Red Cross National Report PDF

C A N A D I A N R E D C R O S S

Annual Review

2009–2010

Ontario Zone

Table of Contents

Message from the President and Director General 3Ontario Council 4Strategy 2015 5

DISASTER MANAGEMENT 6Crises and Disasters at Home 6Crises and Disasters Beyond Our Borders 8

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING 9Our Work with First Nations 9Helping Refugees 9First Aid Saving Lives 10

HUMANITARIAN ISSUES 11Pictures Talk 11

HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS 12Supporting Independence in our Communities 12Improving Health Across the World 13

INJURY PREVENTION 14First Aid and CPR 14Water Safety 15

VIOLENCE AND ABUSE PREVENTION 16RespectED Reaches Record Numbers 16Walking the Prevention Circle 16

FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY 17Thanks to You, Red Cross is There 17

Facts at a Glance 18

2 ANNUAL REVIEW

Table of Contents

MISSIONThe Canadian Red Cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity

in Canada and around the world.

VISIONThe Canadian Red Cross is the leading humanitarian organization through which people voluntarily

demonstrate their caring for others in need.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLESHumanity

Impartiality Neutrality

Independence Voluntary Service

Unity Universality

ONTARIO ZONE 3

Message from the President and Director GeneralOne Red Cross – many ways to care

The past year was filled with challenges and new initiatives for the Canadian Red Cross in Ontario. Throughout this annual review, you will see many examples of how the Red Cross worked with clients, volunteers, financial supporters, various levels of government and partners to carry out our humanitarian work. In working together, we were able to increase the reach and relevance of our programs to better serve the people of Ontario.

Right here at home, we partnered with communities to provide assistance and training in areas such as emergency response, humanitarian issues, first aid and water safety, violence and abuse prevention, and home health care. Red Cross and our training partners delivered swimming lessons and first aid courses that gave thousands of individuals the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe. Record numbers of youth and adults across Ontario learned about violence issues through RespectED: Violence and Abuse Prevention education. Following personal disasters such as house fires and the Vaughan tornado, Red Cross assisted hundreds of individuals and families by providing urgently needed comfort and basic necessities. Red Cross Community Health Services enabled thousands of Ontarians to remain living independently in their homes with comfort and dignity.

Beyond our borders, thousands of people across Canada and around the world benefited from Red Cross preparedness and response in the face of major disasters including the typhoons in the Philippines, and earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

All of this was possible because of the generosity of our Red Cross partners, volunteers, members, financial supporters and staff. Together we will continue to improve the lives of people throughout Ontario, Canada and around the world, and do what we do best, even better.

Thank you for your support.

Peter Zulauf President

Ron KeluskyDirector General

Peter ZulaufPresident

Gwen MedcalfPast President and Member

Lynn GreinerVice President / President, Central Lakes Region

Diane GirardVice President / President, Southwest Region

Lori BarnhartMember

Alan DeanMember

Naomi Diestelkamp Chelsea HargreavesYouth Councillors

Stéphane GallantPresident- Northern Region

Heather WilsonPresident – Toronto Region

Barb TrantPresident – Eastern Region

Jane Ann NewsonPresident, West Central Region

Ron QuanRepresentative- Central Lakes Region

Jeff EamesLeonard MurphyRepresentatives – Southwest Region

Harvey WyersRepresentative – Northern Region

Philippe GeoffrionRepresentative – Eastern Region

Amanda KennedyRepresentative – Toronto Region

Ellen OesterreichRepresentative-West Central Region

O N T A R I O C O U N C I L 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

4 ANNUAL REVIEW

Canadian Red Cross

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Header 1Strategy 2015

B U I L D I N G O N T H E C O R N E R S T O N E S O F O U R W O R K

A Five-Year Strategic Plan Strategy 2015

cements the

commitment of the

Canadian Red Cross to

continuously earn the

respect and support

of Canadians as we

mobilize the power of

humanity now and for

the next 100 years.

This year the Canadian Red Cross implemented Strategy 2015, a five-year strategic plan designed to maximize efficiency, enhance accountability and increase success in our mission to prevent and alleviate suffering in Canada and throughout the world.

