Update on the Fire at 717 Portage Ave.
The fire that devastated our main office last month caused extensive damage throughout the entire building.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and now the recovery process has begun, but is is going to take months to get back to where we were before.
Our staff do a remarkable job of working hard for the people we support. Not having a central site for them to come to is, and has been, difficult, but our staff continue to show why they are the best!
Find a full update of the recovery process below.
a
Working Together – PPE
Without access to our main office building, we were left without storage capabilities for all of our Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) many of our staff use.
In a joint effort between three of our Service Areas, staff and individuals we support carried all of our PPE equipment from the fifth floor into a moving truck and then back into one of our Service Area offices on St. Mary Ave.
It was an inspiring sight seeing staff and individuals we support from across the agency working together!
a
Classes Go Virtual… Again
The fire has impacted each of our Service Areas in some way. Thankfully though, our staff have had plenty of practice adjusting the services we offer and how they are delivered due to the current pandemic.
Our Training Opportunities for Youth programs have turned their classes towards online programming, something that was initially started in response to Covid-19.
We hope our programs can return to in-person soon, but we know our staff continue to offer the best programs available through virtual teaching.
a
Strat Plan Launches
Though it’s launch has been slowed in response to the fire last month, 2022 brings with it a new Strategic Plan.
This new Strategic Plan will bring many great changes to New Directions, and we cannot wait to tell you more as time goes on!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Strategic Plan in further issues.
a
2022 Trainings Begin
February has brought with it the first of many trainings and workshops we are offering throughout 2022.
There are plenty of opportunities for individuals in a variety of professional fields.
Check out our current and upcoming training opportunities below.
a
Consider Donating
Our community has always shown tremendous support for us, which has only been made more obvious since the fire.
We appreciate any and all donations you can make in our effort to recreate and/or replace Indigenous items lost by our Opikihiwawin program.
Consider donating on our Donation Page.
