Shaping the Future: Yorktown Family Services 2023/2024 Annual General Meeting and Recognition Night

On October 23rd, 2024, Yorktown Family Services hosted its 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Recognition Night at The West Toronto Youth Wellness Hub. The event brought together the Yorktown staff, board members, community partners, and award recipients for an inspiring evening dedicated to “Shaping the Future”—the theme that defined the fiscal year from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

Celebrating Dedication and Achievement

The AGM highlighted Yorktown’s accomplishments and recognized the outstanding contributions of staff, community members, and partners who fuel our mission. The evening’s events included speeches, awards, and a reflection on Yorktown’s focus on organizational growth, inclusion, and community resilience. Advancements made by our DEI&AR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism) Council and Truth and Reconciliation (T&R)  Committee were shared. The evening underscored Yorktown’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community.

Honouring 30 Years of Leadership: CEO Suzette Arruda-Santos

A notable highlight was celebrating CEO Suzette Arruda-Santos for her 30 years of dedicated service, where she was awarded the 2024 Long-Term Service Award. In a heartfelt address, Suzette reflected on her journey and the unwavering commitment of the Yorktown team, saying, “This team and the community we serve make Yorktown a place where everyone who walks through our doors feels they have come to the right place. Thank you to all for your hard work, dedication, and incredible spirit. Congratulations to our award recipients—let’s continue shaping the future together!”

A Yorktown AGM tradition is to recognize staff with 10 and 20 year Long-Term Service awards and a board member who has demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service to Yorktown and the communities we serve with the “Dan Goldberg Award” Congratulations to the recipients and thank you for your dedication to Yorktown.

10 Year Long-Term Service Awards
Andrew McKenzie
Celestina Medina
Temidayo (Tim) Tokunboh

20 Year Long-Term Service Awards
Karen Blake
Michelle Fraser
Jeryl George
Ronit Kasimov
Evelyn Skeete
Helen Williams

Dan Goldberg Award
Dr. Wayne Dowers

Recognizing Our Valued Partners

Our valued community partners were honoured with the 2024 Partnership Awards for their respective efforts in enhancing mental health services for youth and Violence Against Women support. Representatives from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health, and RPIA expressed gratitude and shared their continued commitment to aligning with Yorktown’s mission. Janine Luce, Director of YWHO Operations, CAMH shared, “Partnering with Yorktown helps us improve service delivery for youth mental health. We look forward to expanding our joint efforts in the years to come.”

A Fond Farewell to Board Members and Long-Serving Staff

This year, we bid farewell to Board Members Larry Biricz, Wayne Dowers, and Lachlan MacQuarrie, as well as Talent and Culture Director Mary Pomanti, who is retiring after 45 years of service in the sector. Each departing member shared words of appreciation, acknowledging Yorktown’s impact and expressing their pride in supporting its mission. Each leaves a legacy and a positive mark, and we wish them continued success and fulfillment.

Reflecting on the Impact of 2023/2024

Yorktown’s “Shaping the Future” theme reflects a year of introspection, innovation, and growth. From enhancing our infrastructure to refining organizational practices through our Accreditation Process, Yorktown has strengthened its foundation to continue delivering effective, community-focused services.

Looking Ahead

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us for this memorable evening. Yorktown Family Services is excited to embark on another year of progress, partnership, and positive impact. We look forward to welcoming our team, community, and supporters back next year to the 2024/25 AGM as we continue to shape the future together.

Please read our Annual Report which can be found here.