2018 2019

RALPH THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

ANNUAL REPORT VISION MISSION VALUES

Our Vision Working to ensure a more vibrant, diverse, inclusive, liveable, participatory, healthy, and equitable Riverdale.

Our mission The RTCC is a gathering place that welcomes, connects and engages the community in all its diversity.

Our Values Inclusion and Respect: The RTCC supports and Collaboration and Partnership: The RTCC works adheres to the City of Human Rights and collaboratively and in partnership with individuals, Anti-Harassment Policy. We operate in a manner groups and organizations to achieve our mission which models ethical, respectful and inclusive and vision. We work in ways that engage community service delivery and employment practices, members, foster on-going relationships and build encourages diverse perspectives, and ensures the strengths of the whole community. equitable treatment for all. The RTCC promotes Capacity Building: The RTCC supports community social inclusivity in all its activities members, especially the more marginalized, to and programming. increase their ability to solve problems, define Equity and Social Justice: The RTCC supports, and achieve their objectives and fully participate acts and advocates for solution-focused policies in and contribute to community life. and systemic changes that create long term Community Building: The RTCC actively promotes improvement and fairness for all within our the building of relationships and collective action community and the larger society. across and between our diverse communities to strengthen the whole.

2 RTCC’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan PROGRESS identified six priorities. Over the past year, we have worked to PRIORITIES address them in a variety of ways:

Civic Engagement Community Consultations

Municipal All-Candidates Under its “Community Matters” banner, RTCC Meeting and Voters Guide hosted a community consultation on the City’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and has scheduled In partnership with Applegrove and Eastview a similar consultation on the HousingTO strategy Community Centres, RTCC hosted an all-candidates being developed by the City of Toronto. session for the November City Council elections. All ten candidates participated in the session, and Speakers Series RTCC published an online and print ‘election guide’ In collaboration with the Saulter Street Brewery, with the responses of all of the candidates to RTCC launched a “storytelling” series, providing an key questions. opportunity to share stories about the people and Democracy FUNdamentals events that have made Riverdale such a special place. In collaboration with North York Community House The initial session, hosted by former Councillor and and Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, RTCC offered MPP , included former Alderman and NYCH’s “Democracy FUNdamentals” course in October MPP , and former Woodgreen Executive 2018 and again in May/June 2019. This series of six Director Brian Smith. sessions provides a comprehensive understanding of how local, provincial, and federal governments work – and how individuals and organizations can impact their decisions. The second session was designed as a “train the trainer” session, ensuring that RTCC will have the capacity to continue to infuse all of our programming with a civic engagement focus.

Eats and Beats Vote As part of our civic engagement focus, the children’s programs at RTCC organized an “animal kingdom” vote, with ‘polling stations’ at Morsestock and Eats and Beats.

3 Educational Supports In addition to the Mentor Program and After School, PA Day, and March Break camps for children, RTCC is increasingly used for education and training sessions by both local and city-wide organizations. A significant partner in this work is Toronto“ Neighbourhood Centres,” the umbrella organization of community based multi-service organizations, which has used RTCC space for sessions on community engagement, on fostering Rec- onciliation, on a variety of equity issues, and peer coaching. Financial Literacy This spring, RTCC was able to assist 99 low-in- come individuals and families with filing their income tax – returning $245,620 in benefits! 69% indicated they received a benefit they had not received before, and 93% of filers were ‘extremely satisfied’ with the service. We appreciate the volunteers who donated their time to make this possible. Thanks also to Toronto Neighbourhood Centres for their support in returning this valuable service to RTCC, as part of a three-year initiative funded by United Way Toronto. Health and Wellness In addition to providing space to a wide range of peer support, fitness, and wellness groups, RTCC was able to help out this spring after the South Riverdale Community Health Centre suffered a serious flood – we have been happy to provide space for a number of SRCHC programs which were displaced by the flooding and subsequent repair work. Technological Aptitude RTCC’s Exchange Loft offers an opportunity for individuals to access computer, internet, and other office services, coupled with one-on-one support from our Exchange Loft volunteers. In addition to providing access to computer technology, the Exchange Loft reduces social isolation and helps link users with other community supports.

