Henry Wall of Kenora District Services Board briefs club on its work
Posted by John Borst on Nov 02, 2016
Henry Wall, our guest speaker and CAO of the Kenora District Services Board spoke on the mandate of the Board (KDSB).
Wall began with a brief history of KDSB and its origins in the District Social Services Administration Boards Act of 1998. Its mission is “Dedicated to Improving Lives”.
KDSB has four main areas of focus:
1. Ontario Works which provides financial assistance to those most in need while they meet obligations to become and stay employed.
2. Social Housing provides rental housing built with the assistance of the Ontario government and subsidized by the government for people with low to moderate incomes, seniors or people with special needs who can live, with supports, in the community.There are 1130 units in the district of which 528 are owned by the KDSB; 560 are owned by Non-Profit Providers plus 42 rent supplement units. There is a need for the development of shelters in the area as there is fair-bit of homelessness in Dryden.
3. Land Ambulance: Northwest EMS is responsible for providing emergency pre-hospital care in the District of Kenora. They currently have 9 stations and 114 Primary Care Paramedics.
4. Children’s programs: KDSB is the Service System Manager for Early Learning and Care/Best Start initiatives within the Kenora District. As such it ensures that all community partners are working together and are committed to the same goals and objectives with respect to providing these services for children.
Henry also gave us brief look at how KDSB is integrating some of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into its workings.