A Message from our CEO and Board Chair

Dixon Hall has also experienced growth and challenges. In preparation for this year’s Impact Report, we took the opportunity to remember the legacy of support that launched our agency in 1929. Looking at old photos and reviewing our history over the last nine decades, we were struck by two things: the consistency with which the agency evolved its services, programs, and staffing in response to the community’s needs, and the unwavering commitment to caring and community for those in need.

2018 was another transformative year at Dixon Hall with many exciting new developments. As we approach our 90th anniversary, we continue to build from and enhance our foundation of support in the Downtown East.

To name a few highlights: we broke ground on our new youth centre after years of anticipation; we began working with precariously-housed men and women in new and innovative ways; and we expanded the number of seniors, families, and caregivers we’re supporting. In this year’s report we’re proud to share our current work in the community alongside memories and images from the past 90 years. We hope you’ll enjoy the touch of nostalgia we’ve introduced to our Impact Report. Here’s to another 90 years of service!

2018–2019: Our Impact in the Downtown East

SENIORS SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

HOUSING SERVICES

VOLUNTEER SERVICES

CHILDREN & YOUTH

The Last Year & Looking Ahead

We’ve been busy this year preparing to move into our new youth centre. This new space is a milestone for us and for our community, and will represent the vibrancy of Regent Park youth. Once we’re settled into the space, we’ll have opportunities to plan effectively for expanded programming, enabling us to reach more young people than ever before.

While we improve our physical space, we’re also cultivating healthy emotional space for youth. This year, we integrated the SAFEN (Shopping Aisles for Emotional Needs) tool into our work. The SAFEN tool makes it easy for youth to check in with themselves and gives us complex insights into their emotional wellness. With this knowledge, we’re creating improved personal service plans to help young people reach their goals.

“You can be your own leader and make your own decisions and choices.”­
– Jamar

As a young child, Jamar joined our Tiny Tots summer camp program. He grew up with us, participating in all the programs available through our Children & Youth department. Summer camp was his favourite. Being outside of the city and in nature allowed him to drop his tough façade and enjoy himself. When Jamar was 16 years old, his mother passed away. He says our Youth Workers were there for him unconditionally. At 18 years old, we helped Jamar find an apartment, where he still lives.

After years of community engagement and completing his education, Jamar has joined our Children & Youth team as our newest Youth Worker. Jamar says he’s excited to work with Regent Park youth and pass on important lessons he learned: the power of positivity; how to be a leader by making your own decisions and choices rather than following the crowd; and knowing that the Dixon Hall team won’t give up on you.

Celebrating 40 Years
While Preparing for Growth

This year, we celebrated our 40th anniversary of the Music School at our annual fundraising gala, Music for Life. Thompson Egbo-Egbo, a celebrated jazz pianist and former student who now serves as a Dixon Hall Board Member hosted the event, and reminded us all of the lasting impact music education has on students.

Our overnight summer camp in 2018 was another reminder. The annual two-week program was attended by our largest group of students ever. For students, time outside of the city provides peace, tranquility and more time to practice. These extended practice opportunities result in students making significant progress in their skill-sets in just one week.

Our Music School will also have a new home in our new youth centre. This move means we’ll share space with the Children & Youth Department; we’ll have upgraded amenities and studios, and we’ll be able to increase our enrollment numbers for the first time in years.

Unprecedented Growth & Expansion

Our Housing team was extremely busy in 2018. The department tripled in size. As part of this growth we launched an exciting initiative, the Rooming House Project (RHP), in partnership with Homes First Society and Ecuhome Corporation. Through the RHP, we’re supporting over 200 tenants in 23 rooming houses throughout Cabbagetown. We’re focused on improving the quality of life and stabilizing housing for tenants by helping them build relationships with us, with each other, with clients in our other programs, and within the community.

We published a report, “Calling Home: Exploring Paths to Homelessness in our city” concluding a year-long project. “Calling Home” used community-based research to learn more about guests of the OOTC program and shelter residents of Heyworth House, and to compare their experiences of homelessness. The project tested the use of cellphone technology when working with marginalized populations, thanks to generous support from Freedom Mobile who provided study participants with cellphones including data plans.

The study clearly showed that both groups strongly desire to find housing. This project exemplifies our plan to move forward with data-informed solutions that centre on the voices of the homeless population.

“I got the keys on my birthday – It was the best present I ever got.”­
– Dennis

Dennis grew up in a dysfunctional family that struggled with substance abuse. Both of his parents were alcoholics, and Dennis went on to battle addiction himself. He became homeless for the first time at 18 years old, and spent many years on the streets. During the winter of 2018, he was living in a tent. One evening, he went to Evangel Hall where the Out of the Cold program was running for the final night of the season. There, he met Calvin and Christine, Dixon Hall’s Client Intervention Workers.

