Courage and Determination
Fiscal 2021-2022 was freckled with ebbs and flows of ambiguity and resurgence, but we succeeded in making considerable progress toward achieving our annual objectives, not only for the first year of the strategic plan, but also for the second and third years.
Our team members and volunteers demonstrated courage, determination, and creativity in performing their work during these uncertain times. From laminated wallet-size vaccine passports delivered to participants as far as Manitoba, to Tech 101 courses promoting digital literacy, and the delivery of innovative virtual and in-person programs, our staff and volunteers served the community with care and compassion. I credit the leadership of our Directors, Amy McKinnon, Arlene Lewchuk-Hartley, Mehtab Rai, and Ric Dilworth, for fostering a productive, collaborative, and harmonious workplace where people felt empowered to make a difference in the lives of the people they encounter. Further, I really appreciate the dedication of Annemarie Davis and Debra Uliana, our finance staff, who amazingly managed a substantial workload to ensure that we met our financial and legal commitments. I feel truly honoured and privileged to be associated with such a wonderful team.
Arlene Lewchuk-Hartley, Director of Day Program, surprised us in March by announcing her early retirement. Her last day will be July 8. We will sorely miss Arlene’s caring resolve, passion for therapeutic recreation, methodical approach to operations, and sense of humour. In her ten-year tenure with the organization, she created a solid foundation for the Day Program and helped thousands of people in their life’s journey. To be sure, Arlene was never lacking in courage. With 40 direct reports, working under two separate collective agreements, at three different sites, serving up to 440 participants from Monday through Saturday, the work was abundant. While I do not plan on immediately replacing the director position, Arlene’s portfolio will be transitioned to the Day Program Managers, Raj Sahota, Kim White, and Angela Nial, who were appointed to the newly created positions to oversee operations at each site.
While we have been providing community-based services to older adults, people with dementia, and caregivers for the last 45 years, we recognized that the community has changed since our genesis. It has changed in the way of diversity and in the way our participants, some of whom not identifying as seniors, are wanting to receive support. Aging adults may need a little help, but they also want to be perceived as capable, vibrant, and valuable members of the community. More and more, they wish to distance themselves from labels that suggest otherwise. In their service providers, they seek a person-centred environment where they can access the services they choose, delivered in the way they like and when they want them. Therefore, with careful consideration, we decided to change our name to Brella Community Services Society. Inspired from the word umbrella, our new name better reflects our vision for safe, caring, and inclusive communities where aging adults can live engaged and meaningful lives within their own aspirations and abilities.
In anticipation of the lease agreement at the Newton site expiring at the end of 2022, we contemplated various options to ensure the continuity of services in that neighbourhood. Given the sturdiness of our organization, we determined that purchasing property would be a great strategy to sustain our financial strength and provide operational flexibility. After conducting an extensive search that spanned over a year in an overzealous real estate market, we realized that the dream of ownership would need to be deferred until a more auspicious time. Fortunately, we were able to locate a suitable property for lease which, after a few improvements, will allow team members and participants to seamlessly transition to a pleasant and comfortable setting. The new facility has the space to house our Day Program and other community-based services.
As this year was not exceptional enough, we were honoured by Spark Movie, a production company, when they approached us to use our South Surrey facility as a set to shoot their short film called Spark. The film features Harold, an eccentric older scientist, who lives in assisted care and is presumed to have dementia. The movie highlights the fact that people with dementia, while routinely underestimated in their abilities, are capable to act in their own agency, develop strong bonds, and achieve amazing feats. Given that the script aims at creating awareness and removing social barriers for people living with dementia, which closely aligns with our own perspective and values, we will help promote the movie when it is released later in 2022. Stay tuned for the announcements.
What else did we do? We introduced a few initiatives to promote inclusion and diversity, including encouraging the use of language that is sensitive to gender identity, aging adults, and people with disabilities. Our team members participated in more than thirty working groups or communities of practice to stay relevant and share experiences for the betterment of the community. We partnered with organizations that advocate for more affordable housing options for vulnerable people. Our project development team met monthly to brainstorm new opportunities and seek the resources necessary for their implementation. We expanded our services to caregivers whose dedicated supports seemed to have been overlooked in government policies and the health care system. We coordinated opportunities for internship for students of Therapeutic Recreation, Personal Care and Social Work, which resulted in producing prospective candidates to fill our own vacant positions.
In closing, I would like to convey words of appreciation. The quality and impact of our work would not have been so meaningful if it were not for all the dedication and commitment of the many people who form the building blocks of our organization. The reason we exist is to serve the aging adults and caregivers of our community. I appreciate the trust they afforded us daily in supporting them through complexity and making a difference in their lives. Our staff and volunteers created the positive conditions to enable them to lead full, engaged, and meaningful lives. I am thankful for their caring contributions to our community and for solidifying our organization. I am grateful for our Board of Directors who interacted respectfully and harmoniously. They provided the governance to guide us toward a definite future. The success of our services depended on the generosity of our funders and our collaborative partnerships. Thank you for supporting us.
Together, we can create a caring community.
Louise Tremblay, Executive Director