CHAIR Tim Beachy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Christine Mohr
Options Community Services is strong and resilient in its commitment to inspire hope and belonging for all. This year has again demonstrated the organization’s capacity to respond to community needs in a concerted, focused and resourceful fashion. Options has developed new and extended programs and services in the most critical areas of social need. It has been my pleasure to be part of the team. The OCS Board and Management value and exemplify diversity, integrity, collaborative commitment, excellence and resourcefulness. These core values will sustain its good work in the years ahead. Community needs, loneliness and growing inequality present an urgent challenge to the organization. It is critical that the organization continues to serve with efficiency and optimal effectiveness. This is the last report I will write as Options Chair. I am grateful for my time as Chair and will continue to serve the Society as a Director. I am pleased that Kamaljit Lehal has accepted the role of Chair. She has served on the Board faithfully for many years and she brings a strong advocate voice for Options services, experience in leadership and commitment to Options’ values. I congratulate Christine Mohr and the Executive and Leadership Teams for bringing the expertise, values, and commitment which make Options the best it can be. Strategic challenges ahead include: • Keeping the public engaged and supportive in Options’ work. The commitment to a vibrant public presence remains critical. • Building on sustainable, collaborative programs and services success. Engaging in a wide range of partnerships must produce results that increase belonging for people. • Sustaining legacy programs for children and families needs to be combined with innovation and change. Shifting community needs requires leadership in every corner. • Developing more flexible and resilient technical and human infrastructure. This requires increased financial commitment. I have had the opportunity to chair theBoard of Directors for the last six years. It is a privilege to work with a great group of committed Board Directors, Committee Chairs and the Executive Staff.
2018/2019 has been a year of solidifying some of our more recent developments such as the operation of Ted Kuhn, our first full year of operation at Bill Reid Shelter & Transitional Housing while at the same time continuing to work on other ventures including our 81st Avenue and an assistedmental health facility for Surrey. We are particularly proud of the positive shifts that staff have been able to achieve at Ted Kuhn. Recognizing the dire need for affordable, safe, and inspiring housing, Options Board and Management has committed to a course of focused learning about housing needs and organizational capacity building so that we are better able to address this important need in our community. Our 81st development will be the first fruit of our commitment with both 100 homes as well as program space at this location. Other key work this year included preparing several major proposals in response to government tender calls. The tendering of services, especially the re-tendering of those that are well-established and valued, is always difficult in the social services sector where collaboration is an everyday necessity for the good of the communities served. Options is pleased to have been successful with our bid to continue providing WorkBC Employment Services in North Surrey as well as in Newton which is new to us. At the same time, we understand how difficult it has been for our colleagues who were not successful with their bids, especially for services that they have successfully provided for many years. Such is the case for Options with its proposal for Early Years Services in which we, along with our partners, were not the winning bid. We are very pleased with our successful bid to provide an array of mental health services in Delta. We are awaiting the outcome of several other proposals. We look forward to our 5th accreditation review in June 2019; I thank all staff for their ongoing attention to quality improvement and for their good work preparing for our peer review. I want to especially thank Tim Beachy, as he leaves his role as Board Chair after 6 years. His leadership has been truly inspiring and his passion and support, never ending. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, Board, donors and other supporters for your ongoing commitment to community and the work that we accomplish together!
Executive BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Beachy Chair Kamaljit Lehal Vice Chair Kevin Kilgour Treasurer Doug Neale Secretary
Directors Craig East Harry Gray
Louella Mathias Ken Holmberg Kiranvir S. Thiara Kirsty Davis Michael Kendler Shyanne Boudreau
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