Christine and Calvin began supporting Dennis by helping him get ready for housing and found an affordable unit for him. Dennis got the keys to his apartment on October 1st, his birthday. He says it’s the best birthday present he has ever received in his life. Today, Dennis is still housed and is still in contact with Christine and Calvin. He recently got himself a pet husky, who he describes as his best friend.

New Clients, New Collaboration

Our expertise in serving seniors and their loved ones has not gone unnoticed. This year, we’ve been given the exciting opportunity to expand the network of seniors we support. Our client-base is growing as we are taking on new clients from another organization. We’ve been incorporating these seniors into our active day programs in phases to ensure they feel welcomed and comfortable, and are referring them to other services as necessary. We are proud to be recognized for our excellence and capacity to deeply support clients.

Now that the refresh of our Carlton Campus is completed, seniors are enjoying a brighter and more functional space for their activities. And now that we’re sharing the location with Housing Services, we’ve begun working more collaboratively. This has become increasingly important as we recognize the challenges low-income seniors are facing during the affordable housing crisis.

“Dixon Hall made me want to see people again.”­
– Louise

Louise* is a senior in Regent Park living with breast cancer and struggling with anxiety and depression. She was referred to our Meals on Wheels program to receive daily meals to help ease some of her challenges. Initially, she was concerned about having volunteers come to her door every day because of her anxiety. So we started by delivering 7 frozen meals to her once a week.

As Louise got more comfortable, she began looking forward to volunteer visits. Our Intake team referred her to the Community Transportation program, and Louise started attending social outings for seniors with reliable transportation. Now, when Louise places her weekly orders with Meals on Wheels, she consistently expresses her appreciation for Dixon Hall’s volunteers. According to Louise, Dixon Hall made her want to see people again, and helped to break her patterns of isolation.

*name has been changed, subject is not pictured

Developing Targeted Programs  for our Community

In 2018, we ran the Sustainable Food Sector Training (SFST) program in partnership with CRC Regent Park Community Food Centre, and caterToronto. The SFST program provided students with pre-employment skills through a classroom component, and kitchen training with an on-site job visit. Once completed, all students received a job placement with an employer. Aimed at recipients of Ontario Works, the SFST program helped clients who have been out of the labour market obtain the skills needed for a career in the culinary industry.

Our Employment Services team is now under new leadership. We’ve welcomed Fulya Vekiloglu as our Director. Fulya is committed to continuing the work of supporting job-seekers in our community. Her focus is on creating additional opportunities for women, newcomers, and young people.

“Everything started from the Incubator program.”­
– Maimuna

Maimuna came to Toronto from Gambia in August 2018. Two months later, she connected with our Employment Services team. Staff began working with Maimuna to help her get ready for employment in her new home. First, she completed the Incubator program, which she says was a new beginning for her. As part of the community service component of the program, Maimuma helped deliver Meals on Wheels. While delivering Meals on Wheels, Maimuna realized how much she wanted to help people, especially the elderly. From there, she discovered “how to pave the pathway to her career.”

Through the Incubator program Maimuna learned how to build a resume, practiced interview skills, and learned more about her strengths including how to be more confident. Next, she completed her Food Handler’s Certificate program and was connected to a program at the Toronto District School Board to receive her high school diploma. Today, Maimuna is pursuing her Personal Support Worker Certificate through an adult learning centre with the guidance of our Employment Services team.

“The sparkle in the eyes of members touches my heart.”­
– Colleen

Colleen* has been volunteering with the Alzheimer Day program for the past three years. Her caring, thoughtful attitude and passion for engaging with seniors have made her invaluable to the program. Working with seniors who are facing dementia can be challenging, but Colleen focuses her attention on the individual needs of the clients she supports to ensure they have the best experience possible.

For Colleen, volunteering with seniors comes naturally, as she was a nurses’ aide at a long-term care facility. She got involved with Dixon Hall’s Day programs because she says she enjoys people and community, and feels a responsibility to do better for marginalized groups. Despite dealing with a chronic illness over the last year, she has remained dedicated to volunteering. Colleen says her favourite part about working with seniors with dementia is “the sparkle in the eyes of the members, when you can see a positive memory appear on their face.” It touches her heart.

*Colleen is not pictured

Thank You To Our Donors

Without our donors, the work we do in Regent Park and the Downtown East would not be possible.

We are grateful to everyone who generously supported us.

Government Funders

City of Toronto

Children’s Services

Community Services Partnership – CSP

Family Service Toronto

Housing Secretariat

Toronto Arts Council

Toronto Employment and Social Services

Dixon Hall is proud to be a United Way Greater Toronto Anchor Agency