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The BulletinRotary Club of EtobicokeDistrict Governor: Brian ThompsonRI President Gary C.K. HuangWeek February 04, 2015Board 2014-2015President: Mark Winson, Past President Michael Bell, President Elect: Jack Fleming, Secretary: Ron Miller,Treasurer: Don EdwardsDirectors: Donna Cansfield, Gregory Dobson, Gillian Dugas, Ingrid McGaughey, Frederik Martin, Kester Trim,Hugh WilliamsFebruary 11, 2015 – SPEAKER: Michael LU – Classification TalkReporting: Ron MillerToday’s Speaker Carol CHABOT LOFTPresident Mark introduced Carole Chabot. Carolehas just stepped down from the Board of LOFTCommunity Services after nine years, including threeas Chair. LOFT’s work has been part of Carole’s lifefor nearly 20 years as prior to her Board service; shewas Director of Development at Anglican Houses(later LOFT) and a long-time supporter. Carole has25 years’ experience as a fund developmentprofessional. Former positions include VicePresident, Advancement of the Toronto General &Western Hospital Foundation, Vice President,Development at Rouge Valley Health SystemFoundation, and Director of Annual Giving at theMount Sinai Hospital Foundation. She is nowtransitioning into retirement working from home onfreelance contracts that advance social profit. Caroleis a Certified Fund Raising Executive, the foremostPictures: Ron Miller & Peter Dusekinternational professional accreditation forfundraisers. She holds Bachelor of Music and Masterof Arts (Musicology) degrees from Queen’s and theUniversity of Western Ontario and is an Associate ofthe Royal Conservatory of Music. In her musical life,Carole is a professional chorister at St. James’sCathedral, where she is also a member of the Guildof Change Ringers, and she also sings with Toronto’sBel Canto Singers.Carole began by saying that LOFT provides housingand support services for the “most vulnerablepeople in our community”. Its “complex, multifaceted work” as they meet the needs of people whohave “fallen through the cracks of society” such asthose with; mental and physical health challenges;substance abuse issues; and those with noresources, no family, no money. One its own, eachof those is a major life challenge. Together (andmost of their clients do face multiple challenges)they prevent people from leading lives “like the onesyou and I have”. Their issues marginalize them andthey are often rejected by service providers becausetheir illnesses and other issues make them difficultto care for and work with. Carole told a story about“Bert, an older man, set in his ways with all thehabits of many years of homelessness”. He resistedany efforts to help for a long time, but the LOFToutreach workers connected with Bert and “inch byinch” he allowed them into his life. He got off thestreet and into LOFT’s housing. Carole said that isjust “one person’s story” as there are “many, manymore Berts”. “They are dying in bus shelters andabandoned cars on the streets of Toronto during thiscold winter”. Each year LOFT helps thousands ofpeople like them, of all ages.Website: www.rotaryetobicoke.org

The bulletinAt LOFT they have a “consistent set of principals”;everyone is welcome (no one’s challenges are evertoo complex); they accept people “withoutjudgement” (it is “come as you are”); they embraceindividuality (free to set their own goals and makechoices); and they believe in “resilience” (everyonehas the ability to grow, change, and get back on theirfeet).“Sometimes they just need help”. With theseprincipals in place, they offer the people they serve“the safety and stability of long-term housing andthe practical support they need to regain dignity andtake back control of their lives”.LOFT works in Toronto, York region and SouthSimcoe. Every day in these communities they serve;young people on the street with mental healthissues, substance abuse, those who have droppedout of school who don’t have basic life skills; poor,frail seniors with mental health and addictionchallenges who don’t have family to help them (andcan’t get into a nursing home because of theirbehaviours); and people who are homeless andhave multiple especially severe challenges (seriousmental illness PLUS serious physical health problemsPLUS severe addictions to numerous substances).There is no single solution that works for all thesefolks, so their programs are “flexible and responsive,and continually adapting” to ensure each persongets the help they need. There are more than 70programs in 1000 supportive housing units in all. Aswell, there are a whole range of services in thecommunity at large that give practical support andencouragement. LOFT serves about 4,000 peopleeach year.They do this by “creating conditions for recovery”.The first thing people recover is “hope”. For the firsttime, or the first time in a long time, they realize that“someone truly cares”. This shifts everything. Theybegin to “rediscover themselves and what they arecapable of”. The results; people get off the streets;people live with dignity (often for the first time intheir lives); hope blooms; they connect (with LOFTsupport workers and with one another); they growand change (and become independent).LOFT was founded in 1953 and has responded, in a“non-judgemental way”, the most desperate issuesof the day. When the mental health institutionsdecreased the number of beds or closed back in the70’s and 80’s, they were there to offer supportivehousing that “allowed people to continue theirhealing and take their place in the community safelyand productively”. When the number of streetkidsinvolved in prostitution escalated as teens ran awayto Toronto, they set up Street Outreach Services.When AIDS emerged as a major issue, they set upMcKewan House to care for those who were HIVpositive or living with AIDS and who had addictionissues. Throughout their history, they have oftenbeen “the first, and sometimes the only,organization to answer the needs of many of themost under-served and vulnerable members of ourcommunity”. LOFT is now the “largest charitableorganization in the Ontario housing market, and themost diverse supportive housing provider. They aregoing to still be around in the foreseeable future “asthe needs won’t go away, they will just keepchanging”.One of LOFT’s “major thrust” at the moment is“getting seniors out of hospital beds” where they are“trapped” because they have nowhere else to go.On any given day in Toronto, it is estimated thatthere are 560 hospital beds occupied by patientswho don’t need to be there. They are workingclosely with Humber River Regional in York-Finch toaccommodate their older patients who no longerneed acute care, but who have been in hospital forso long that they have lost everything (their shelter,what possessions they may have had, access todisability or pension income because they have noaddress). They are finding discharged patients eithera “transitional safe place” in their re-integrationprogram (a stepping stone to a return toindependent living), or to try and find a “morepermanent home” in one of their seniors supportivehousing programs.LOFT’s name spells out what “makes this workpossible”: L – O – F – T (Leap of Faith Together).LOFT’s founders took a “leap of faith together”, andeveryone involved “continues to do so each andevery day”. Loft is having “real impact”. “Hundredsof thousands of people have been helped since theyfirst began to provide housing and support servicesfor “the most vulnerable” back in the 1950’s. LOFT isWebsite: www.rotaryetobicoke.org