Much of the plan builds on the work the Canadian Red Cross already does through six areas of excellence: Disaster Management, Community Resilience and Capacity Building, Health and Social Programs, Violence and Abuse Prevention, Injury Prevention, and Humanitarian Issues and International Humanitarian Law. These areas represent the cornerstones of our work, and indicate where we need to focus attention, resources and time over the next five years to build on our successes.

Expanding on the six areas of excellence, the Canadian Red Cross developed the following goals:

• Goal 1: Disaster Management. People will have their basic needs met and their living conditions restored and improved in the event of crisis, conflict and disasters.

• Goal 2: Community Resilience and Capacity Building. Communities will have increased capacity and resilience to address their basic needs.

• Goal 3: Health and Social Programs. People will have improved health status through community-based actions.

• Goal 4: Violence and Abuse Prevention. Children and youth will be protected from violence and abuse through the creation of safe environments.

• Goal 5 : Injury Prevention. People will have the skills and knowledge to make safe choices, prevent injuries and respond in emergency situations.

• Goal 6: Humanitarian Issues and International Humanitarian Law. Humanitarian issues will be addressed in order to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being.

In order to meet all six strategic goals, the Canadian Red Cross identified six means by which we expect to achieve further successes: Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values, One Shared Vision, The Best Team: Volunteers and Staff, Communication and Influence, Financial Health and Sustainability, and Partnership and Networking. Strategy 2015 also identifies various criteria from which our successes can be measured and evaluated in a tangible way as we work to achieve our strategic goals.

Strategy 2015 cements the commitment of the Canadian Red Cross to continuously earn the respect and support of Canadians as we mobilize the power of humanity now and for the next 100 years in accordance with our mission to improve the lives of vulnerable people in Canada and around the world. To read more about Strategy 2015, our areas of excellence, strategic goals and the means to get there, visit our website at www.redcross.ca.

ONTARIO ZONE 5

Strategy 2015

6 ANNUAL REVIEW

Crises and Disaster at Home

M E E T I N G B A S I C N E E D S

In 2009, volunteers responded to 510 disasters across Ontario, ranging from house fires to extreme weather. Through the Personal Disaster Assistance program, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, clothing, personal hygiene items and other support for 72 hours to help families get back on their feet following a disaster.

A P A R T N E R S H I P A P P R O A C H

The Canadian Red Cross works alongside governments and other community agencies to most effectively meet the needs of those affected by disaster in Ontario. In its second year, a memorandum of agreement between the Red Cross and the Ministry of Community and Social Services supported increased capacity for response through training for Red Cross disaster management volunteers and a strengthened working relationship between Red Cross and the Ministry in times of emergency.

In June the Canadian Red Cross in Ontario hosted a round table on accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs during emergencies. This discussion led to the formation of Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Canada (IEPC), a partnership between March of Dimes Canada, Canadian Red Cross and the Inclusive Preparedness Center. Through this partnership, IEPC will offer training materials for shelter staff and volunteers to help them provide the necessary support and services for clients with disabilities in the event of an emergency.

R E D C R O S S R E S P O N D S

One of the largest disasters in Ontario over the past year occurred August 20 when a tornado touched down in Vaughan leaving a path of destruction in its wake. The Red Cross immediately responded, setting up community reception centres, and organizing the initial distribution of materials to the owners of damaged homes. Red Cross also staffed a call centre providing emergency relief information to Vaughan residents and collected donations for those affected.

Hundreds of people visiting H1N1 immunization clinics in the fall were greeted by local Red Cross volunteers. Volunteers assisted at several clinics across Ontario with non-medical support including registration activities, greeting people as they arrived and providing information from public health authorities. This support allowed clinic staff to serve the community quickly and efficiently.

In Northern and Eastern Ontario, volunteers and staff tirelessly responded to a high number of personal disasters. In Ontario’s northern communities, 177 disaster management volunteers logged 499 hours to provide for basic immediate needs of those affected by house and building fires. There were 89 incidents in which 353 adults and 134 children received services from Red Cross. In Ottawa, 147 volunteers gave more than 573 hours of their time to assist 383 adults and 92 children who were forced from their homes by fire. Comfort kits containing soap, toothpaste and other personal items, as well as stuffed animals, were distributed.

In 2009,

Red Cross volunteers

responded to 510

disasters across

Ontario, ranging

from house fires to

extreme weather.

