2021-22

Jane/Finch Centre
Annual report

Message from our executive director

Our Executive Director, Michelle Dagnino, talks about what the Jane/Finch Centre has been up to this year.

The Jane/Finch Centre is a community-based organization driven by passion, innovation and a strong commitment to social justice, community engagement and collaboration.

OUR MISSION

Our vision is a healthy Jane and Finch community - strong, inclusive, socially and politically active through diversity, opportunity and participation.

OUR VISION

Each of our programs have been very busy this year, supporting over 16,000 residents in Jane-Finch. Click on the photos below to read more about what they have been up to.

Year at a glance: PROGRAM UPDATES

FEPS (Financial Empowerment and Program Solving)

Despite the challenges many programs faced due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they managed to find creative and innovative solutions to program and service delivery.

Impact Statistics

“As youth, I know we have our tainted perspectives on workshops and programs like these. I was also once in that same limited mindset until I discovered Falstaff Youth Social. If you’re just looking to network with genuine folks and indulge in a no-judgment zone while simultaneously winning prizes and having access to links and resources to help out in challenging times, I strongly suggest giving this a shot. The facilitators definitely had an impact on how the overall program operates, and they made it thought-provoking, entertaining and engaging throughout each session.”
Shaniqua, Youth Program Participant

Youth PROGRAM Testimonial

Falstaff Youth Social Program Facilitators

This year, our community wellbeing team launched the service navigation program. The service navigation program supports residents of Jane and Finch and of Northwest Toronto in accessing mental health services and social supports in their immediate communities. It is open to anyone ages 13+ experiencing/or at risk of negative mental health outcomes.

The program launched in May 2021. Below are program impact statistics from the first year of the programs implementation.

From May 2021-March 2022…

Service Navigation Program

SERVICE NAVIGATION PROGRAM CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

“The program has given me more confidence to outshine and want to get help whenever it is needed. It gave me the help that I needed especially living in the Jane and Finch community.”
Service Navigation Program Client (13-24 years old)

“It [the program] has made such difference. I am a lot calmer as I used to react negatively. I am not so angry anymore. I feel like the program really help me calm down and walk away from certain situations.”
Service Navigation Program Client (30-40 years old)

Community Wellbeing Team

Highlights

Vaccine Equity

This year, we participated in various vaccine engagement and equity projects, to ensure residents from Jane-Finch were prioritized in the vaccine rollout. In July 2021, our Somali Community Vaccine Project focused on providing the Somali community of Northwest Toronto with culturally relevant and language specific vaccine information, and support with booking vaccination appointments.
Adopt-A-Family

During the 2021 holiday season, our annual Adopt-a-Family program - led by our EarlyON team - was able to provide gifts, home necessities and gift cards to over 27 families. This year, we had donations from many corporate sponsors including Cintas, York University, the Jane Finch Mall and Magen Boys Entertainment. The CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish donated over 600 toys and $10,000.
Corner Commons Award

Corner Commons was a winner of the 2022 National Urban Design Awards in the category of Community Initiatives, and was one of 13 projects selected from across Canada. The National Urban Design Awards program is a partnership between the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CLSA).
Back-to-School Giveaway

In August 2021, the youth and settlement teams from The Spot hosted their annual back-to-school backpack drive, distributing 300 backpacks to families and youth in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood. The event was hosted at Corner Commons, and included an ice cream truck, music and a space for community members to enjoy.

Over the last two years, the Jane/Finch Centre has relied heavily on digital platforms for program delivery and community outreach. This year, our teams reported a significant increase in the way we were able to reach people online. Despite in-person services being on-hold following Public Health guidelines, we were still able to provide 100’s of hours worth of digital programs and services to the community.

Virtual Programming and Social Media Statistics

*Aruna was a young mother and widow living in Sri Lanka who was struggling with PTSD and other mental health illnesses due to the tragic loss of both her husband and son. Aruna was eager to move to Canada to be with her daughter. After 12 years of waiting, she was finally able to enter Canada on parental sponsorship.

While starting her new life in Canada, she continued to face hardships. Aruna moved in with her daughter, who was pregnant and experiencing intimate partner violence. Living in that household, Aruna also became a victim of abuse. She needed a way for them to leave but didn’t know where to go. Aruna could not read or write. She didn’t have access to a cell phone, and was scared to use one. She needed support but didn’t know where to turn. That’s when she found the Jane/Finch Centre.

The Jane/Finch Centre gave her access to a network of support. They connected her with a food distribution service, provided resources to access affordable housing and helped her file her income taxes. She was given additional tools and financial support to help her take control of her life - all while making sure her identity was protected.

To make matters more challenging, Aruna wasn’t being properly paid by her employer. The Jane/Finch Centre connected her to the Workers Action Centre, an organization able to advocate for her rights as a worker. To help her access additional support and benefits, she needed her husband’s death certificate - which she did not have access to.

Within four months, the settlement team at the Jane/Finch Centre was able to get her a copy. Having this certificate, she was able to apply for benefits and allowances she would not otherwise have access to.

The settlement team continued to support her by connecting her to a family doctor, helping her renew her PR card and supporting her through the process of acquiring a Canadian passport and citizenship. Aruna continues to participate in support groups, and through the seniors program, was given a tablet to participate in weekly online programming.

As of February 2021, Aruna secured independent housing and became a Canadian citizen. Aruna and her daughter were able to leave their situation, and are both now in a healthier environment. Aruna’s daughter has become a participant and client of the Jane/Finch Centre alongside her mom.

*The name used in this story is a pseudonym to protect our clients identity.

Participant Story

media mentions

The Jane/Finch Centre has been featured in various news outlets, including the Toronto Star, CBC, Global News, The Globe and Mail, CBC Radio and more. For the 2021-22 year, the Jane/Finch Centre was featured in over 43 articles about our impact in the community, our advocacy work and our services. Click on the buttons below to read some of the articles we have been featured in.

Toronto Community Housing tenants blindsided by CRA demand to pay back benefits

CBC NEWS

ARTICLE
Canadian projects selected for the 2022 National Urban Design Awards

CANADIAN ARCHITECT

ARTICLE
How many kids aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated in your Toronto neighbourhood? You might be surprised

TORONTO STAR

ARTICLE
AS OMICRON SPREADS, KIDS 5-11 VACCINATION SLOWS. THAT MUST CHANGE, EXPERTS SAY

GLOBAL NEWS

ARTICLE