Happy 20th Anniversary Mary!
The CSPC-T would like to congratulate Mary Micallef in appreciation for 20 years of service at the Council.
Mary is an invaluable asset to the Council, and we are all lucky to have her. Thank you Mary!
CSPC-T Communications Survey
The CSPC-T is taking stock of its communications - help us serve you better by completing this very short survey!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=MJjkliwkPfeAIfaEQMtUpA_3d_3d
ANC-Mt Dennis Update
During the month of August 2007 the ANC Mt. Dennis office facilitated ‘Summer of Fun’ workshops in the Dennis Avenue Community School along with the Mt. Dennis Community association funded through the Quick Start fund by United Way. The space in the school was secured through the Open Doors program of TDSB for free use of school space in the community during the summer months. The workshops included Steel pan Drumming, Hip-Hop Hope, Street Theatre and Circus Skills. Imagination Art Map workshop was postponed to September due to change in the availability of the person.
One of the newly hired animators planned, implemented and facilitated a weekly basketball activity for 4 days a week in the local school which ended on August 17/07 due to the Open Doors Program closure in the schools. The interest was evident by the attendance of over 25 individuals, mostly younger men, attending the event regularly every week.
On August 23, 2007 ANC office helped in organizing a meeting of community leaders and agencies at the Legion on Weston Rd. The meeting was attended by people representing community groups, residents,
agencies, elected officials, faith groups and other stakeholders. This event was held at Mt. Dennis
Legion (1050 Weston Road) in order to engage the community through various tools such as theatre and circus in the process of awareness-raising about the issue of the former Kodak land development in the neighbourhood.
Goodbye, Emma
The Council would like to congratulate and thank Emma Feltes who has just recently completed her 14-week stay with us. Since arriving in May 2007, Emma has assisted the research team on the Access
to Education Project, the SPACE survey, and carried out preliminary research on Human Rights and Rental Housing for the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She has also spent time helping the team at the Mount Dennis Action for Neighbourhood Change office, by assisting on various initiatives such as program development for the Free Arts Workshops for Youth, and helped administer and present the findings for the York Town Hall Meeting survey. We would like to thank her for all her hard work and contributions to the Council and wish her all the best in her continued studies.
25 in 5
The CSPC-T joins with the 25 in 5 network this month to put poverty reduction on the election agenda. Read the September 4 Toronto Star editorial in support of this initiative http://www.thestar.com/article/
252196
Rally for United Way 2007 – September 6
Celebrate the giving spirit of Torontonians with United Way as we launch
our 2007 fundraising campaign in the heart of the city. Featuring foot-stomping performances, delicious food and an abundance of community spirit, this event is not to be missed. Join us. Hosted by Farley Flex, Canadian Idol Judge. Entertainment includes: Plasma recording artists Toya Alexis and Belinda Brady, Caribbean Stilt Walkers, Traditional Chinese Dragon Dancers, and many more performers from Toronto’s diverse communities.
September 6, 2007 - 12 Noon to 1:00pm
Dundas Square (Yonge & Dundas)
food - entertainment - agency fair
Visit unitedwaytoronto.com regularly for updates.
What will MMP mean for Ethno-Racial Communities in Ontario? –September 8
Saturday, September 8, 2007, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Centre for Social Innovation
215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 120 Boardroom, Toronto
Ontario voters will face a referendum question on October 10, 2007 on a new way to elect our Members of Provincial Parliament. This referendum question has particular salience for racialized and newcomer communities in Ontario, as well as women, and other groups that have been historically under-represented
within existing political institutions. The proposed electoral reform holds the potential to correct this under-representation.
The workshop will examine the proposed MMP electoral system, and discuss its implications for ethno-racial communities in Ontario. Themes will include:
MMP from the voter’s perspective. How does an election work under MMP, and what does the resulting legislative assembly look like?
MMP from the perspective of ethno-minority candidates. How are minority communities represented at Queen’s Park? What are the present obstacles to minority candidacies? List candidate/riding candidate: what are the differences? Will ethno-racial communities and women be better represented under MMP?
