Rexdale Women’s Centre Annual Report 2018 – 2019 Chairperson – E xecutive Director Message 2018-2019 As we reflect back on our milestone 40th anniversary Additionally, our work with clients could not be celebration, we continue to be proud of the work our achieved without the support and stewardship of the dedicated staff and volunteers have accomplished in board of directors. The directors have demonstrated the last 12 months. Each year brings new milestones: their support of Rexdale Women’s Centre’s vision and 2018-2019 was no different, bringing with it new funding mission by ensuring that the staff and clients have and service offerings, inspiring our organization to access to the right tools, resources and supports. better serve our clients and the broader community. The organization has grown tremendously over the years In January 2019, Rexdale Women’s Centre was awarded with the help of the community. From 1978, when the funds to address the challenges visible minority newcomer organization was one room with 3 part-time staff, to the women experience in entering the labour market. Our present, with more than 80 staff, three locations, and new Women’s Employment Resource Centre opened its offering a variety of services in 20 different languages, doors in March 2019. The resource centre is equipped we have achieved so many successes and enriched the to assist drop-in clients, as well as to provide registered lives of those in our community. We look forward to the services and sessions. Also in March, we expanded coming year, and continuing to grow and provide services our Dixon and Islington Youth Hub, and we co-hosted for the changing needs of our clients and the community. our first Youth Summit, in partnership with , to inspire youth to become tomorrow’s leaders. Thank you, We are proud to report that our dedicated teams of Sabina Filipescu and Fatima Filippi staff and volunteers assisted over 13,000 individuals Chairperson Executive Director this past year, helping them to address their needs and to successfully overcome personal challenges. The commitment of staff and volunteers to our community is exemplary, and at the very heart of this organization. We are committed to assisting our clients to live healthy, happy and productive lives, succeeding and contributing to their communities. REXDALE WOMEN’S CENTRE

women and their families to become fully their families women and with our clients to be self-sufficient and with our clients to be self-sufficient providing essential services and facilitating providing essential participating members in Canadian society. Canadian society. members in participating they are honoured and respected for who they are honoured and respected they are regardless of their background. healthy and socially engaged lives in which healthy and socially engaged lives clients’ self-sufficiency and competence by and competence clients’ self-sufficiency We support immigrant, refugee and newcomer and newcomer immigrant, refugee We support effectively settle and integrate into Canadian effectively settle Our vision is for immigrant, refugee Our vision is for immigrant, society. We are committed to working society. We are committed to working access to community resources. access to community financially secure. They will live happy, safe, financially secure. They will live happy, and newcomer women and their families to and newcomer women As a leader in our sector, we enhance our in our sector, As a leader ur Vision Our Vision ur Mission Mission Our Celebrating Years

On Saturday, September 22, 2018 more than 400 clients, staff, volunteers, past and current board members, special guests, government officials and financial supporters came to celebrate Rexdale Women’s Centre’s 40th Anniversary. It was a fun-filled day with games, activities, prizes, awards and of course, speeches! Congratulations RWC!

Sense of Community Helping our clients to build a sense of community and belonging

“English Conversation Circle (ECC) has been a great experience for me as it helps to improve my English speaking and listening. The facilitators are very helpful and knowledgeable. I like the topics and the kind of materials that we use. It’s excellent service for us.” - Client Co mm unit Community Engagement, Mary is a 65-year-old widow, who just Civic Participation, Leadership retired after working at a factory for and Volunteering about 23 years, and is living with her • Support groups: cooking club, movie night daughter. Her daughter was worried • English conversation circles what her mother would do while • Community kitchen staying at home alone. Some seniors y E ng a • Family March Break and summer camps told her about RWC’s seniors’ program • Befriending and matching newcomers with and yoga activities. She approached established residents RWC for her mother and enrolled her • Ethno-cultural seniors support in the yoga program. Mary shared, “my

• Newcomer youth support daughter is happy to see me happy and ge m ent Se rv i c e s • Health and wellness program: light physical is pleased to see how I am participating activities, nutrition and mental well-being in the seniors’ yoga at the centre and • Yoga programs for seniors, youth and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.” new moms • Volunteer recruitment, training and placement: 245 volunteers contributed 39,454 hours 2,666 Clients Served in 2018-2019 Special Events & Activities: Black History Month Celebration International Women’s Day South Asian Heritage Month Celebration Seniors’ Month Celebration Trips to Local Parks Day Celebration Community Engagement Services

in Immigrants: Mental Health Immigrants: Mental Intimate Partner Violence for Intimate Partner Promotion for Newcomers Promotion for Partnership Refugee Resettlement Programs Refugee Resettlement Collaborative Rexdale Domestic Violence Violence Domestic Rexdale Recognizing and Responding to and Responding Recognizing Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Ontario Council Toronto West Local Immigration West Local Immigration Toronto

quitable Access quitable

become empowered become equitable access and access equitable that our clients achieve achieve our clients that and systems change so and systems providers to affect social affect to providers institutions and service and service institutions Working with with Working E Systems and Social Change Em plo “I am a Canadian citizen with lengthy Financial Security work experience....After many years, I was laid off. I came to Rexdale Women’s Centre to obtain support with my resume Helping our clients to and cover letter preparation as I wanted ym ent Rel to undertake a career change. I received achieve employment supportive guidance with regards to various occupation prospect and and financial security employment outlook, employability skills required and conducting my own skills assessment. Through one-on-one support

