Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) is the largest urban Indigenous multi-service agency with a child protection mandate in Canada. We have been providing holistic, culture-based prevention and child and family well-being services to the Indigenous community in the Greater Toronto Area for over three decades.
Our circle includes over 350 staff who deliver over 140 programs across 20 locations serving 8,000 individuals annually. The agency was developed by community for community to address the intergenerational legacy of residential schooling and mainstream child welfare. NCFST works with communities, partner agencies, Indigenous governing bodies, and governments to develop and deliver services and promote safety, health, wellness and prosperity for Aboriginal children, youth, and families across Toronto and Peel regions.
It is a particularly interesting time to join the Board of Directors at NCFST. Indigenous people represent the youngest, fastest growing, and most diverse population in Canada. Ontario’s process of child welfare modernization, the federal transformation of Aboriginal child welfare through Bill C-92, and the push by all governments and major institutions to address systemic racism create a dynamic context for the growth and innovation ahead. We are also entering an exciting time in our agency as we are in the process of transitioning from a colonial model of leadership with an Executive Director, towards an Indigenous model of governance in the form of a leadership council. We are actively developing this new model and will begin implementation in early 2024.
For individuals who are invested in the wellbeing of Indigenous children in Toronto and Peel, this is an opportunity to get involved in an innovative and multifaceted organization that has accepted a sacred responsibility for the next generation.
We are currently seeking self-identified Indigenous individuals to sit on our Board of Directors. New members will stand to be voted in at our Annual General Meeting on June 29th, 2023, and are expected to serve a minimum of a one-year term, though we encourage Directors to serve for multiple years. Board members are required to attend monthly board meetings (minimum of nine (9) total in the year), and to join and participate in one of our board committees (active committees include Executive, Governance, Finance, and Indigenous Spirit Fund). Board members may be required to contribute to strategic planning and related governance activities.
For current board vacancies we are interested in candidates with one or more of the below qualifications and/or lived experiences:
- Five (5) years or more experience serving on non-profit boards.
- Strong connections to the Indigenous community in Toronto and/or Peel
- Knowledge of Indigenous culture, ceremony, and systems of traditional governance
- Demonstrated history of success with philanthropy and securing private donations
- CPA designation
- LLB designation
Prospective candidates must either live or work in the City of Toronto or Peel Region.
Qualified individuals are invited to submit a letter of interest along with a current resume to [email protected].
We will be accepting nominations until positions are filled.
