It is my pleasure to bring greetings from CCS’s Board of Directors. I began my term as president this past September and I am honoured to serve the organization in this capacity.
I wish to thank our immediate past-president, Sylvia Samuel, for her dedicated efforts and excellent work on behalf of our Board over the last number of years, and I look forward to working with her in her role as Ex-Officio member of the Board.
As an immigrant myself, I fully appreciate, on a very personal level, the importance of the CCS mission and mandate to provide excellent, comprehensive services to our clients – newcomers, immigrants, and refuges intent on building a better future for themselves and their families in a new country. But this can be a daunting experience. As a retired educator, I have first-hand knowledge and insight into the value that settlement workers bring to the lives of students and their families through our ongoing outreach into schools across the GTA.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organization for its client focus during these unprecedented times. For 66 years, CCS has been there when some of the most vulnerable community members have needed us most and continues to do great work. I wish to commend executive director, Agnes Thomas, and her entire team for pivoting nimbly during the pandemic, and re-imagining how to deliver services virtually, while balancing the health and safety of staff.
CCS has always been adept at matching the needs of clients and aligning the right services. From new offerings for the LGBTQ+ community and women’s support services for Spanish-speakers, to enhanced support for refugee sponsors, there is a significant amount of program and service innovation taking place across the organization.
The Board is very supportive of this strategic direction and looks forward to continuing to be sensitive to the challenges of the “new normal” and to facilitating the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Angela Gauthier
President, CCS Board of Directors
