Dear friends,
As I write this, a glorious first day of fall is upon us. We continue to adjust to the “new normal” under COVID-19 and appreciate more than ever the ongoing support of community partners, funders and collaborators.
In August, we implemented phase two of our return-to-work plan, which saw most OCISO employees returning to the workplace on a part-time and rotational basis. It has been wonderful to connect in-person again, as we navigate toward the resumption of face-to-face service delivery, while ensuring safety for OCISO employees and clients alike. Our intention is to engage in a hybrid model of service delivery, with services delivered on-line and in-person, through to the end of 2020. This plan is, of
course, subject to redirection based on the ever-changing community context and any new direction from the public health authorities.
After an eight-month leave, I am beyond pleased to be back at OCISO, continuing our vital work with colleagues and partners. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Karyn Steer, who took on the position of Interim Executive Director and Agnes Wedrychowicz who assumed the position of Deputy Director, during my time away. Together, Karyn and Agnes successfully navigated the organization through an unprecedented set of circumstances requiring tremendous leadership, innovation and resilience. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to our funders, the OCISO board, management team, employees and volunteers – all of whom continued to rally behind the agency and the communities we serve, despite significant disruption to their work and personal lives.
Please enjoy this newsletter that highlights some of our current
activities and consider joining us at our AGM on October 22, where we will update you on some of our accomplishments of the past year. Now more than ever, we encourage you to become an OCISO member, as a way to show your support and have a say in our ongoing work in the community.
In solidarity and with gratitude,