Board & Committees

2016 Annual Message From Our Executive Director & Board Of Directors Co-Chairs

Activity at PARC and in our community was once again our focus this past year. We helped assemble the Parkdale Community Economic Development initiative, meeting with over twenty-five partner groups and agencies to look at what makes Parkdale livable and what will support continued inclusion in the face of relentless gentrification. The PCED exploration led to the creation of the following indicators: Accessibility & Inclusion, Housing & Land Use, Economic Opportunities for Decent Work, Health & Food Security, Social & Natural Infrastructure, Participatory Democracy and Learning. These indicators will become our measures of equity. Affordable and supportive housing remains the single biggest gap in Parkdale and that gap is widening.

At PARC the board oversaw a $14 wage minimum for all employees and a three year collective agreement while achieving a balanced budget and improved fiscal performance at Edmond Place. We added housing staff at Edmond Place and marked the year end when Zepheniah James after 15 years of service became our first full-time staff to retire.

PARC added FRESH and Rittenhouse new employment programs and hosted fabulous events like Myseum/emPath while leading walks through the neighbourhood that highlighted the challenges and opportunities that we all must navigate in our changing Parkdale.
This past year has underscored the richness and complexity that is both PARC and Parkdale. The prospect of the coming year is exciting as we move from strategic planning to implementation. PARC cannot achieve its mission on its own and we cannot achieve our goals alone.

We want to thank the board, members, staff and partners for their on-going dedication and belief in a Community where people rebuild their lives.

Victor Willis. Executive Director
Peter Hoag & james Partenen. Co-chairs, Board of Directors