ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0 BOARD CHAIR REPORT W h e n O n t a r i o w e n t i n t o l o c k d o w n o n M a r c h 1 7 , 2 0 2 0 , I t h o u g h t t h i n g s w o u l d b e b a c k t o n o r m a l b y J u n e . F i v e m o n t h s l a t e r , I ’ v e l e a r n e d t w o t h i n g s . O n e , COVID - 1 9 w i l l b e c a u s i n g p r o b l e m s f o r q u i t e a w h i l e y e t . T w o , w e d o n ’ t w a n t t o g o b a c k t o “ n o r m a l .” COVID - 1 9 s h o w e d u s t h e m e a n i n g o f “ e s s e n t i a l . ” T h o s e w h o d e l i v e r p a c k a g e s , s t o c k s h e l v e s , h a r v e s t f o o d , t e n d t o t h e s i c k a n d e l d e r l y – w o r k e r s w h o s e l a b o u r i s d e m e a n e d a s “ l o w s k i l l ” a n d w h o s e w a g e s a n d h o u r s a r e o f t e n s u p p r e s s e d . I t w a s g o o d PR t o c a l l t h e m “ h e r o e s , " a n d e a s i e r t h a n p a y i n g t h e m a l i v i n g w a g e . COVID - 1 9 s h o w e d u s governments s p e n d i n g t o k e e p t h e e c o n o m y f r o m c o l l a p s i n g . I t s h o w e d u s t h e h o r r i b l e h u m a n c o s t o f s p e n d i n g c u t s . D u r i n g t h e s e u n c e r t a i n t i m e s , w e s a w s u s t a i n e d p r o t e s t s w h i c h s e e m t o h a v e r e s o n a t e d i n t h e c o r r i d o r s o f p o w e r . I b e l i e v e t h e r e i s a n opportunity f o r s o c i a l c h a n g e l i k e w e ’ v e n o t s e e n i n d e c a d e s . T h e p a n d e m i c h a s e x p o s e d t h e f l a w s o f “ n o r m a l , " a n d i t h a s g i v e n u s information w e c a n u s e t o p u s h f o r w a r d . T h i s i s w h e r e t h e J a n e / F i n c h C e n t r e c o m e s i n . I t s m a n d a t e i s t o p r o v i d e r e s i d e n t s w i t h t h e s e r v i c e s a n d t o o l s t h e y n e e d t o b r i n g a p o s i t i v e c h a n g e i n t h e i r l i v e s . T h a n k s t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r , M i c h e l l e D a g n i n o , t h e C e n t r e i s u p t o t h e c h a l l e n g e . M i c h e l l e ' s s k i l l s a n d f o r e s i g h t h a v e m a d e t h e C e n t r e m o r e e f f i c i e n t , m o r e e f f e c t i v e , a n d b e t t e r p r e p a r e d t o f a c e t h e p o s t - p a n d e m i c l a n d s c a p e . This marks the end of my Board term. It was a fulfilling experience, particularly my time as Chair. I look back fondly on my interactions with Michelle and the skilled and dedicated staff. I thank Board members, past and present, for their dedication and assistance. The Centre is a remarkable organization and I look forward to its future accomplishments. - Angelo Furlan ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 0 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT I n m y a l m o s t 2 0 y e a r s o f a professional c a r e e r i n t h e n o n - p r o f i t s e c t o r , I h a v e n e v e r experienced a y e a r l i k e 2 0 2 0 . A n d w h i l e t h i s a n n u a l r e p o r t c o v e r s m u c h o f w h a t h a p p e n e d p r i o r t o M a r c h 2 0 2 0 , I a m w r i t i n g t h i s i n t h e m i d s t o f t h e b i g g e s t c r i s i s t h e J a n e / F i n c h C e n t r e h a s e v e r f a c e d a n d c a n ’ t i g n o r e w h a t t h e l a s t 6 m o n t h s h a s b r o u g h t . COVID - 1 9 h a s b r o u g h t t o t h e l i g h t t h e essentialness o f t h e C e n t r e ’ s w o r k . W e h a v e b e e n a t t h e f r o n t l i n e s o f a c r i s i s o f f o o d s e c u r i t y , e c o n o m i c precariousness , a n d m e n t a l h e a l t h d e c l i n e . A s a n a g e n c y t h a t h a s b u i l t a 4 5 y e a r r e p u t a t i o n o n i t s l e a d e r s h i p i n p o v e r t y r e d u c t i o n a n d c o m m u n i t y development , o u r d e c a d e s o f experiences i n d i r e c t s e r v i c e a l l o w e d u s t o j u m p i n t o s e r v i c e d u r i n g t h i s t i m e .