since the release of the needs assessment three years ago, TNO was determined to provide the youth of this community with an accessible and safe space that will offer services they need and activities they are looking for.

The Centre will showcase the talent and explore the potential of the community’s young people. It will be a welcoming environment with strong commitment to equality and anti-oppression principles. TNO is delighted at the opportunity of being youthful again and looks forward to the many challenges and promises of growing pains.

Our programs and services are being accessed by an unprecedented numbers of clients as seen through the delivery of programs and services to almost double the number from the previous year. We continue to bring in services needed by the community. TNO, in partnership with Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario and George Brown College, provides career bridging program for foreign trained ECEs having difficulties accessing the job market. We are looking in anticipation at the outcome of the Crime Victim Support Initiative funded by Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, expected to be completed by June 2006.

We acknowledge the ongoing support from our funding partners. Our thanks to the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, United Way of Greater Toronto, Trillium Foundation and all of our donors.

Our deepest thanks and gratitude go to our outstanding staff team and remarkable volunteers. We appreciate the contribution of our funders, donors, partners and friends. Together they ensure that we remain true and committed to our mission—to building a safe and healthy community through supporting and strengthen-ing the quality of individual and community life in Thorncliffe Park.

Nesan Bandali, Chair

Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director

Programs and Services Immigration Settlement Adaptation Program (ISAP) is funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada to assist newcomers find and access support services needed to facilitate their social economic and cultural integration into the new society. Some of the services include: locating resources to find housing, jobs, educational institutes for adults and children, financial assistance programs, form filling, applying for Canadian Citizenship, passport applications, looking for a dentist nearby or other service provider. TNO’s counsellors re-ceive on-going training to address changing and varying needs of the community. As part of this program, TNO provides Canadian Citi-zenship Test preparation classes. Settlement workers facilitate the class using the 'A Look at Canada' book provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. In total more than 3,850 people accessed the various ISAP services during the past year. Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration , this program aims to serve all newcomers. One of the areas of focus is around providing job search assistance to clients, and providing computer access and brief –short-term computer courses for women. The NSP program is critically important service as it places no limits or restriction on who qualify for services. Mandarin Speaking Group: TNO organized group sessions for the Chinese community that were well-received. The session discussed various topics of interest and attracted more than 80 participants. TNO’s Senior Women’s Support Group aims to promote emotional, social, recreational and physical well-being of older adults in the Thorncliffe Park Community. For 12 years, the group has been meeting monthly for women to give them a break from loneliness and isolation, as well as fulfill their emotional, social, recreational, physical, and spiritual needs. Multicultural Women’s Group is a partnership with the Jenner-Jean Marie Community Center. TNO provides the group with free childcare at each session. The program is successful in bringing women together to interact, exchange stories and experi-ences with one another. Participants’ networking and interaction is creating a supportive milieu for women and their families. Each ses-sion is comprised of 9-weeks, with topics ranging from Nutrition, Foot-care, Cooking, Henna session, Children’s Health, Arts and Crafts for Children, Employment information and often local trip to places interest to women. Each year, this group also organizes a Commu-nity Festival/Fair, and Eid Festival. Last year, over 400 women, and 170 children were served.

Language Instructions for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) funded by CIC, LINC is English training program that addresses the language needs of newcomers with childminding service for the children of LINC students. It aims to develop their language skills, help facilitate their understanding of Canadian culture and society through lessons, guest speakers, field trips and ESL computer classes. Last year more than 200 students enrolled in various LINC levels and more than 50 children attended the Childminding facilities. English Conversation Group: The primary goal of this project is to provide communication skills enhancement for the purpose of em-ployment, self-confidence, communication, and interpersonal skills. This program also assists their children to get literacy support needed to succeed at school. From October 2005 to May 2006, we have served 2055 participants (1,227 adults and 828 children). Thorncliffe Crime Victim's Initiative (TCVI): Funded by The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, TCVSI has been exploring the relationship between violence in both the private and the public spheres, and its impact on the lives of underserved and unserved immigrant and refugee women and youth through focus groups held in the communities of Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Cres-cent Town. The TCVSI has reached out to over 150 members of the community between January and June of 2006 with the recognition that it is important to open avenues of dialogue in the community about violence and racism as a means of finding uncomplicated routes to accessing services for marginalized groups. We will be publishing culturally-sensitive, multi-lingual educational material in the form of brochures on domestic violence and hate crimes, with a focus on isolated women and youth from diverse ethno/racial communities. A guide has also been developed for service providers, agency staff and community workers that focuses on providing support to victims of family violence and hate crimes. Mental Health: This program is funded by United Way. Over the years, we have made some changes in this program to address the changing needs of the community. Currently it is a part-time program, but we are exploring possibilities of collaborating with other organization to offer it to the community on a full-time basis. Bridging Program: A new addition to our on-going commitment to address the needs of newcomer women, this is an exciting three year project that will address the barriers faced by internationally trained Early Childhood Educators seeking to gain meaningful employment in the ECE field in Ontario. This project is in partnership with George Brown College, Association of Early Childhood Educators and TNO.

