Annual Report 2014-2015
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Annual Report 2014-2015 Bringing Care & Community Together Empowerment Equity Partnership Innovation 2 MacNeil Court [email protected] Kanata, ON K2L 4H7 www.wocrc.ca Phone: 613-591-3686 WOCRC.CRCOO Fax: 613-591-2501 TTY: 613-591-0484 BIN: 12821 9201 RR 0001 Message from the Executive Director and Board Chair As we come to the close of our 29th year As a values-driven organization with a focus serving the community in western Ottawa, on helping others, making connections with we can look back with pride at a number of people is our primary focus. This is the core of accomplishments. So much of what we do is community development. We build strategic about evolving to better serve the changing partnerships that help us increase and improve needs of our community. It is important for us the services we deliver. We collaborate to look for ways that we can adapt because we with clients and key stakeholders to better Board of Directors know the world around us is changing rapidly. understand our role and how we can help. We This need to evolve is why this year we focused stay in contact with community and government 2014-2015 on establishing a credible foundation and a leaders on all levels as advocates. All of these forward-thinking plan for the future. connections allow us to make a positive impact Chair and influence change in our community for the Mike Merpaw One of this year’s highlights was receiving our better. This process is a true collaborative effort, second approval from the Canadian Centre for and our 2014 Open House showcased this. We Accreditation. The four-year accreditation was were honoured to greet over 300 guests, staff, Vice-Chairs awarded after an extensive review process that board, clients, partners, volunteers, donors, Robert Bourgeois evaluated WOCRC’s governance, management, and community members, individuals who have programs, processes, planning, and been part of our collaborative efforts. Cindy O’Leary performance against established organizational Robert (Bob) McGaraughty standards. Receiving this certification was We are so grateful to the many people who an affirmation of the efforts we have made take part in the work we do at the WOCRC, to establish solid groundwork to meet our particularly when we look back each year Directors community’s needs. at what we have been able to accomplish. Richard Annett The community is a better place because of Shelley Bond Our board and staff evaluated our future the contributions you have made and we will organizational direction through the creation continue to work to grow a thriving, healthy Teisha Gaylard of our 2015-2019 Strategic Plan. The new community with supports in place for those in Johanne Lamarre strategic directions focus on finding ways to need. Cédric Larigaldie deliver more services with limited resources, Amber Nickerson with significant focus on a long-range financial Sincerely, plan that will ensure the WOCRC has the Larry Peterson financial stability to provide sustainable service. Mary-Ann Rowan Moving forward, our strategic directions commit Claudette Roy us to flexible and adaptive service delivery, Mike Merpaw Cathy Jordan increased communications channels, strong and Chair Executive Director expanded strategic partnerships, retention, and Board of Directors Secretary, Ex-Officio Member recruitment of passionate, skilled and, capable Cathy Jordan staff, and continued leadership in advocacy for our community. Our guiding beliefs, particularly innovation, empowerment, and partnerships, will play a significant role as we look for creative solutions to find efficiencies in our work which will enable us to continue to support those in need within our community. Bringing Care & Community Together Programs The Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) offers health and social services programs to benefit individuals of all ages in the Goulbourn, Kanata, and West Mission Carleton area. We also provide community support services to residents of Nepean. Community Support Services Ontario Early Years – Carleton The WOCRC partners with others to develop, provide, and coordinate The Community Support Services The Ontario Early Years Centre – Carleton accessible community, health, and social services for all members of our program is committed to helping seniors is a place where parents and caregivers diverse communities. We are committed to ensuring access to permanent and and adults with a physical disability live can get information about programs and quality French Language Services in our designated programs and services. independent, active, and meaningful lives. services available for young children, Some of the services include Meals-on- 0 to 6 years of age. Services include Wheels, foot care clinics and an adult drop-in programs, training opportunities, day program for adults experiencing playgroup support, and special events. dementia-related disorders. There is also an information and referral service, and a resource library. Vision Violence Against Women Program The Violence Against Women Program Community Development offers individual support, information and Rural and Sub-urban Community We envision a future in which western Ottawa is comprised of vibrant, referral, crisis counselling, advocacy, Development at WOCRC has been safe, healthy communities where everyone has access to the services and transitional housing support, and groups focused on advocacy, poverty reduction resources they require for their health and well-being. for abused women and their children. and equity, and diversity and inclusion for visible minorities. There has been a focus Chrysalis House on relationships, capacity-building, and Chrysalis House is a safe and secure community empowerment that was not shelter in western Ottawa. It is a place possible before due to the size of the where a woman can go to protect herself WOCRC catchment area. and her children from violence and abuse. In this supportive environment, a woman Counselling Services can focus on her own personal needs and Counselling Services provides free choices, as well as those of her children. confidential short-term and crisis counseling. Transportation, child care, and Services for Children, Youth, and interpretation services are available upon Families request. The WOCRC presents children, youth, and families with a wide range of programs that help provide coping and learning skills for a variety of issues. Programs include Bullying Prevention, homework club, FRIENDS anxiety program, the ZONE, and workshops for parents and community partners. “I feel I was respected. You will never know how much this and all you have done means to me – thank you.” Guiding Beliefs The WOCRC has four deeply held beliefs that serve as a compass in our The Ottawa Bullying Prevention Coalition (OBPC) approach in serving the community. We strive to demonstrate our guiding beliefs each day as we interact with clients, partners, volunteers, members, and staff. As we enter into the coming year and work toward achieving each of our strategic Bullying is such a serious and complex The priority areas of the Coalition are to: directions, these beliefs will continue to guide and inform our decisions. issue that we, as community members, • Create an inventory of evidence need to move beyond awareness based tools and approaches to to address it more effectively. The prevent, intervene, and respond to WOCRC’s multi award winning Bullying bullying Prevention Program has taken a lead Empowerment Equity on this issue by forming the Ottawa • Build a website to coordinate We believe that people have the right to We believe that dignity, respect and justice Bullying Prevention Coalition. The accessible and equitable access to make their own choices, and take control, are rights of all people regardless of age, Coalition is made up of service providers community information and services individually and collectively, of their lives. language, ethnicity, culture, religion, ability, and stakeholders from across private across Ottawa gender, income, geographical location or and professional sectors as well as • Identify and accommodate distinct Therefore, we are committed to providing sexual orientation. geographic locations in Ottawa. Key community needs information and resources which will enable partners include Ottawa Public Health, people to make informed decisions. We are We acknowledge that there are systemic, Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa school • Provide external support for schools dedicated to creating an environment where social and cultural barriers that prevent people participate in activities that promote people from having equal access to boards, the Children’s Hospital of and extra-curricular activities Eastern Ontario, community health and social change. resources and opportunities. • Build family capacity to report, resource centres, and many more. support, and respond in situations of Therefore, we are committed to recognizing The OBPC recently received three bullying and addressing barriers such as violence, year funding from the Ontario Trillium poverty, isolation, exclusion, oppression and Bullying is not just a school issue but a Foundation to establish city-wide discrimination, so as to enable people to community issue that requires city-wide standards and approaches to support reach their full potential. strategies to support all those impacted. a continuum of meaningful, consistent, Our vision is a safe, respectful, and and sustainable services related to caring community that fosters healthy bullying