4 Developing the everyone who came out and played Volunteers at RTCC the “Game of Thorntons.” The iconic In 2018, RTCC had 146 volunteers Organization “Copper Throne” was a hit at the who worked a total of 5163 hours in event, and at subsequent community Risk Management our Tax Clinic, the Exchange Loft, events including “Eats and Beats.” and Privacy Policies our Children’s programs, and special Sincere thanks to the organizing events. It is their dedication, hard The RTCC Board organized a full-day committee led by Janet Routliffe, with work, and enthusiasm that makes “Risk Management” workshop, which particular appreciation to Streetcar possible much of the programming was also attended by members of the , for being the Platinum Developments at RTCC – we greatly appreciate Applegrove and Eastview Boards. Out sponsors for the event for the third their contribution to the Centre. of this experience, the Board devel- year in a row. oped a Risk Management policy for Communicating RTCC, which was adopted this spring. Scotiabank Toronto The Board of Management continues Waterfront Marathon Effectively to regularly review and update the As part of the Toronto Neighbourhood The RTCC Fundraising and Marketing Centre’s policies, to ensure they meet Centre’s team, organized by RTCC, our Committee developed a Communi- the needs of the Centre and address intrepid band of runners raised over cations plan to support the 2018-2022 any changes in City or partner policies. $2,000 in sponsorships at the Scotia- Strategic Plan, which was adopted by An important addition this year was bank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. the Board in January, and is now being the development of a “Complaints” implemented. This includes continued policy for RTCC. fortnightly publication of the electronic “RTCC Update,” and print versions that Strengthening are distributed periodically to the 2,500 our Resource Base households surrounding the Centre. Our student placements from the York University Faculty of Communications have been invaluable in expanding our social media profile, dragging some of us into the 21st century.

-   PHOTO: Courtesy of Riverside BIA

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Beer and Wine Festival

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The 2019 Riverside Craft Beer and --

Wine Festival was the most successful - -

 - yet, with record attendance at the - - 

Game of Thorntons

events hosted by local businesses and

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Benefiting from the publicity surround- - - restaurants, and the “Beer and Wine - - ing the series finale of “ Game Expo” at RTCC, which drew a capacity - - of Thrones,” RTCC’s fourth annual crowd for every presentation. Over gala silent auction fundraiser saw $3,000 was donated for RTCC pro- record attendance, raised over gramming – an increase of 10% over $15,000 for children’s programming the 2018 amount. at the Centre, and was great fun for

5 RTCC works in partnership with other community organizations to make many local ‘special events’ a success: • Lunar New Year at Gerrard Square • Canada Day at Riverdale Park • Eats and Beats Festival in Riverside • T he Antler Breakfast – this annual fund-raiser for the Rivertowne Breakfast Program, in partnership with TO Food Tours, the Riverside BIA, and Rivertowne Safety 1st, raised over $7,000 in 2018 • Tree Festival • R ivertowne Craft Beer lunar New Year and Wine Festival

halloween

antler breakfast

carribean street food festival

6 canada day

• Repair Café – This July event, which ‘fixed’ close to 100 items, was expanded this year to add a “Holiday Hangover” children’s toy hospital and other children’s activities in early January • H alloween Party – this year’s party drew a record crowd of over 400 creatures, using almost every space in the building. • RTCC Open House – involved over 20 RTCC user groups, and brought over 300 people into repair café the building to showcase the programming that takes place in the building (and to officially “launch” our new elevator). • P romoting business ‘communities’ RTCC provides a venue for events like the “Indigenous and Ingenious” Show and Sale, and the Caribbean Street Food Festival – showcasing entrepreneurs from Toronto’s diverse communities.