The Employment Assistance Program and the Job Search Workshops program provide job ready clients with services that improves their ability to access the labour market and develop their skills of presenting their credentials and professional experiences. The Employment Assistance Program offers individual employment counselling and job search workshops. The main objectives of the programs include:

To address the unemployment and under-employment issues facing Thorncliffe community and surround-ing areas.

To assist clients experiencing barriers in preparing for, acquiring and maintaining employment. Identify marketable, transferable skills and Resume/interview preparation workshops. Collect labour market information for clients and contact employers to develop mutually beneficial

relationships. Model cold calling for clients

The Job Search Workshop (JSW) program provides series of intensive sessions on resume development, interview skills and other job search training to professionals of all educational and vocational backgrounds. In all more than 600 clients accessed TNO’s Employment Services last year. Out of those 600 clients more than 370 were em-ployed as s result of participating in these services. Our employment services programs are funded by the Federal Government’s Service Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The program is an innovative settlement services program targeting students attending schools and their parents. This is a partnership between Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Toronto District School Board, Toronto District Catholic School Board and Settlement Service Providers. Thorncliffe Neighbourhood office is one the lead agency to supervise and manage SEPT Program throughout the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park areas. SEPT Settlement Workers in school assist newcomer families find essential services that are available within the community. After assessing the settlement needs of newcomers, the SEPT worker provides information about Citizenship and Immigration, Community Services, Job Search, English language training and other essential services. In total more than 8870 individuals were served by SEPT workers during the past year. In addition more than 5100 individual participated in more than 160 group sessions on various topics and issues. During the summer the SEPT program is provided in partnership with the Toronto Public Libraries in the area.

Employment Services

Settlement and Education Partnership in Toronto (SEPT)

“TNO transforms immigrants into Canadians”

Qaiser Syed Masood Employment Services Client 2005

Family Drop in and Satellites: The programs continue to provide an early learning environment for pre-school children, with a strong emphasis on the importance of the primary care giver’s role. We provide a safe, comfortable space for parents and their children where the importance of learning-through-play is highlighted. Parents can borrow books and toys from our Resource Library, and are supported and assisted by our professional staff. Programs are also offered in our four satellites: Family Daycare services in Flemingdon, Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, Donway United Church and Trinity (in partnership with Better Beginnings Now). Growing Together is a program for families with children with identified needs. We offer small group learning activities, support, information, advocacy and referral on a regular basis. Music & Play Therapy Over the Rainbow is a therapeutic creative play program for children 3-5 years old who are experiencing emotional, social, or behavioural difficulties. Violence against Women: We provide direct service to victims and survivors of domestic violence through solution-focused brief therapy and counseling. We also assist women in the development of transitional plans to access community supports. More than 15,000 clients accessed our child and family services last year.

Family & Child Services: Ontario Early Years Centre

Behind the Numbers TNO’s Reception and Community Computer Access area is bustling with people seeking to speak to employment or settlement counsellor, a LINC class, a job Search workshop counsellor, use the computer, check email, print out resume, send a fax, make a phone call, file income tax return, prepare for citizen-ship exam or translate a document . Each day dozens of people walk in TNO’s office, call in or send an email. Annually, TNO reception refers more than 2000 clients to external agencies. Receives almost 10,000 phone calls. Makes more than 6,500 photocopies and send more than 2,000 faxes on behalf of cli-ents. More than 6,000 clients use the public access computers. In all TNO serves more than 25,000 people each year through various services and activities.

Thorncliffe Youth Centre in Pictures TNO celebrated the grand opening of the Thorncliffe Youth Centre. The Honorable Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Kathleen Wynne, MPP Don Valley West, were the guests of honour. The event was attended by youth, community members and representatives of different agencies and organizations in the area. The Youth Centre will strive to meet the need of the youth and provide them with tools that will enable them to be an integral component of building and maintaining a healthy, safe and livable community. The Centre will showcase the talents and celebrate the achievements of the community’s young people. It will be a welcoming environment with strong commitment to equality and anti-oppression principles. The centre recognizes the inherent dignity of every person and respects the uniqueness of each individual. At all times, the centre will provide services and programs in an environment opposed to and free of all forms of racial discrimination, including sexism, homophobia, islamophobia. The Advisory Committee along with the youth staff will decide on services and program activities.

