Latest News
2019-2020 Annual Report
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is pleased to release our 2019-2020 Annual Report. We would like to express our deep gratitude to our partners, funders, and community members for supporting us through another year of transition, growth, and development. Thanks to their valuable participation, we have continued to increase our resources available for Holistic Services. This increased funding in Holistic Services has enabled us to launch Ontario’s first urban healing lodge for Aboriginal women and their children, to open a new Healing and Prevention Centre, and to complete the design and begin construction of two new multi-service Aboriginal Child and Family Centres.
In addition to our Annual Report, we have also released our Audited Financial Statements for 2019-2020.
This year’s Annual Report and Financial Statements, as well as previous Annual Reports and Financial Statements, are also available on our Policies and Publications page.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
June is National Indigenous History Month. This is a time to reflect upon and learn the history, sacrifices, cultures, contributions, and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. In addition, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is a time for gatherings and celebration. As we all know, this year things will be different across Canada which will involve celebrating in our own unique way. Large gatherings may not be possible, but celebration of our culture can and must continue in ways that are close to our heart and loved ones. It is important that we celebrate this day because Canadian history has not always celebrated and respected Indigenous peoples, our culture and our ceremonial practices, as well as who we are as Indigenous people. The efforts of reconciliation look promising, but we are still in the early days.
Reconciliation was top of mind when Dr. Jeffrey Schiffer, our Executive Director, had the privilege of interviewing Mayor John Tory via Zoom, where they discussed reconciliation and Indigenous innovation in the context of COVID-19 response and recovery in the City of Toronto. We were privileged to learn more about Mayor Tory’s personal journey of reconciliation, commitment to Indigenous self-determination and sustainability of Indigenous innovation. Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is deeply grateful to Mayor Tory for taking the time to speak with us.
Watch the full interview below:
City of Toronto COVID-19 Mental Health Support Strategy
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto has partnered with the City of Toronto and other community organizations to develop a Mental Health Support Strategy (MHSS) that responds to the needs of diverse Toronto residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can learn more about the MHSS in the City’s full statement.
For more information on partner organizations and City of Toronto initiatives, visit the social media links listed below:
Social Media Links
Partners Facebooks
https://www.facebook.com/211Central/
https://www.facebook.com/progressplaceclubhouse/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009165484071
https://www.facebook.com/KidsHelpPhone/
https://www.facebook.com/acrossboundariesmentalhealth/
https://www.facebook.com/nativechildandfamily/
https://www.facebook.com/CAFCAN-1945845209056475
https://www.facebook.com/WoodGreenDotOrg
https://www.facebook.com/ONPsych/
https://www.facebook.com/HongFookMentalHealthAssociation/
https://www.facebook.com/FamilyServiceToronto/
City Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/torontopublichealth/
https://www.facebook.com/cityofto/
https://www.facebook.com/TorontoTYES/
Partners Twitter
@211Central
@Progress_Place
@gersteincrisis
@KidsHelpPhone
@AB_MentalHealth
@NCFST
@CanadianAfrican
@WoodGreenDotOrg
@ONPsych
@HFMentalHealth
@FamilyServiceTO
City Twitter
https://twitter.com/toyouthcabinet?lang=en
https://twitter.com/TOPublicHealth
https://twitter.com/torontotyes?lang=en
https://twitter.com/CABR_Toronto
https://twitter.com/SafeCity_TO
https://twitter.com/cityoftoronto
Partners Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kidshelpphone/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/abmentalhealth/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/progressplaceclubhouse/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/nativechildoftoronto/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/hongfookmha/
https://www.instagram.com/familyservicetoronto/?hl=en
City Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/youth.toronto/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/torontotyes/?hl=en
NCFST Expresses Solidarity with the Black Community
There is a deep history of collaboration and support between Black and Indigenous communities and movements. Some of this is due to a complex and interrelated shared history. The Nations of Canada, the United States and Mexico were born out of processes of colonization and slavery that seeded systemic racism that remains deeply rooted today. We have all been living in a pandemic of racism for centuries, and the cost has been millions of Black lives. Events over recent weeks have resulted in massive protests in every American state, and in dozens of other countries across the world. Black communities and their allies have had enough of state sponsored racism, structural violence and police brutality. Black Lives Matter. While much of the focus has been on the United States, we must also recognize the historical depth and contemporary impacts of anti-Black racism in Canada. Toronto, in particular, has a long and complex history that has seen members of the Black community disproportionately impacted by police violence. There are no words to describe the sadness we feel as this trend continues today.
At Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) we acknowledge that this is an unimaginably challenging time for Black members of the community. Many of our staff, partners, and the community members we serve are Black. We are unequivocal in our assertion that Black Lives Matter. We also recognize that statements of this sort are meaningless without corresponding action. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment at NCFST, where there is zero tolerance to racism and discrimination. We are also committed to engaging further with Black communities and organizations in the City of Toronto to better understand our role as an ally in opposition to structural violence, police brutality and anti-Black racism in our City.
NCFST stands in solidarity with Black members of our staff, partners and community.
#BlackLivesMatter
Applications Now Closed for 2020 Virtual Summer Camp
2020 Virtual Camp applications are now closed. Thank you to those that applied!
Our team is currently reviewing the applications. We will be reaching out with the status of each application by June 10.
If you have questions, or to withdraw an application, email us [email protected].
Application Deadline for 2020 Virtual Summer Camp
Due to an overwhelmingly positive response to Virtual Camps, the application process will now close on Tuesday, June 2.
Click here to complete an application.
The Camps team will be reaching out by email by June 15 to confirm the status of each application.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]
Thank you to those who have applied!