2019/20 Annual Report and Long Term Service Award Staff Recognition

Hello, 

I am Suzette Arruda-Santos, the Executive Director for Yorktown Family Services, and I am excited to share with you our 2019/20 Annual Report, presented at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Recognition event on February 24th, 2021. The theme for this year’s report is “A Better Tomorrow Starts Today”, which reflects the spirit of innovation in the investments we’ve made over the past fiscal year. This report provides us with a  snapshot of the agency’s activities and financial performance, along with highlights of the past year and client success stories. Read or download Yorktown Family Services 2019/20 Annual Report.

Our AGM is also an event to celebrate the contributions and commitment of our staff. It is my sincere pleasure and privilege to share with you the recipients of our Long-Term Staff Awards this year.  These awards are intended to provide recognition to the long serving staff members at Yorktown. We value our employee’s commitment to the work we do in the community, and want to let them know that we appreciate the hard work, loyalty and dedication that they demonstrate to Yorktown and its agency participants. 

As an organization, we have faced some unique challenges this past year, yet we ventured through in true Yorktown spirit to celebrate one of our most challenging years to date. With the onset of a world-wide Pandemic ending our fiscal year, our staff continued to persevere through unexpected program changes. While staff reorganized their personal and professional lives to meet the ever-changing demands, our clients continued to receive the high quality of care they were accustomed to. Whether it was face to face care in our residential Violence against Women Services, or our front-line Infant, Child & Youth Mental Health Care services offered virtually, our staff remained committed to serving our communities.

Our staff, at all levels, continue to be our biggest resource. They roll up their sleeves every day to do whatever it takes to improve the life experiences of those that seek our services and supports. There is a Yorktown spirit that conveys the will to succeed. It is our staff that drive that spirit.

I am proud to present these awards to these very committed, hardworking individuals that make the magic happen every day.

I’m pleased to announce our 5-year Long-Term Service Award Recipient:

Haweai Ahmed – Youth Outreach Worker

Sacha Edwards – Here To Help Group Facilitator

And now for our 10-year Long-Term Service Award Recipients:

Candice Walker – Here To Help Team Leader

Chantal Sénéchal – Care Navigator & SYF Coordinator

Urvashi Sharma – SYF Child Care Worker

For our 15-year Long Term Service Award Recipients:

Andrea Josephs – Child Advocate Worker VAW Service

Helen Williams – Group Facilitator for Supporting Young Families and Here to Help

Karina Gonazalez – Care Navigator & SYF Outreach Worker

Maria Jesus Docando – Child Advocate Worker VAW Services

Michelle Fraser – Here To Help Team Leader

Susan Loizzo – Mindful Fathering, Group Facilitator

Vanessa Rambhaccus – Here To Help Team Leader

And finally, our 20-year Long Term Service Award Recipient:

Debbie Bolt – Night Shift Worker VAW Services

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all our staff for investing your skills and talents in Yorktown and the valued contributions you’ve made in the lives of many clients over the years. 

I would also like to thank our valued partner organizations that have contributed to our success in meeting the complex and diverse needs of the clients we serve. Our community partners play an essential role in Yorktown’s ability to extend our reach beyond what our resources allow. To our funders and donors; I express my sincere gratitude for supporting Yorktown in impacting change in meaningful, responsive, and sustained ways. 

Together, we ensure that “A Better Tomorrow Starts Today”.

Sincerely,

Suzette Arruda-Santos, Executive Director