COMMUNITY CENTRE

To provide women with opportunities to improve their quality of life through

self-development and community action.

ANNUAL REPORT

WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report 21 WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report

COMMUNITY FOOD WORKS PROGRAM INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD

Accelerated Family Integration Project (AFIP) provides newcomers with settlement support, including Community Food Works for Newcomer (CFWN) programs in partnership with Toronto Public Health. Workshops focus on food-handler training and employment assistance. CFWN’s commitment to best food practices received a Milan Pact Award. In October 2017, we celebrated this honour with Toronto Public Health and government officials at a local ceremony.

LINC PROGRAM UPDATE BENEFITS LEARNERS, TEACHERS & STAFF

The Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program shifted to a Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA), offering students additional ownership of their learning and increased collaboration with teachers. This delivery model provides more opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through workshops and info-sessions led by our Food Security team and community partners. Feedback has indicated that students, teachers and staff are pleased with the new program update.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

WE’VE BEEN GOING STRONG

ENGAGEMENT BY NUMBERS

As I wrap up another term on the WWCC Board of Directors, it makes me proud to reflect back on our

important contributions to the newcomer community.

I’d like to start off by thanking our wonderful staff and volunteers, and extending a special acknowledgment to Executive Director Marcie Ponte, whose vision, tireless work, and commitment to the Centre is an inspiration to all of us.

Our quiet, but steady and determined work has earned us a reputation for being a leader in the social services sector. Along with traditional settlement services, we also focused on the development of innovative programs to improve the opportunities available to immigrants, women and their families.

The FLOCK project supported local women to take their business ideas from concept to reality. As part of the trainings, we partnered with the business community, including financial institutions, to host Dragon’s Den-style coaching events and connect participants to business advice and funding. Another initiative that addressed economic development was AFIP (Accelerated Family Integration Project) which provided settlement support to Syrian refugees and Arabic-speaking newcomers, including the award-winning Community Food Works for Newcomer (CFWN) programs in partnership with Toronto Public Health. Our commitment to poverty reduction also extended to food security programming that focused on resident engagement, community kitchens and activities in the community garden.

The landscape in which we work is constantly changing and we are adapting to those changes. Two major redevelopment projects in Toronto will impact our Victoria Park HUB and Gladstone location in future years. As a champion of the communities we serve, we will continue to be at the table to advocate for shared priorities and ensure that the community’s needs are heard.

None of our work is possible without partnerships and the stability of long-term funding. Thank you to our community partners, funders and donors for your continued support and collaboration. As we look forward to the future, I am excited by the new possibilities we will create together.

Our warmest thanks and appreciation, Karen Sun President, Board of Directors WWCC (Working Women Community Centre)

number of clients served across

all sites

of advocatingfor newcomers &

their families

14 number of active service streams

OUR INVESTMENTIN EDUCATIONPROGRAMMING

• Parent Ambassadors 78• Community Engagement &

Action Project 15 • Parent training 16• Representation in Local

School System 66

LATINXPROJECT

ON YOUR MARKTutoring + Mentoring (Grades 1-12)• Children and Youth 200• Parent Workshops 7• Scholarships 6

HIPPY

Early Childhood Intervention (Ages 3-6)• Parents & Children 500• Over 200 Families• Parent-training for

Childhood Development

Women’s GroupParticipants111

4,411ReceivingSupports to Women

8,368Newcomers

Active in Community & Resident Engagement

2,260

867LINC Students

3 WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report 4

LOCAL WOMEN ACCESS SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The FLOCK project, an anti-poverty initiative launched in the spring of 2017, supported women in local communities. Through an innovative, women-focused platform, the project bridged skills-training to provide opportunities to explore entrepreneurship. During the 18-month project, more than 50 women received access to mentorship, coaching, financial support and hands-on experience. FLOCK’s focus was to reduce gendered experiences of poverty and poverty rates of vulnerable populations.

COMMITMENT TO BETTER COMMUNITIES

The Food Security project is committed to reducing poverty in the Don Mills-Sheppard community that we serve. Since launching spring of 2017, this initiative incorporates resident engagement, seasonal programming at Oriole Community Garden and an expansion of food programming activities including food-handler training and community kitchens. A three-year grant from the Province and ongoing funding from City of Toronto contributes to its long-term sustainability.

ONTARIO 150 CELEBRATION COMMEMORATES CINEMA

HISTORY WITH HURLY BURLYThe Bloorcourt Hurly Burly took place the summer of 2017 to celebrate the history of cinema in Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhood as part of the Ontario 150 Community Celebration Program. Along with community partners,

we hosted a series of live shows about the history of local theatres that invited attendees to follow the storytelling along Bloor Street. Hurly Burly engaged more than 1000 audience members.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017-2018

REVENUES 2018 2017

Federal $3,438,287 $3,406,090

Provincial $453,447 $281,676

Municipal $330,296 $314,204

United Way $917,931 $841,032

Foundations $518,659 $389,779

Others $207,811 $158,449

Total Revenues $ 5,866,43 $5,391,230

EXPENDITURES 2018 2017

Personnel $4,107,078 $3,776,029

Building Occupancy $914,947 $843,191

Program Expenses $500,141 $463,011

Administration $58,555 $62,383

Equipment $123,533 $104,798

Purchased Services $121,195 $67,748

Staff Related Expenses $23,655 $31,180

Insurance $13,820 $13,444

Total Expenses $5,862,924 $5,361,784

Excess Revenues Over Expenses $3,507 $29,446

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

OUR FUNDERSFederalImmigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) LINC Welcoming Communities