1 Disaster Management

ONTARIO ZONE 7

“The biggest challenge

for our teams this

year was responding

to multiple-unit fires

resulting in larger

groups of people

needing assistance.”

George DickerRed Cross Disaster Management Coordinator, Ottawa

“The biggest challenge for our teams this year was responding to multiple-unit fires resulting in larger groups of people needing assistance,” said George Dicker, disaster management coordinator for the Red Cross in Ottawa. “This past year saw a number of multi-unit dwellings torn down as a result of fires and our teams were glad to be there to provide what comfort we could at a very difficult time.”

E M E R G E N C Y P R E P A R E D N E S S A D D E D T O C H I L D R E N ’ S S A F E T Y V I L L A G E

Niagara Regional Emergency Management invited Emergency Management Ontario and the Canadian Red Cross to partner with them to deliver a new emergency preparedness education program for the Niagara Region Children’s Safety Village.

The Safety Village is an education facility designed to teach children from senior kindergarten to grade six about safety and injury prevention. Classes are provided in both English and French to all four school boards in the Niagara Region. Last year, over 5,000 students visited the Safety Village.

In the fall, the Niagara Region Children’s Safety Village piloted the emergency preparedness program, which was deemed a resounding success. This program includes both classroom instruction and hands-on learning to educate children about personal emergency preparedness.

V O L U N T E E R R E A D Y T O A S S I S T W H E N D I S A S T E R S T R I K E S I N O T T A W ADebbie James

The first time Debbie James was on-call as a Red Cross disaster volunteer in Ottawa, she was in high heels and a dress, attending a work function with her husband. Just as she arrived to the dinner party her Red Cross pager went off, alerting her to a local emergency. She left immediately.

A family’s farmhouse had burned down and Debbie helped them find accommodations for the night. She says she felt a little silly arriving to an emergency in her fancy outfit. Since then Debbie keeps a change of clothes and running shoes in her car at all times.

As the volunteer assistant leader to the Personal Disaster Assistance team, it is Debbie’s responsibility to ensure people affected by emergencies get the immediate help they need, including personal items, clothing and a place to sleep. She’s on-call for one week out of six and carries a pager. If the pager goes off, it is policy that she respond within an hour. Regardless of where she is or what she is doing, when Debbie gets that page, she immediately responds. “Last year, I was on a golf course and it looked like a birdie putt, but the pager went off and I had to leave.”

Debbie also volunteers as co-leader for the Central Registry and Inquiry Bureau (CRIB), which helps trace people who have been separated from loved ones in the event of a disaster.

8 ANNUAL REVIEW

Disaster Beyond Our Borders

Throughout the year, the Canadian Red Cross responded to several major international disasters, including typhoons in the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia, and earthquakes in Italy, Chile and Haiti.

When the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, over 1.3 million people were displaced. Across the province, our volunteers and staff mobilized quickly to help. Local branches were overwhelmed with people dropping off donations and branch telephones rang non-stop with people wanting to support Red Cross efforts in Haiti.

Volunteers also supported all levels of government in welcoming more than 4,000 Canadian earthquake evacuees as they arrived in Montréal and travelled to their final destinations across Canada. Red Cross volunteers helped reconnect evacuees with their family and friends and addressed their immediate shelter, food and clothing needs.

Volunteers are at the

forefront of all that we

do at the Canadian

Red Cross.

C A N A D I A N R E D C R O S S D E L E G A T EChristine Hwang

In the weeks following the Haiti earthquake, Christine Hwang, a public health physician, was sent to Haiti on a five-week mission as a Canadian Red Cross delegate.

While there she was seconded to a German Red Cross hospital – the largest hospital in the area. Among her many duties, she was tasked with finding ways to deliver health messages to children. Recognizing that song and dance are especially important to Haitian culture, she taught the children songs about malaria, drinking water, nutrition and hand-washing.

In her five weeks, Christine took on many tasks, including statistics and reporting, disease surveillance, nutrition counselling and acting as a liaison with Haiti’s Ministry of Health. She also created children’s outreach programs and helped arrange schooling for children. For the last week she was there, Christine even took over the chef’s role in the kitchen because the chef was ill.