Employment and Labour and attending the employment group, a Market Integration Services I updated my skills and adopted new te d Se rv i c e s strategies and a more focused job search • Short-term supportive counselling approach. Currently I working full time • Employment support groups for women as a human resources manager.” – Client • Employment and career counselling • Labour market integration support on labour market, starting own business, funding to support entry or re-entry in to the labour market, resume preparation, cover letter and job search preparation 4,462 Clients Served in 2018-2019 NEW! Women’s Employment Resource Centre (W.E.R.C.) Supporting visible minority newcomer women to succeed in the Canadian labour market. • Pre-employment counselling • Employment opportunities, occupational essentials skills training, networking, internships, mentorships, work placement • Information on funding that may be and preparation for the credential available to train, and re-train in a assessment process new occupation • Skills, interest and values through • Start own business self-assessment • Support to prepare resume/cover letter • Research and explore possible careers • Job search support, interview support, • Understand and explore labour market resume writing, preparing for • Develop an employment action and/or job interviews career decision; finding training and education options Employment Related Services W.E.r.C. Opening Ceremony March 2019 Violence Against Women Safety From and Crisis Intervention Violence and Abuse • Domestic Violence Support and Crisis Counselling • Medical and Legal Referrals and Client Accompaniment Helping our clients • Support and Healing Groups for Women on Domestic Violence to live a life free of • Anti-Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Women violence • Syrian Refugee Initiative: Workshops and Support Groups

Special Activities 2018-2019 Violence Prevention • Partner Assault Program Response National Day of Remembrance Program Groups and Action on Violence Against • Partner Assault Program Response – Women Spousal Contact Take Back the Night Women’s History Month Violence Against Women SERVICES 2,342 Client Client -

Clients Served in 2018-2019 Served Clients Client - empower myself and leave the abusive situation. I am presently working partworking I am time presently situation. the abusive and myself leave empower Social College Service in Humber and enrolled program.” and psychologically abusive and isolated me from all from me family and isolated came I and abusive friends. andpsychologically children fleeing from an abusive situation by my husband....I came for supportive supportive camefor husband....I my by situation children an abusive fleeing from counselling and program prevention counselling the both violence and attended guidance I started the counsellor from making gained strength changes....I to healing groups. Now, I am as working well as studying, and Now, livinghealing an groups. abuse-free life with both of my children.” my life with both of for help and support to Rexdale Women’s Centre and with the support and and with the support Centre Rexdale to Women’s and support help for with great hope. Once he arrived in Canada, he became physically, financially arrived in Canada, he Once became he with physically, hope. great “I am a young woman from Nigeria that recently immigrated Canada that to recently Nigeria with am two from woman “I a young “I am an immigrant woman from India who sponsored my husband to Canada to husband my am“I an sponsored immigrant India who from woman Building Self- Newcomer Settlement Services • Information and orientation Confidence • Referral and access to services • Translation and interpretation Helping our clients to • Crisis support • Newcomer workshops and information necessary skills sessions build • Settlement Services in Language (SSIL) and self confidence • Library Settlement Program (LSP) • English Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)

Children’s Services • Care for Newcomer Children – English Language Instruction • Preschool and School Readiness Program • Family Drop-in Summer Camp • Squiggle Park Pilot • Pyramid Project L i f e Skill s Se rv i c e s Youth Settlement and “Rexdale Women’s Centre helped Support Services me to connect with the right • Settlement and Orientation support lawyer who advised me to submit • Self-Esteem Building an application for permanent • Leadership and Conflict Resolution residence on humanitarian and • Education and Career Planning Support compassionate grounds. RWC • Employment Support assisted me to get my travel • Recreational and Health and Wellness document that enables me to visit Activities • Mentorship my family in Kenya. I appreciated • March Break and Summer Camps RWC for the ongoing support and • Community Service Hours and helping me to be a productive, Volunteering contributor member of the • Youth Clubs and Youth Council Canadian society.” - Client

Support for Women and Families • Parenting and Family Supportive Counselling • Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Groups • Eating for Two Nutrition Program and 13,782 Feeding With Love Information Support Clients Served in 2018-2019 NEW! Awards

To commemorate Rexdale Women’s Inspiring Youth Award (Female) Centre’s 40th anniversary, we introduced Eunice Kaneza two awards to recognize clients who Inspiring Youth Award (Male) have overcome challenges and who are Vincent Kazibwe inspiring – and in turn – inspire others. Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur– We congratulate the three recipients: Career Advancement Award Sarabjet Kaur Ubhi

Inspiring Youth Award (Female): Inspiring Youth Award (Male): Inspiring Woman Entrepreneur– Eunice Kaneza Vincent Kazibwe Career Advancement Award: Sarabjet Kaur Ubhi AWARDS A N D T H E Y AR IN r e v ie w

81,940 Total Number of Services Delivered in 2018-2019 13,099 Total Number of Individual Clients Served in 2018-2019 Con d en s e Fin a n c i l St 12-Month Period Ending March 31, 2019

Revenues 2018-2019 2017-2018 These statements are Government $3,578,587 $3,367,520 condensed from the full version prepared by Private Sector 517,500 584,809 Berman, Lofchick & Other 193,420 156,904 Lum, LLP Chartered Accountants. Capital Contributions from funders 67,784 51,111 (net) A full copy of the audited financial Total Revenues $4,357,291 $4,160,344 statement is available upon request.