Ministry of Labour - Status of Women Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Status of Women Canada

ProvincialMinistry of Citizenship Newcomers Settlement Program (NSP) Ontario Womens’ Directorate Pay Equity Funding

MunicipalCity of Toronto Community Service Partnership Investing in Neighbourhood Legacy Fund Community Food Works Toronto Employment & Social Services

United Way of Greater Toronto

Foundations/Organizations Brookfield Foundation JVS Toronto Ontario Trillium Foundation Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Regional Government of the Azores Tides Canada

people who benefitted from Food Security programming

550number of local women supported

to explore entrepreneurship

WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report 65 WWCC 2017|2018 Annual Report

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION OUR PARTNERS

WWCC is also a member of the following networks:

Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto ChapterChinese Integration NetworkingHIPPY Canada Middle Childhood Matters Coalition TorontoOntario Council of Agencies Serving ImmigrantsSocial Planning TorontoToronto Neighbourhood CentresWoman Abuse Council of Toronto

BE OUR PARTNERThe generous support of our volunteers, donors and funders has made the important work we do every day possible. Without it, we wouldn’t have the resources to help newcomer families who are struggling with significant challenges including poverty, unemployment and isolation. Together, let’s create new possibilities. Please visit us at www.workingwomencc.org to find out more about how your contribution would have a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Thank you.

• Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services• ACCES Employment• Advent Lutheran Church• Afghan Women’s Organization• Aisling Discoveries Child & Family Centre• Alzheimer Society of Toronto• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic• Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre• Bloor Gladstone Library • Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture• Canadian South Asian Growth and Support Services• Career Foundation• Centennial College • Central Eglinton Community Centre • Centre for Immigrants and Community

Services • Children’s Aid Toronto• Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic • Community Living Toronto• Credit Canada • Davenport Perth Neighbourhood

Community Health Centre: Early Years• Don Mills Family Health Team• East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church• Emery Adult Education Centre • Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter • Evergreen College • Fairview Library • Family Services Toronto• Flemingdon Health Centre• Firgrove Learning & Innovation

Community Centre• George Brown College • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario • Hong Fook Mental Health Association• Humber College • Immigrant Women’s Health Centre• Injured Workers’ Consultants • Institute of Chartered Accountants

• Jessie’s Centre• JVS• Karen Partnership Group• Labour Community Services• Learning Disabilities Association of

Toronto District • Madison Community Services • Meridian Credit Union• METRAC• Mothers of O’Connor• New Circles Community Services• North York Community House• North York Harvest Food Bank• Oasis• Ontario Early Years Centre• Ontario Early Years Centre Scarborough• Parkdale Parents’ Primary Prevention

Project (5P’s)• Parkdale Community Health Centre• Philippine Overseas Labour Office • Roseneath Theatre• RBC• *RBC (Bloor & Dovercourt Branch)• Righting Relations • ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)• Scott Mission Childcare Centre• Seneca College

• Seneca College/York University/Humber College – TESL

• Sesheme Foundation• Springboard • Stanley Public School, The Continuing

Education Department• Stonegate Community Health Centre• St. Stephen’s Community House • TAIBU Community Health Centre• The Christopher Leadership Course of

Canada • The Cross-Cultural Community Services

Association• The Peoples Church• The Students Commission• Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office• Toronto and York Region Labour Council • Toronto Catholic District School Board• Toronto Community Housing Corporation• Toronto District School Board• Toronto Green Community• Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships • Toronto Police Services • Toronto Public Health• University of Toronto Equity Outreach &

Support • University of Toronto Faculty of Applied

Science & Engineering • WelcomePack Canada• West Neighbourhood House • Willowdale Community Legal Services• Woodgreen Community Services• Workers Action Centre• Workplace Safety & Prevention Services • Yorkdale Adult Learning Centre• York University, Concurrent Teacher

Education Program• Young Parents No Fixed Address• Youth Services Network

WE GOT SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY

549VOLUNTEERS

92PLACEMENT STUDENTS

57,478HOURS OF SUPPORT

COMMUNITY CENTRE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Karen Sun

Vice-President Janet McGill

Secretary Bethany Koughan

Treasurer Diane Simpson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marcie Ponte

OUR LOCATIONS

Downtown 533A Gladstone Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6H 3J1 Tel. 416-532-2824 Fax 416-532-7432

North York East Centre (Fairview) 5 Fairview Mall Drive, Suite 478 North York, Ontario M2J 2Z1 Tel. 416-494-7978 Fax 416-494-5266

Victoria Park HUB 1527 Victoria Park Avenue, 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M1L 2T3 Tel. 416-750-9600 Fax 416-750-9606

North York West Centre (Jane & Finch) 2065 Finch Avenue West, Suite 106 Toronto, Ontario M3N 2V7 Tel. 647-346-3700 Fax 647-346-3701

Email: info@workingwomencc.org www.workingwomencc.org

Members Sarah Thom Sarah McQuarrie Diana Abraham Deborah Lobbezoo Hema Vtas Kathryn Anne Dubois