Christine was also a delegate to Haiti in 2008 when hurricanes ripped through the country.

Christine Hwang, Canadian Red Cross Delegate

1

Disaster Management cont’d

Community Resilience and Capacity Building 2O N T A R I O ’ S C O M M I T M E N T T O W O R K I N G W I T H F I R S T N A T I O N S

The Canadian Red Cross in Ontario is committed to working with First Nations and Aboriginal communities. The First Nations and Aboriginal Working Group, established in 2009, is now led by Melanie Goodchild-Southwind, senior manager of First Nations projects. The goal of the working group is to strengthen relationships with First Nations and build capacity within communities to deliver Red Cross services, training and education, thereby enhancing First Nations’ self-governance infrastructure in areas such as disaster management, injury prevention, violence and abuse prevention and humanitarian issues.

F I R S T C O N T A C T , H E L P I N G R E F U G E E S

The First Contact program supports refugee claimants arriving in the Toronto area by providing information on how to find shelter, health care, language and legal assistance. The program provides a toll-free number that can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Last year, our five volunteers logged 1,803 hours and helped 1,781 clients.

V o l u n t e e r P l a y s I m p o r t a n t R o l e a t R e d C r o s s O t t a w a B r a n c hRichard Sage

First aid courses are in session, phone calls are being answered and individuals walk in and out constantly: this is a typical day at the Canadian Red Cross Ottawa branch.

But on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there’s something else that characterizes the office: Richard Sage. Or “Richard Richard” as everyone knows him.

On Tuesdays, he volunteers with the Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP), and on Thursdays, he helps manage first aid courses. He has volunteered in the office since July and has become an integral part of the team. He is always bustling around the office in his wheelchair, assisting with one task or another.

Volunteering with the Red Cross has given Richard the skills he needs to take on other activities in his life. Not only has he gained valuable work experience with computers, but he has also built relationships and developed confidence which he can extend to other aspects of his life. “I feel like I’m making an impact in a small way,” Richard says of his experience.

- Written by Meaghan Williams, Canadian Red Cross youth volunteerDedicated volunteer Richard Sage is known

as “Richard Richard” at the Ottawa branch.

ONTARIO ZONE 9

R E S C U E R A W A R D S F O R L O N D O N S I L V E R B A C K S

Three members of the London Silverbacks football team were recognized by the Red Cross on August 22 for their heroic actions that saved the lives of two teens earlier last year. Alex Myros, McCartney Sealey and Nick Romain received Rescuer Awards during the team’s home game at TD Waterhouse Stadium at the University of Western Ontario.

“Nick, McCartney and Alex are heroes. Their selfless acts saved the lives of two people and we are proud to honour them with the Canadian Red Cross Rescuer Award,” said Kris Tucker, a Red Cross first aid master instructor trainer.

On June 21, the Silverbacks, an affiliate of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League, were travelling on a bus from Indiana following an away game. A SUV heading southbound blew a tire, lost control and collided head-on with the bus, causing the SUV to burst into flames.

McCartney escaped through a window and ran to the burning vehicle. He was able to pull a 16-year-old girl from the wreckage. Alex ran over to help bring the girl further away to safety. Hearing the girl screaming for her brother, Nick ran to the SUV and pulled the 12-year-old boy out of the car. Unfortunately, the children’s mother, who was also in the vehicle, did not survive the crash.

The Red Cross Rescuer Award is presented to non-professional or off-duty first responders who have volunteered to save a life, prevented further injury or provided comfort to the injured.

Y O U T H P O W E R

In October, 107 youth participants from across Ontario attended the Our World – Your Move: Youth Taking Action for Humanity leadership conference in Toronto. The three-day conference educated youth, ages 14 to 25, on key humanitarian issues and provided opportunities for them to develop leadership skills.

S U P P O R T I N G V U L N E R A B L E P O P U L A T I O N S I N T O R O N T O

The Canadian Red Cross in Toronto provides a variety of services to assist some of the city’s most vulnerable populations. The Mobile Food Bank delivers food bank items to clients who are not able to access their local walk-in food banks due to medical or health issues. The Scarborough Drop-In Centre assists homeless and under-housed individuals in accessing the basic necessities of shelter, food, clothing and health care, and the Street Relief Hot Lunch Program provides nutritious lunches and breakfasts two days each week to people who are struggling to overcome poverty, unemployment, isolation and mental health challenges. These programs served more than 35,000 people over the past year.