We invite participants from all communities, who share an interest in political participation and the inclusiveness of our representative institutions. We will provide participants with various materials that they can use in discussing the referendum on electoral reform in their communities.
For further information, contact: Dr. Karen Bird, (905) 525-9140 ext. 23701 Email: kbird@mcmaster.ca
Sponsored by CASSA, CCNC Toronto Chapter, CERIS, Equal Voice and Fair Vote Canada
Call for Nominations – New Pioneers Awards – Deadline: September 15
Since 1993, the New Pioneers Awards (NPA) has showcased the outstanding contributions made by immigrants
and refugees within the Greater Toronto Area.
On February 28, 2008, at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre, Skills for Change will host the 16th Annual 2008 New Pioneers Awards gala to celebrate six new award recipients. The NPA will be attended
by 500+ people from three levels of government, senior corporate representatives, community leaders and media.
We invite you to nominate a newcomer who has significantly contributed to our GTA community in one
of the following six award categories: Arts, Science & Technology, Community Service, Youth, Entrepreneurship
and Skills for Change Graduate.
Information on how to nominate by mail, fax or on-line can be found here: http://www.skillsforchange.org/npa/nominations/index.html. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 15, 2007. For further information call 416.658.3101 ext. 223 or email Arlene Willis: willis@skillsforchange.org
Street Health Report 2007 Release - September 19
Join us for the release of the Street Health Report 2007, a community-based study on the health of homeless people in Toronto:
Wednesday, September 19th at 10:00 a.m.
Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Square (east of Bay/south of Dundas, behind the Eaton Centre)
The Street Health Report 2007 presents the findings of a survey of 368 homeless adults in Toronto on their health and access to health care. This study was conducted in the winter of 2006/2007 by Street Health, a community-based health care organization working with homeless and under-housed people in downtown Toronto.
The Street Health Report 2007 reveals a picture of homelessness in Toronto that demands immediate action and outlines a series of recommendations to improve the health of homeless people and to ultimately
end homelessness.
As we release our report on September 19th, the National Film Board of Canada will be launching its Street Health Stories exhibit, a collection of portraits and audio-recordings of the voices of some of the survey participants.
For more information please contact: Kate Mason (kate@streethealth.ca) or Erika Khandor (erika@streethealth.ca). Telephone: 416-921-8668 or visit www.streethealth.ca.
Debate on Poverty and Health – September 25
The Liberal, New Democratic, and Progressive Conservative Parties will be participating in a debate on poverty and health, moderated by Carol Goar of Toronto Star at InnisTown Hall, NW corner of St. George Street and Sussex Avenue, just south of Bloor Street on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Sponsored by Health Providers Against Poverty, Income Security Advocacy Centre, and Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
Call for applications – Vital Ideas Grant Program – Deadline: September 28
Do you know someone who is making an outstanding contribution through their work with a not-for-profit organization in Toronto? Please let them know about Vital Ideas - a grant program through the Toronto Community Foundation that promotes the continued growth and effectiveness of valued leaders that work to improve the quality of life in the GTA.
Please pass along the attached, and take a peek at our website (www.tcf.ca) for the application guidelines.
The deadline for submissions is September 28, 2007
Investing in Neighbourhoods – Employment for OW clients
Investing in Neighbourhoods is Toronto Social Services’ (TSS) newest employment initiative, offering employment
opportunities in Toronto’s 13 priority neighbourhoods and Regent Park. With the goal of increasing
employability for Ontario Works clients, TSS is funding 100 new jobs with non-profit organizations.
TSS will fund 100% of the salary, up to a maximum of $22,464.00, including the employer portion of contributions
towards Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and vacation pay. Coverage for Workplace Safety Insurance accident will be provided by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
This initiative will:
Support unemployed parents in receipt of Ontario Works to gain valuable work experience;
Strengthen local communities; and
Increase service delivery capacity of participating agencies.
There are still opportunities to create employment positions in the following neighbourhoods. For more details about participating in the Investing in Neighbourhoods initiative, contact the Community and Labour
Market Manager listed below.
