by Margery Frisch
LITTLE CURRENT—On Monday, July 17, Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR) held its annual general meeting at its relatively new space, the EarlyON and Family Centre at 9050 Highway 6 in Little Current.
Board of directors president Suzanne Norris opened the meeting with the land acknowledgement and the reading of the MFR mission statement: ‘To support individuals and families by providing resources and education through the agency’s three program areas of Children’s Services, Violence Against Women Prevention and Food Security.’
Ms. Norris then introduced the board members: Leanne Bentley (vice-president), Yana Bauer (secretary/treasurer), Valerie O’Leary, Les Fields, Jillian Peltier and Margit Alberti.
The agenda was approved. The appointments and resignations of board members were acknowledged as follows: resignation of board director Mary Jo Gordon (October 28, 2022), board director Rebecca Wright (November 22, 2022), and Valerie O’Leary as board president (January 24, 2023); approval for one year appointment of Board President Suzanne Norris (January 24, 2023), one year appointment of Vice-President Leanne Bentley, one year appointment of Secretary/Treasurer Yana Bauer and one year appointment of Valerie O’Leary as board director.
Ms. Norris, as president, addressed those gathered, stating the difficulties faced navigating through post pandemic protocols. Ms. Norris went on to acknowledge how these challenges put increased pressure on staff, as the demands for the services they provide increased. “We greatly appreciate all the hard-working staff and volunteers for your dedication, compassion and resilience,” she said.
Ms. Norris thanked outgoing executive director, Marnie Hall, who held the position for eight years. “We are grateful you are staying on with MFR as the Violence Against Women program director. Thank you.”
Colleen Hill, the new executive director was welcomed. “Colleen is a passionate community builder,” Ms. Norris said. “She brings over 25 years of senior management and leadership in academic, public and not for profit positions…Most recently, Colleen was the executive director for the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County. We are excited that Colleen has joined the MFR team.”
In her closing remarks, Ms. Norris thanked the organization’s many funders, for their continued support and for understanding the many challenges faced by the MFR in the past year.
Ms. Hall, outgoing executive director was next to speak to those in attendance. “Every sector speaks to the human resource shortage, and the challenges and closures that we are at risk of, essential service or not,” she said. “MFR has not been exempt from this and yet we succeeded in meeting our mandates and delivering our programs throughout the year. We completed and opened our new food bank and thrift store; we expanded our volunteer program; we created agency software for our staff, and we safely supported our clients and families. We did this in spite of the challenges we faced, and we did this because MFR doesn’t have a staff made up of regular people, we have a staff of superheroes who wish to change the world.”
A report on the Violence Against Women Prevention Program by Marnie Hall explained the various grants that were received and what these grants allowed them to do: funding for hiring a shelter supervisor, a position of social media and community engagement; the ability to open a satellite office for counselling in Espanola. A Mothers in Mind program was begun, partnering with Healthy Babies, Healthy Children in Wiikwemkoong; MFR’s own software program was developed for outreach program staff; and two staff members took part in ‘Peace Program’ training, for working with children in the shelters.
Highlights of the Children’s Services Program, presented by its director, Diana St-Pierre, included introduction of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Plan, allowing families affordable childcare, and the relocation of the EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Little Current and Mindemoya.
Vanessa Glasby, food security program supervisor reported on the Foodbank and Thrift Store and the “final relocation and opening of our long-awaited new building.”
Ms. Glasby reported on the approval of the various grants which allowed them to hire a part-time staff position, the development of a local hunger report with billboards and print material showing the magnitude of local food insecurity. She reported on successful food drives, including the pre-Christmas Drive organized by Orr’s Valu-Mart in Little Current, and the Christmas Hamper campaign which saw over 1,000 hampers delivered to households throughout Manitoulin Island.
The auditor’s report was given and approved, as prepared by KPMG; the bylaws were approved, as well as the five-year strategic plan for 2023 to 2028.