10 ANNUAL REVIEW

2“Nick, McCartney and

Alex are heroes. Their

selfless acts saved the

lives of two people

and we are proud to

honour them with the

Canadian Red Cross

Rescuer Award.”

Kris TuckerRed Cross first aid master

instructor trainer

Community Resilience and Capacity Building

cont’d

P I C T U R E S T A L K

In 2009, the Canadian Red Cross presented Pictures Talk, an exhibition featuring a collection of photos taken by child survivors of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. The exhibition offered a rare glimpse of post-tsunami recovery through the eyes of children. The photo exhibition toured Ontario making stops in Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie, London, Durham Region, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, Barrie, Peterborough, Ottawa and Toronto.

By providing a glimpse into the lives of these children today, the exhibition offered a unique perspective on how life returns for young survivors in disaster-affected communities. So many Canadians generously donated to tsunami relief efforts and Pictures Talk provided supporters with the opportunity to see the positive effects of their overwhelming support.

Y O U T H I N A C T I O N F O R H U M A N I T A R I A N I S S U E S

The Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Issues Program (HIP) promotes international humanitarian law and values to government, the armed forces, media, youth and civil society. In 2009, Red Cross in Ontario reached more than 6,500 people through HIP workshops.

Red Cross youth groups participating in HIP are involved with awareness and fundraising campaigns such as the annual Sudan Week of Action in October and Canadian Landmines Awareness Week in February.

P E E L R E G I O N

The Peel Youth Action Council, consisting of 50 high school students, was actively involved in the Sudan Week of Action campaign, Malaria Bites, and Afghanistan and Haiti campaigns, raising awareness about the work of the Red Cross in those countries. Their annual gala, the Tick Tick Talent Show, to raise funds for Malaria Bites, was held in March with more than 200 participants and 30 artists from all over the Greater Toronto Area.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T O R O N T O , M I S S I S S A U G A C A M P U S

When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Red Cross club with 25 members mobilized the entire UTM community – faculty, staff and students – raising more than $16,000 over a period of two weeks.

R E G I O N O F Y O R K

In 2009, the York Region youth groups, with about 60 students, held a monthly Humanitarian Speaker Series with Red Cross delegates who have worked around the world on various missions. In October, they held a Social Justice & Diversity Conference enabling youth to learn about social justice and diversity issues and how to get involved with Red Cross.

ONTARIO ZONE 11

Humanitarian Issues 3

12 ANNUAL REVIEW

Supporting Independence and Mobility in our Communities

Canadian Red Cross staff and volunteers work together to provide a multitude of services that help people remain living independently in their homes with comfort and dignity, despite injury, illness and other circumstances. Services include personal support and homemaking, transportation, health equipment loans and Meals on Wheels.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A L T H S E R V I C E S A C H I E V E S A C C R E D I T A T I O N

Accreditation Canada awarded the Personal Support/Homemaking program full accreditation status in 2009. This is the highest level of accreditation and will lead the program through its next three-year cycle. The Red Cross WorkSafe program, which provides training and standards to prevent workplace injuries for Community Support Workers, was also recognized by Accreditation Canada as a leading practice. Over the past year, 3,000 Red Cross Community Support Workers provided 3.5 million hours of personal support and homemaking service to Ontarians.

Over the past year,

3,000 Red Cross

Community Support

Workers provided

3.5 million hours of

personal support and

homemaking service

to Ontarians.

4 Health and Social Programs

S a r n i a T r a n s p o r t a t i o n V o l u n t e e r P r o v i d e s R i d e s w i t h H e a r t Rick Neinhuis

For the past five years, Rick Neinhuis has helped many people in his community by simply giving them a ride. For the time that he gives, he says he gets so much more in return.

Rick volunteers four days a week with the transportation program in Sarnia. The program provides rides to elderly, frail or injured members of the community to medical appointments, dialysis treatment, shopping trips or day programs.

Rick says the relationships that are created are more important than the transportation itself. “Within those 15 or 30 minutes you become part of their life, you get to know them and their stories,” he says. “Sometimes people just need to talk.”