Expenses Salaries & Benefits $3,296,799 $3,291,994 Operating and Programme 629,632 450,060 Expenses a te m ent Building Occupancy 430,405 423,296

Total Expenses $4,356,836 $4,165,350

Excess Of Revenues Over Expenses $455 $(5,006) s B O ARD O F D I R E

Chairperson: Sabina Filipescu Vice-Chairperson: Valentina Vaguengueim Secretary: Snita Balsara C TO RS Treasurer: Gentiana Shyti Directors: Aida Bejte Ankita Bhardwaj Rutu Gadhia Lara Roccatani Florentina G. Stancu-Soare Leslie Sutherland Rexdale Women’s Centre gratefully acknowledges our financial supporters and donors.

Funders Private Donors The Shoe Box Project Aida Bejte TD-Canada Trust-Toronto Dominion Bank Government of Canada Ankita Bhardwaj Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund Immigration, Refugee and Bayer Inc. United Way Greater Toronto – Gifts In Kind Citizenship Canada Canadian Federation of University Women Valentina Vaguengueim Employment Social Development Canada – Government of Ontario CP24 Chum Christmas Wish Service Partners Compass Canada Ministry of the Attorney General Albion Neighbourhood Services Elmwood Spa Ministry of Community and Social Services - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Citizenship and Immigration Florentina G. Stancu-Soare Infant Mental Health Office of Women’s Issues Gurmej Singh Delta Family Resource Centre H.A. Kidd Toronto Municipal Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter Humber College – North Campus City of Toronto Etobioke Brighter Futures Coalition Leslie Sutherland George Hull Centre for Children and Families Public Sector Linli Chee JobStart-Toronto West Local Immigration United Way Greater Toronto Lush Partnership Martin Grove United Church Harvest Food Bank Foundation Michal Er-El Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Clayton Gyotoku Fund at Immigrants Toronto Foundation North West Company The Prince’s Trust Charity Cornelius Van de Graaf and Panera Bread Terence Clarkson Foundation at R.Roots Gadhia Rexdale Community Health Centre Toronto Foundation Rotary Club – Etobicoke Rexdale Community Hub Royal Bank of Canada Rexdale Community Legal Clinic O u r Suppo Rexdale Employment and Resource Centre EarlyON and Family Centre Rexdale Community Hub Social Planning Toronto Elmbank Community Centre Rexdale Community Legal Clinic Squiggle Park Education Emery Collegiate Institute Rexdale Employment and Resource Centre Toronto District School Board Probation and Parole Office Ryerson University Toronto Employment and Social Services Evergreen College St. Maurice Catholic School Golden Miles Employment and Social SAV- Canada Syrian Community Centre Services Service Canada Service Collaborators Gord and Irene Risk Community Centre Syrian Canadian Foundation Halton Multicultural Council Community Services Centre Al-Arab Community Centre Harbourfront Centre Toronto District School Board LINC Albion Neighbourhood Services te rs Heart & Stroke Foundation- Canada Toronto Employment and Social Services Al-Qazza Foundation for Education and Highfield Junior Middle School Development Toronto Fire Department Humber College Attwell Employment and Social Services Toronto Public Health Community Centre Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic Toronto Public Library: Humberwood International Muslim Organization-Rexdale Braeburn Neighborhood Centre Victim Services Toronto Junior School B.W. Fleming Public School YWCA Malton Neighborhood Services Canada Revenue Agency – Income Tax Program Marriott International Catholic Cross Cultural Services MIAG-Centre for Diverse Women and Families Central Library- Mirage Coaching Children’s Aid Society – Etobicoke Branch Mississauga- Central Library Children’s Aid Society – Peel Region North Kipling Community Centre COSTI Employment Services Polycultural Immigrant and Community Daystrom Public School Services Delta Family Resource Centre Punjabi Community and Health Services Dixie Bloor Neighborhood Centre Rexdale Community Health Centre Where to find us:

925 Albion Road 21 Panorama Court RWC – Youth Centre Suites 207 and 309 Suites 1300 and 2300 222 Dixon Road Etobicoke, Ontario Etobicoke, Ontario Suites 302-303 M9V 1A6 M9V 4E3 Etobicoke, Ontario M9P 3S5

Email: [email protected] Website: www.rexdalewomen.org Tel: 416-745-0062 Fax: 416-745-3995

Rexdale Women’s Centre is a registered Canadian charity. Charity Number 119118297 RR0001