Neighbourhood Manager Phone Number
Jane-Finch Gresford Blades 416-397-1609
Scarborough Village Gresford Blades 416-397-1609
Dorset Park Gresford Blades 416-397-1609
Eglinton East-Kennedy Park Susan Maynes 416-397-0430
Malvern Janet Wong 416-397-1246
Kingston-Galloway Janet Wong 416-397-1246
Crescent Town Carol Ringwood 416-397-7488
Flemingdon Park-Victoria Village Anne Fuentes 416-392-8631
Lawrence Heights Mary Catherine Hudakoc 416-392-4962
Westminster-Branson Grace Varrecchia 416-392-3279
Vote Out Poverty - October 1
An evening of culture and politics to raise awareness of the need for a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Ontario,
hosted by Mary Walsh. Featuring Stephen Lewis as keynote speaker, musical performances by Susan Aglukark and more!
Monday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria Street
Ontario needs a Poverty Reduction Strategy that sets specific goals and actions to reduce the depth and scope of poverty. Such a strategy would offer a long-term approach to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty
in Ontario.
More info at http://www.voteoutpoverty.ca
Presented by: The Ontario Coalition for Social Justice and Make Poverty History.
Maytree Foundation Programs – Various deadlines
______________________________________
Apply now to Leaders for Change
Leaders for Change (LFC), a leadership development program for social justice activists is being offered this fall with a focus on action-based poverty reduction initiatives. LFC takes place from October 2007 to June 2008 and includes a variety of learning opportunities, including retreats, training and self-directed action projects. The application deadline is Friday, September 14, 2007.
http://www.maytree.com/index.asp?section=2
________________________________________
Apply now to Maytree Public Policy Training Institute
The Maytree Public Policy Training Institute (PPTI) is designed for individuals and organizations with a demonstrated interest and engagement in public policy. The program is specifically aimed at participants
who can articulate an issue where policy change could have a significant progressive impact.The program will run over a six-month period from November 2007 to May 2008 and will include a series of 5 modules with leading public policy experts. The application deadline is Monday, October 1, 2007.
http://www.maytree.com/index.asp?section=2
Community Sector Organizations - Call for Proposal – Deadline September 10
Human Resources and Social Development posted a Call for Proposals to deliver a total of nearly $3 million in funding to the community non-profit sector.
The funding will be awarded through a competitive process and includes two components. The first is to provide further analysis of the Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP), and the available funding is $332,000. The second component is geared to fostering innovation in the community
non-profit sector by funding projects that will enable the sector to share innovative practices, and the available funding is $2.6 million.
For more information, visit
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_partnerships/sdpp/call/cos/index.shtml
2007 Forum on Social Housing and Homelessness, Toronto – September 18-20
We invite Social Housing Service Managers, shelter providers, front line staff and
community agencies to join us for the 2007 Forum on Social Housing and
Homelessness, “It Starts with Us!” at the Toronto Renaissance Airport Hotel. This forum has been organized
by the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA), the Service Manager Housing Network (SMHN) and the Ontario Association of Hostels (OAH).
The theme for this year’s forum, “It Starts with Us”, is reflected in the main message
within the keynote addresses and workshops being offered over the two-and-a-halfday forum. Delegates
who deliver municipal social housing and homelessness services as well as shelter and hostel representatives from across Ontario can expect to come away from this forum with tools, resources and concrete examples of partnerships, as well as a renewed sense of the importance of collaboration as they pursue the goal of healthy communities and a home for all Ontarians.
Registration and information: http://www.omssa.com/lib/Db2file.asp?fileid=18509
Earlybird deadline: September 10.
Increasing Diversity in Canadian Cities – October 11-12
Poverty among young families today is substantially higher than it was 20 years ago. One-third of all low income children live in families with at least one parent working full time, full year. A large part of the problem is that many jobs pay low wages. Based on the belief that a job should be a pathway out of poverty, this forum focuses on building support for a “Living Wage” – the income that a family would need to meet basic needs, maintain a healthy standard of living, and be able to save for future needs.