Board of Directors, Staff & Volunteers

Staff Beatriz Munarriz Subramanian Karunananthan Eglantina Resulaj Faiza Kaka Pamela Polan Rumana Islam Angeline Turner Freda Rosengarten Soumya Sharath Parveen Amlani Xiuxia Zhang Latifa Lodin Malika Shah Nasim Damani Marjana Cuvalo

Alakananda Brahma Saradha Kumarasamy Jaloo Cooper Ying Yin Julianna Blackman Antoinette Zichy Noorani Chatur Frank Duff Shanta Kirupanantham Bakula Manek Nazma Ahmed Faridha Khimani Yasmine Dhanani Naima Zahid Ahmed Hussein Kathy Feng Ravi Subramaniam Niru Damani Jennifer Tharmarajasingham Slavica Simic Balasundaram Elayathamby

Fawzia Haji Sosan Etrat Cinthia Ferreira Guanxin Hau Shaida Addeita Kirsten Edlund Bina Velnor Lisa Paemurd Eddie Woo Pranoti Menon Devon Physick Nasreen Akhter Lailoma Ahmadzai Alesya Courtnage Nasera Ahmadi Zarzanga Popal Wendy Cressman Helen Crouch Diana Katgara Nadine Hare Irfan Ahmed Nishantine Nagaratnam Fawzia Saleh Nasreen Maqbool Adina Rafi Summer Students: Faiza Mankrod * Azam Hassim * Foziya Doctor Taha Kafil Left during the year: Sunanda Mohanty * Brooke Kemp * Naser Ghaeni * Helen Li * Wais Popylar * Amy Rideout On Leave: Natasa Popovic * Mohammed Hanif * Qudsia Hussein

Board of Directors

Executive Committee Nesan Bandali, B.A, BScN, RN Chair of the Board Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator Hospital for Sick Children Yasmin Master Vice Chair GanGro Foods Inc. Heather Brubacher Treasurer Coca-Cola Bottling Company Peggy Simionati Human Resource Chair, Secretary TDSB

Members at large Naila Asghar Engineer, Roger Wireless Inc. Stephen Udensi Businessman Brook Physick Community Legal Worker Flemingdon Community Legal Services Tajul Islam Engineer Abbas Kolia Businessman Thorncliffe Park Tenant Association Nirupama Buruna Engineer

Executive Director Jehad Aliweiwi

Volunteers Hussain Ali Rahime Mohammad Akbar Ayubi Uzma Jabeen Amin Jan Khalilullah Mohammad Rafiq Nighat Seema Ghada Abdel Mohmed Shirajum Kazi Asma Erum Alviya Vawda Mariam Tahir Aisha Mohammad Zuhra Omary Faiza Aleem Humaira Omary Zainab Saeed Sadia Nasri Refka Mohamed Shima Mohamed Soraya Latifi Luz Marina Ortiz Breshna Omarkhel Bushra Nadeem Sadiqa Bano Mughal Hifla Shukri Fathima Sabrina Ashraf Havinder (Neetu) Sodhi Parvin Merchant Aliza Hirji Monica Arora Noorulain Khan Tanveer Mustafa Shamima Nazneen Shanta Karim Mujgan Qaryzadah Voula Theo Sheela Ernest Adeena Rafiqzada Salina Pathan Sabeen Hussain Havabibi Jogiyat Army Rideout Hazel Estrada Faiza Farooq Sadia Zafar

Needs Assessment Implementation Committee (Community Cabinet) Patricia Moore * Abdul Ingar * Nadine Hare * Jaswant Seahra * Abdul Rachid Tylor * Azhar Sidiqqui *Brook Physick * Nesan Bandali * Yasmin Master * Ilyas Mulla * Abas Kolia * Maha Alfayoumi * Khan Rahi

Funders, Donors & Partners

East York Town Centre Morguard

We thank our funding partners and donors for their generous contribution and on going support to the community

Service Partners Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services (FNS ) * Flemingdon Health Centre * Flemingdon Community legal Ser-vices * Jenner Jean Marie Community Centre * Toronto Public Libraries (TPL) * Toronto District School Board (TDSB) * Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) * Toronto Housing Connection (THC) * Bob Rum-ball Centre for the Deaf * Donway United Church * Trinity Presbyterian Church * Family Day Flemingdon Park * Woodgreen Community Services * George Brown College * Association of Early Childhood Educators of On-tario * Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) * South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO) * Alli-ance for South Asian Aids Prevention (ASAP)* Thorncliffe Park United Church * Thorncliffe Park Tenant Association

Membership & Affiliation

Ontario Council of Agency Serving Immigrants (OCASI) * Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) * Canadian Council for Refugee (CCR) Community Social Planning Council Toronto (CSP-T)* Coalition for Eth-noracial Access to Addiction Services * Toronto Neighbourhood Centres (TNC) * Family Day * Tamil Service Providers Coalition *Metro Association of Family Resource Programmes * Better Beginnings Now-CAPC * Fam-ily Resource Programmes Canada * ACTT-Action for Children Today & Tomorrow * CPNP-Canadian Pre Natal Nutrition Program * Infant Mental Health Program * Community Implementation Team, CIT (Early Years Action Group)

18 Thorncliffe Park Drive

Toronto, ON, M4H 1N7

tel: 416-421-3054 ext.238 / fax: 416-421-4269

info@thorncliffe.org / www.thorncliffe.org

A United Way Member Agency Charitable Registration #108107343 RR0001

Services Locations:

45 Overlea Blvd. (South side of the East York Town Centre: Youth Centre & OEYC

18 Thorncliffe Park: Settlement & Employment Service

18 Thorncliffe Park Church Chapel: LINC classes

Portable: Family and Children services