7 Strengthening Our As well as crafts, baking, sports, from the space, and hear what else and swimming at Ralph Thornton they might like to have as part of the Neighbourhoods Community Centre and our partner Exchange Loft. Feedback was gath- The RTCC Board of Management Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, ered from regular users through 50 has provided active representation campers enjoyed a special outing surveys and 8 in-person interviews. to a number of local stakeholder pro- in the community each week. These We learned: cesses, including the Unilever Precinct included: Centreville at Toronto Study Stakeholder Advisory Group, Island, Ripley’s Aquarium, Bata Shoe the Toronto Waterfront Study Advisory, Museum, and the Science Centre. Exchange ONCE Loft WEEKLY and East Harbour Community visits Engagement Committee. Mentor Program 5,872 visits 72% RTCC also added its voice to city and The Mentor Program, offered at both community-wide initiatives, such as the RTCC and the Riverdale Library, pro- 57% 53% For All campaign and support vides a positive and supportive space USERS between for the safe injection site at the South to help newcomer Chinese children visiting > 2 YRS 45-74 yrs old Riverdale Community Health Centre. from our community to improve their English language skills and feel more Providing comfortable living in a new country • 72% of users come once Accessible Space and culture. a weekly or more. In 2018, 133 children ages 6-12 were • 57% of users have been coming to Increasing Community Access registered in the program, with 64 on the Exchange loft for over 2 years. the waiting In 2018, RTCC provided 11,769 hrs • Most live in the neighbourhood, of ‘space’ to community organiza- list. 76 volun- teers, ranging with 72% living within 20 minutes tions. Usage is increasing – it held of travel. steady through our elevator replace- in age from ment project, and is increasing at an 15-70, acted • Many are long-term neighbours – annual rate of 10%. as ‘mentors’ 41% of users have lived in the neigh- to program bourhood for 10+ years, and another The Stairwell Gallery participants. 23% have lived here between 6 and 10 years. 53% of users are between The imposing marble staircase from 45 and 74 years old. the Saulter Street entrance to the building is finding a new life as the • Employment status varies, with Exchange loft “Stairwell Gallery” – providing a free 44% employed (including full-time, venue where local artists can display In 2018, our Exchange Loft saw 1225 part-time and self employed) and their work. unique visitors, for a total of 5872 52% not employed (including those visits over the year. With creative use looking for employment, retired, Delivering High of existing resources, the hours of the and students. Exchange Loft were increased, allowing Quality Programming Users were asked what they like about us to be open 7 days a week, from our centre compared to other similar 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM, or 3,746 hours of RAC Camp 2018 centres. Among the responses, 18% service! With the extended hours, were related to location; 24% were Each year, RAC Camp provides monthly use of the Exchange Loft related to the hours we were open, children ages 6 to 12 with a fun and increased on average by 21.6%. safe summer day camp experience. 23% were related to welcoming and In 2018, 624 children attended During 2018, our staff and placement friendly staff/volunteers. Responses from over the 8 weeks of camp. students created an assessment of the this project will be used to help develop Exchange Loft, in an effort to learn future plans, including strengthening why people come, how they benefit Exchange Loft services.

