Annual Report from the Chair
 It has been another great year for Rotary Cheshire Homes (RCH) and for the Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC). As I have mentioned before, it has been my privilege to work along side the very accomplished, diverse and dedicated members of the board.
It is important to restate what I mentioned in last year's Annual General Meeting: RCH and CHKC are indeed unique organizations. The apartment building continues to offer individuals the opportunity to live safely, affordably and independently. RCH continues to provide first-class Intervenor services to those living in the apartment building and those served on an outreach basis. The emergency intervenor services program is indeed one-of-a-kind, allowing all RCH consumers access to an intervenor in times of most vulnerability: an emergency.
CHKC's commitment to provide individualized training programs in rehabilitation, computer technology and Braille ensures that consumers can achieve their goals at their own pace. The seniors program has successfully linked individuals with appropriate medical and rehabilitative services that have proved to be a lifeline. The highlights of this past year were:
• The visits from the Minister of Community and Social Services (MCSS) Mme. Meilleur and other senior Ministry staff. On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate the Executive Director Cindy Accardi, other staff members, and an outstanding panel of consumers who arranged exceptionally well organized meetings at RCH and provided a tour of the building.
During these visits, the Minister and MCSS senior staff saw the quality of services and programs offered by RCH which helped to foster a positive relationship with the Ministry. The visit was so successful that they left with a positive and improved impression of the entire sector. MCSS also recognized the importance of an emergency services program and has used RCH's initiative as an incentive to develop an emergency program throughout the province; as well as they recognized the importance of training for individuals who are deaf-blind to gain independence and increase their capacity. This will, hopefully, result in future opportunities for CHKC to provide training to individuals throughout the province and not just in the Toronto area.
• The addition of an Outreach for Youth initiative by RCH – using funds raised or fee for service dollars to provide Intervenor Services to youth who are still in school, and who do not have access to intervenor services outside of school, after hours or on weekends.
• Continuation of work on governance and risk assessments and the development of a performance appraisal for the Executive Director.
• Successful grant application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $140,600 for renovations to CHKC (kitchen, bathrooms and the construction of an accessible deck) to make CHKC more accessible for both visually and hearing impaired individuals as well as physically disabled individuals.
• The development of a Memorial Fund using donations in Joyce Thompson's name as well as future memorial donations to help individuals from outside Toronto attend programs at CHKC.
• The continuation of updates to the By-Laws of both agencies in order to ensure compliance with the pending changes to the federal and provincial Corporations Acts. Thank you to all members of the board for their contributions over the past year.
On behalf of the board, I would like congratulate all members of the management and staff at RCH and CHKC for their continued commitment and hard work.
Ben Joshan Chair RCH and CHKC 2010 - 2011
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All
programs and services are
funded by the Ministy of
Community and Social Services
2011 - 2012
RCH & CHKC Board
of Directors
Officers of the Corporation:
Ben Joshan, Chair
Krystyne Rusek, Vice- Chair
Vivian Bright, Secretary/Treasurer
Vim Kochhar, Ex-Officio
Directors:
Mark Albert
George Berger
Deirdre Gibson
Kelly Pollock
Betty-Jean Reid
Elio Riggillo
Jasmine Simpson
Honourary:
Khalid Khokhar
Joan Mactavish
Click to Download a copy of the 2010-2011 Annual Report
Adobe PDF
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Mark Your Calendars for the 10th Annual JuneFest on Wednesday June 13th
at Mel Lastman Square.
Stay tuned for more information or visit www.junefest.ca
Early Wednesday June 15th we were getting ready for the 9th annual JuneFest recognizing and celebrating June as Deaf-Blind Awareness Month in Ontario.
The tents went up first, but unlike last year we did not need them to shelter us from the storm. They shaded us from the sun. It was a glorious day, sunny and warm.
Under the tents, various organizations and agencies were able to provide awareness about the dual disability of deaf-blindness, the latest technology and devices, and the services and resources that are available. Members from the deaf-blind community along with the public, the local business community, friends, families and colleagues came out to learn about deaf-blindness while enjoying music, a charity bbq, and a silent auction.
Malibu Bob entertained the crowd while juggling on stilts, and later created the coolest coveted air brushed tattoos. New this year were the painted wood cut outs used for a sponge toss. The paintings depicted a bathing suit clad couple on the beach, or a woman and her guide dog. Deaf-blind consumers and RCH staff bravely stood behind the cut-outs to have wet sponges tossed at their faces. This year's art contest featured the creative hand crafted art works of deaf-blind consumers.
Congratulations to this year's winners. The beaded flower art work and stained glass paper designs were intricate and unique. We look forward to next year's works of art. Joyce Thompson was remembered through this year's winner of the JT Award, Jane Sayer.
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RCH Remembers Joyce
 It is with great sadness that Rotary Cheshire Homes shares the news that our founding executive director, Joyce Thompson passed away on January 3, 2011.
Joyce worked with the deaf-blind community for over 30 years. She was an intervenor, case manager, the first executive director of Rotary Cheshire Homes, former executive director and founder of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, founder of JuneFest and a long time advocate and friend to the deaf-blind community. Joyce was also an active member and supporter of the Deaf-Blind Association of Toronto and the Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind for many years, and assisted with numerous projects to help the deaf-blind community.
Joyce, otherwise known as “JT” by her “sign name”, was an energetic, visionary leader in the deaf-blind services sector who played a pivotal role in establishing Rotary Cheshire Homes in 1992 and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre in 1998. Additionally, in 2000, Joyce approached RCH and CHKC’s local MPP David Young to initiate the official naming of June as Deaf-Blind Awareness Month in the Province of Ontario. To celebrate the month, Joyce single-handedly spearheaded the founding of JuneFest in 2003.
 Joyce retired from Rotary Cheshire Homes in July of 2001, but that did not stop her from her continued involvement with the deaf-blind community. In recognition of her many accomplishments, both Rotary Cheshire Homes and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre awarded Joyce with the one and only JuneFest Award of Excellence on June 16, 2010. The award will be re-named "THE JT AWARD" at the next JuneFest in 2011 in Joyce’s honour, and will be presented to a deserving individual, consumer group or service provider who has demonstrated excellence in at least one of the areas of Awareness, Expansion or Involvement.
Sadly, the deaf-blind community has lost a great friend and champion!
Please join RCH in sending our deepest sympathies to Joyce's family.
 
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10th Anniversary Celebration
CHKC opening
Cheshire Homes 50th Anniversary
Joyce and Vim at RCH opening
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JT Award Honours Joyce
 Rotary Cheshire Homes Inc. and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre Inc.established the "JT Award" in honour of a great friend and leader in thefield of deaf-blindness - Joyce "JT" Thompson.
Joyce
was a champion of the disability of deaf-blindness andconsumers for over 30 years. Joyce sadly passed away earlier this year. During those 30 years Joyce played pivotal roles in the founding of Rotary Cheshire Homes in 1992 and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre in 2001.
In 2000, Joyce worked alongside former Willowdale MPP David Young to declare June "Deaf-Blind Awareness Month" across the province, and she single handedly founded JuneFest in 2003.
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Joyce Thompson
Accepting the
JuneFest Award of Excellence in 2010
Click Here for more information on the
JT Award |