The Toronto Public Library is co-hosting a conference on Increasing Diversity in Canadian Cities that will explore the role that libraries play in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. Participants
from across Canada and from several European countries are attending, the keynote speaker is Adrienne Clarkson and there will be a dicussion with a panel of Canadian mayors.
For more information please go to www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/culc/
“New Voices in Labour Studies” – October 19-20
A Labour Studies Workshop at McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
October 19 – 20, 2007.
This workshop will explore these new developments within the field of labour studies, and provide the “new voices” of labour studies an opportunity to present their research and work. During a series of panels and presentations, scholars receiving their PhD within the last 5 years, along with post-doctoral fellows, and senior PhD students will be provided with an informal venue in which to present their research. More info at http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/labourstudies/MainPDFs/conferencecall.pdf
Communities and Labour Conference – October 18-20
The Centre for the Study of Education and Work presents Communities and Labour: Building Unity and Justice Through Diversity, October 18-20, 2007. Co-Sponsors:
CSEW Learning Community Unionism Working Group, OISE/UT, Toronto Training Board. Join over 125 diverse community & labour workers, activists, academics, and students as we define our shared values, explore community unionism, and build new relationships. Speakers include: Andy Banks, Director of Organizing, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, John Cartwright, President, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, Speaker from the Woodbine Community Benefits project.
Cost: $200/ subsidized rate $100 (All conference related events, reception, and some meals)
Early Bird Special $150 (deadline-September 14, 2007)
Location: 89 Chestnut Residence Conference Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Registration: http://www.learningwork.ca
Contact: Tomee Sojourner, Conference Coordinator
Phone (416) 461-0154; Email: tomeesojourner@yahoo.ca
Rhonda Sussman, CSEW Administrator
Phone (416) 978-0515; Email: rsussman@oise.utoronto.ca
Urban Poverty Project 2007 update - August 9, 2007
Four new components of The Urban Poverty Project are now available:
* Poverty Data Tables
* A Lost Decade
* Poverty by Geography
* Dimensions of Income among Poor Households
The Urban Poverty Project 2007 is a series of comprehensive analytical reports, resource tools, and data profiles which take a broad look at different aspects of urban poverty in Canada, using detailed data from Statistics Canada Censuses and other sources. Reports in the UPP series pay special attention to the status
of certain population groups particularly vulnerable to poverty, while others examine the concentration of poverty in urban neighbourhoods.
http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2007/upp/index.htm
Jordan’s Principle - August 14, 2007
Noni MacDonald, M.D., M.Sc, and Amir Attaran, L.L.B., Ph.D.
A recent research report indicates that jurisdictional disputes involving the costs of caring for First Nations
children are very prevalent with 393 of these disputes occurring in 12 sample First Nations child and family service agencies this past year alone. The vast majority of these disputes were between two federal government departments or between the federal government and the provincial/territorial government (for more information please see the Wen:de report (2005) http://www.fncfcs.com/docs/WendeReport.pdf).
In honor of Jordan, a First Nations child who was a casualty of these disputes, the following organizations and individuals are calling upon all provincial and territorial governments as well as the government of Canada to immediately adopt a child first principle to resolving jurisdictional disputes involving the care of First Nations children.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/177/4/321
Canadian Housing Equality Resources
This website is produced by the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA), an Ontario-based non profit human rights organization that has spent the past 20 years challenging the systemic barriers and discrimination that contribute to homelessness and housing insecurity.
http://www.equalityrights.org/cher
Housing Rights: A Canadian web site
The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) has launched a new web site devoted to housing rights in Canada called Canadian Housing Equality Resources. It’s full of interesting and important information,
and is designed for everyone from the person (or household) that is experiencing housing discrimination
to the housing advocate. Lawyers and legal advocates will find information on legislation and case law. And there are lots of practical tools, like dealing with the media. CERA has been active for two decades on housing issues and is recognized locally, nationally and internationally as an important partner.
Source of this brief review: Michael Shapcott
http://wellesleyinstitute.com/housing-rights-canadian-web-site
|