8 RTCC Financial Report 2018 2017 Administration Revenue* City of Toronto 734,021 703,897 Toronto Public Library 39,364 39,364 Total Administration Revenue 773,385 743,261 Program Revenue Grants City of Toronto 46,750 52,010 Government of Canada 26,578 39,174 Foundations 14,000 10,000 RTCC Board of Management: Other 13,240 4,056 Ryan Acayan; Caleb Edwards; Councillor ; Donations 21,898 21,059 Yang Han; Bernnitta Hawkins*; Sharon Ho; Alan Lennon Fundraising 22,243 23,079 (President); Megan Lorius; Daniella Moss*; Julia Peters; Rental Income 33,133 26,123 Janet Routliffe; William Somerville; Ejay Tupe User Fees 72,445 70,663 * Resigned during the year. Other Revenue 7,007 20,065 RTCC Staff: Total Program Revenue 257,294 266,229 Grace Cameron (Reception); John Campey (Executive Total Revenue 1,030,679 1,009,490 Director); Felix Chuang (Children’s Program Support); Administration Expenses* Ella Clark (Weekend Maintenance); Lucille Durand-Smith (Children’s Programs Coordinator); Andrew Fuller (Children’s Salaries and Benefits 637,793 597,156 Program Support); Susy Glass (Volunteer Coordinator); Materials and Supplies 78,865 67,637 Colleen Gray (Manager: Strategic Initiatives); Glenn Gustafson Purchase of Services 56,727 78,468 (Business Manager); Wenlin Huang (Weekend Recep- Total Administration Expenses 773,385 743,261 tion); Robin Irwin (Children’s Program Support); Mark Program Expenses Johnson (Maintenance); Lainey Little (Children’s Program Salaries and Benefits 211,948 225,123 Support); Ebrahim Lulat (Children’s Program Support); Amber Marsden (Children’s Program Support); Jason Materials and Supplies 17,835 17,968 Oulds (Weekend Maintenance); Maia Richards (Children’s Purchase of Services 55,225 84,034 Program Support); Rose Scher (Reception); Ian Sieunarine Amortization of Capital Assets 2,506 2,789 (Maintenance); Mariah Wheeler (Children’s Program Amortization of Support); Janice Zhang (Mentor Program Coordinator) Deferred Capital Contributions - (543)) Contract, Casual and Relief Staff: Total Program Expenses 287,514 329,371 Total Expenses 1,060,899 1,072,632 Drew Dopwell, Conley Downey, Peter Dyett, Nicoletta Ioannidis; Mark Kovats (Bookkeeping); Stephen Bunt Total Surplus / (Deficit) (30,220) (63,142) (Information Technology)

* Administration/Core Funding: This is the funding RTCC receives from the City of Toronto to keep the building open and accessible to the community – it covers basic salary and benefits as well as hard costs such as insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs.

9 PRESIDENT’s REPORT It has been my pleasure to serve as an elevator for six months (a promised those with mobility issues. We have President of your Board of Management six-week job) and jokes about saving beautiful new signage, the auditorium for the past year. We have all been on gym memberships by stair climbing dividers have been upgraded, and lucky to have had a board made up we have opened a community art of disparate individuals who have all gallery in the Saulter Street stairwell. worked hard, worked together and The building, given its age and our helped move the Ralph Thornton constantly expanding usage of it, will Community Centre forward. I would always be a challenge to maintain and like to acknowledge the contributions even more of a challenge to improve of Bernnitta Hawkins and Daniella but we intend to continue to do just Moss, who were unable to complete that so the cornerstone of the neigh- their terms on the board, but made bourhood will always be at Queen significant contributions to the RTCC and Saulter. during their time with us. Yang Han, We have stabilized our staffing and who is leaving the board, will be our governance and are now focusing greatly missed for his contributions on our strategic priorities. During the throughout his term. The RTCC com- past year, we have expanded some munity is better thanks to them. We of our programmes, made others are also fortunate to have a dedicated, self-sufficient, have begun working hard-working staff – we owe them a more closely with partners in River- great deal for their efforts. towne, and developed additional We completed the first year of our opportunities for civic engagement five-year strategic plan in 2018-2019. within our community. We looked at our roles of “advocating”, The Board continues to work hard “enabling” and “delivering” and tried in all areas of its responsibility. We to match our ability to contribute to improved all of our fundraising events the roles our partners and others can and our gala, a Game of Thorntons, play. The Centre has been effective was a huge success, raising a record for trying to do what we can and what of over $15,000. Kudos go out to our is best for the community rather than Fundraising and Marketing Committee trying to be all things for all people. ably chaired by Janet Routliffe. We built or developed partnerships and programming in areas of civic The contributions of the Board, the engagement, financial literacy, and staff, the volunteers and the members technological aptitude, as well as of this Centre have been truly remarkable supporting initiatives in health and over this and other years and it has wellness and affordable housing. We been an honour to have had the continued to look for opportunities for opportunity to lead such an effective future activities. and hardworking team. Thank you! Part of our mandate from the City is to look after our heritage building. This quickly lost their lustre. But we prevailed Alan Lennon part of the mandate often is behind and have a functional elevator making President, the scenes – in 2018 we were without our spaces once again accessible to RTCC Board of Management

