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Biography
The board and staff of OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is delighted to congratulate Debbie Douglas, Executive Director, on being awarded the Race Relations Award by the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR). Debbie was honoured along with other Award recipients at the UARR 39th Anniversary and 2014 Awards Dinner held in Toronto on Thursday September 18, 2014. She was nominated by Hon. Jean Augustine, Fairness Commissioner (Ontario).
Ontario’s first-ever integrated strategy for occupational health and safety is designed to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to improve the delivery of workplace health and safety. The five-year strategy was developed by the Ontario Ministry of Labour in consultation with business, labour groups, health and safety associations and residents of Ontario. The strategy includes targeted outreach to raise awareness about the rights and responsibilities of workers and their employers.
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO) is one of Ontario's leaders from the immigrant and refugee-serving sector in advocating for and working towards equity and justice for immigrant, refugee and racialized women. To that end, IWSO is working with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) World Refugee Day - marked by the UN on June 20 each year - photo project, `The Most Important Thing`, to help bring awareness to the impact war has on families.
Recently the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario (CCB) launched a new public education program entitled, “Time to talk about the end of life.” The CCB is an independent body that holds hearings to consider fair and accessible adjudication of consent and capacity issues of individual. The CCB held a few pilot presentations in the Greater Toronto Area, which were well received by community groups. This project has been initiated to have the CCB be part of the growing conversation among Ontarians about planning their acute care choices and protecting their rights.
The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has launched consultations on the development of a province-wide integrated occupational health and safety strategy, the first of its kind for Ontario. MOL is interested in hearing about how vulnerable workers needs can be addressed. Vulnerable workers are identified as young workers, recent immigrants, aboriginal peoples, older workers, those new to their jobs or working for new businesses, temporary foreign and seasonal workers, workers holding multiple, part-time or, low-paying jobs, and workers involved in temporary employment.
The Toronto Justice Service Collaborative is an initiative that is part of the 10 year mental health and addiction strategy. "Open Minds, Healthy Minds: Ontario's Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy” commits to the formation of 18 Service Collaboratives to support coordinated services for children, youth and adults.
OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas will be speaking on the Distinguished Speakers Panel at the event celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Management Advisory Service (MAS). Other panelists are Rahul Bhardwaj - President and CEO of Toronto Community Foundation (TCF), Michael Seaton - Canada Post, Che Kothari - Manifesto Community Projects, Violetta Llkiw - Laidlaw Foundation, and Anne-Marie ‘Amani' Woods - noted artist and educator.
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is working in partnership with COSTI and WoodGreen Community Services (the Management Team), to undertake a research study on mitigating risk of homelessness among immigrant and refugee women. The study aims to provide practical policy options for the settlement services and housing services sectors in the GTA to increase their capacity to help prevent homelessness among newcomers. Research advisors are Valerie Preston - York University and Robert Murdie - University of Toronto.