The bulletina model that works “on every level”. Carole closedby saying “Leap of Faith Together” includes thepeople they serve and the people, businesses,organizations, corporations and foundations thatsupport them.New Member Induction – KarenRoyalPresident Mark thanked Carole by saying that he is“amazed at what LOFT is doing in the community”and “surprised that we haven’t made a connectionwith LOFT prior to this”.Paul Harris Recognition GeraldLUEPresident Mark formally inducted our newestmember Karen Royal into the Rotary Club ofEtobicoke. Secretary Ron presented Karen with herRotary membership card, her Club ID badge, and herNew Member information binder. MembershipChair Diane Irvine presented Karen with her Rotarypin. The members present then welcomed Kareninto the Club.DGE Michael Bell said that he was once again“pleased” to be able present another one of ourmembers with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition. ThePaul Harris Fellow Recognition is given inappreciation for a substantial gift to TRF’shumanitarian, educational and immunizationprograms. These programs include an array ofprojects that save and invigorate the lives of peoplearound the world and enhance internationalfriendship and understanding. Michael added thatTRF is the “life blood” of Rotary and defines “who weare today” and allows us to “do the work we do”.The fellowship was established in 1957 in honour ofPaul Harris, a Chicago business lawyer who foundedRotary with three business associates in 1905.Today, Michael wanted to congratulate Gerald Luefor his contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Onbehalf of the Rotary Foundation, Michael wanted tosincerely thank Gerald for his commitment toRotary’s goals for world understanding and peace.50/50 DrawTheresa SHERWOOD – 8 of Diamonds. As aconsolation prize President Mark gave Theresaa box of “Pot of Gold” chocolates. The pot 600 continues to grow.Visitors & GuestsVisitors and Guests:Carole Chabot – LOFT – SpeakerWebsite: www.rotaryetobicoke.org

The bulletinClaude Dagenais – Guest of JohnCampbellDylan Lyall – Potential New member –Guest of Gerald LueJ.D. Hill – Guest of Karen RoyalAttendance:Members 15Visitors & Guests - 04Total – 19Birthdays This WeekKen COATES – Feb 02Theresa SHERWOOD – Feb 03Lyn MANWAR – Feb 08Secretary’s AnnouncementsHappy BucksthMonday, February 9 – Board of Directors meeting– 6 PM (\Food), 6:30 PM (Meeting start) – RotaryClubhouse.thMonday, February 16 – Rotary “Pot Luck Dinner” –Rotary Clubhouse - All members are invited – Pleaselet Ron Miller know if you are attending.thThursday, February 19 – Rotary Club of TorontoNetworking Evening – 6 PM – The National Club( 5/person) – Contact Ron Miller or Mark WinsonstSaturday, February 21 – “Community andGovernment Services” Fair – Cloverdale Mall – 11 AM– 4 PM – Volunteers are needed to help at the Club’sdisplay – Please contact Ron Miller.Ralph Chiodo – Ralph was happy to say thatthe Trillium Hospital Health Centre (which nowincorporates 3 hospitals) is holding “Laugh OutLoud” event, with all proceeds going in supportof their Mental Health Unit. Ralph and hisfamily have donated a Jeep that will be raffledoff at the event. Ralph is hoping to “convince”the Club to participate in the event by makinga donation of 5000 to purchase a table (of10).Theresa Sherwood – Theresa was happy tosay that our Club was participating in the“Tokens for Change” event at the IslingtonSubway station this Friday (February 6th). Thisis in support of Youth Without Shelter’s “Stay inSchool” program and their “emergency shelter”program. She noted that 6 Rotarians will “bethere for the early shift (7 – 11 AM)” to supervisestudents from Father Redmond who will bedoing the canvassing. Gill, Andre and a fewothers will be supervising the afternoon shift (3Website: www.rotaryetobicoke.org