10 stairwell Gallery

The Ralph Thornton Sadly, we have also seen increasing challenges from this Community Centre is change – a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood challenges a very special place – us to maintain a space that is respectful, inclusive, and its iconic architecture, welcoming for all of the diverse members of our community. deep community roots, Our staff, Board, and partners in the Queen/Saulter Library unique partnerships, and South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre have been working and a very diverse hard to ensure that RTCC remains a place where everyone feels range of users make welcome and supported. We value the support we have had it a rewarding, but from staff, board, and community partners as we strive to challenging place to lead. Over the past year, all of these maintain a safe, inclusive environment for everyone who characteristics have shaped our work – the challenges of uses the Centre. bringing a 1914-vintage building into the 21st century, We appreciate the strong support we receive from the witnessed by our elevator renewal project, renewing our City of Toronto – as an agency of the City, RTCC receives staff team as some have moved on to pursue new the core funding we need to keep the building open and opportunities, and working with community members functioning, but also the resources required for major and organizations to address the needs created by a capital expenses such as our elevator repair project. As one rapidly changing community. very small part of a very large organization, it is easy for RTCC We have made significant progress – ‘signature’ RTCC to get lost in the shuffle, and we are most grateful for the events such as our Halloween party, the Riverside Craft Beer continued work of our Councillor, Paula Fletcher, who and Wine Festival and our annual cornerstone gala – ensures that our voice is heard at City Hall. Game of Thorntons – celebrated record attendance and It is hard to imagine how different our neighbourhood support for the Centre. Our Tax Filer clinic almost doubled is from 1914, when the building that is now RTCC was its impact, and our After School Program is now at capacity, constructed as a post office – it is even dramatically different with a growing reputation for quality programming. from what it was in 1981, when RTCC was established as a Expanding our Reception and Exchange Loft hours helped community centre. Since it was built, 765 Queen Street East meet a demonstrated need in our community, with more has been a centre of community – we are proud to continue than a 20% increase in usage over the previous year. that tradition, as it evolves to meet changing needs. New initiatives such as the Stairwell Gallery are breathing life into neglected parts of the building. John Campey Executive Director

11 Thanks to our Board of Management, Centre staff, Funders, Partners, Volunteers and MANY THANKS! Community Members for your continued support. Funders and Partners: City of Toronto, Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, Human Resources Development Canada, Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, Nellie’s, Ralph Thornton Community Organization, Riverside BIA, Riverdale Share, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, South Riverdale Child-Parent Centre, Streetcar Developments, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Foundation for Student Success, Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, Toronto Public Library - Queen/Saulter Branch, WoodGreen Community Services The Ralph Thornton Community Centre is an agency of the City of Toronto, operating under an independent community Board of Management. RTCC appreciates the over $750,000 per year in core operating funds, along with major capital project funding, provided by the City.

Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre

Cover Photo: In 2018, the Toronto Fringe Festival ventured east of the Don River for the first time, mounting Kitchen` Sink Dramas” in the Betsy Swift Community Kitchen at RTCC. Pictured are the cast, along with RTCC social media ‘hound’ Copper Campey Guzman.

765 Queen St. East Toronto, ON M4M 1H3 416-392-6810 RALPH THORNTON Fax 416-392-0025 COMMUNITY CENTRE www.ralphthornton.org

RalphThorntonCommunityCentre12 @ralphthornton