He has shared happy moments with his clients, and also sad ones. He has even shed tears on one occasion. Once he asked a client how he was doing. The client broke down and began to cry. His wife had recently entered a long-term care facility. His health was also starting to fade and he was feeling scared and overwhelmed. “I said ‘I am so sorry’ and I comforted him,” says Rick.

Rick Neinhuis, Sarnia transportation volunteer.

ONTARIO ZONE 13

“Home First gives

families the support

they need to be

able to safely and

appropriately care for

loved ones at home.”

Arlene AtkinsonRed Cross Manager

P I L O T P R O J E C T I N E A S T E R N O N T A R I O : H O M E F I R S T

In December, the Brockville Red Cross branch launched Home First, a pilot program aimed at providing around-the-clock home care. After the first five months of the pilot, Red Cross Community Support Workers had provided 1,000 hours of service weekly to 28 clients. The program enables seniors who are waiting for space in a long-term care facility to go home, rather than stay in hospital. Community Support Workers provide support in the home for up to 60 days while the individuals and their families await an opening in a long-term care facility. “These situations can cause incredible stress within the family,” said Arlene Atkinson, Red Cross manager. “Home First gives families the support they need to be able to safely and appropriately care for loved ones at home.”

Red Cross provides this service through a contract with the South East Community Care Access Centre, which is funded and legislated by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

E X P A N D I N G P R O G R A M M I N G I N T H E N O R T H

The Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) enabled the North Bay branch of the Red Cross to expand its transportation program to the outlying areas of Nipissing District. The LHIN provided the branch with an Aging at Home van, as well as base funding to further enhance the program, and a car was also purchased to support the service. Through this program, individuals gain access to much needed medical and social opportunities which reduces health deterioration and social isolation.

Improving Health Across the World

A C H I L D D I E S O F M A L A R I A E V E R Y 3 0 S E C O N D S

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes at night. Although preventable and treatable, malaria is the single leading cause of death for children under five in Africa. The most proven and cost-effective way to save lives is with a $10 bed net. Insecticide-treated nets provide a protective barrier around families, especially at night when malaria-carrying mosquitoes strike.

In April, the Canadian Red Cross coordinated a net distribution in Burundi, Africa. Over 521,000 nets were delivered through door-to-door distribution by trained Burundi Red Cross volunteers, who visited homes before, during and after the campaign to ensure proper net usage – a key element to the success of malaria prevention.

The Canadian Red Cross also expanded its campaign to include health interventions and treatment options. In addition to receiving a bed net, beneficiaries have access to lifesaving interventions such as rapid diagnostic tests, malaria treatment, preventative medicine for pregnant mothers and clean drinking water. Since 2003, the Canadian Red Cross has distributed over six million mosquito nets in Africa.

More than 472,000

Canadians train

in first aid and CPR

with the Red Cross

every year.

14 ANNUAL REVIEW

5 Injury Prevention

Did you Know?

Over the past 60 years, the Red Cross has taught more than 30 million Canadians to swim and stay safe around water. Another 21,000 people are certified as Water Safety Instructors every year, and thousands more are reached through our public education campaigns.

First Aid and CPR

The Canadian Red Cross has been educating Canadians in first aid and CPR for more than 50 years and remains one of the leading training providers across the country. More than 472,000 Canadians train with the Red Cross every year. In Ontario the number of people trained by Red Cross in first aid continues to grow – over the past year training goals were exceeded by 7,000 participants.

T E L U S S U P P O R T S R E D C R O S S B A B Y S I T T I N G P R O G R A M

The TELUS Toronto and Ottawa Community Boards donated $33,050 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the babysitting program in Toronto and Ottawa this past year.

The funding allows the Red Cross to deliver the babysitting program to 950 at-risk youth. Participants will learn how to care for children in a safe environment, how to handle emergency situations and prevent injuries as well as gain valuable skills and experience.

“The nature of the Red Cross Babysitting program resonates with us,” says Johnnie-Mike Irving, interim chair, TELUS Toronto Community Board. “It highlights our youth component and has a sustainable factor to it. The program trains leaders who will continue on - this initiative will have a life long after the initial training is complete.”

Over the next year, the four phases of this project will be completed: establishing partnerships in the target communities, training babysitting facilitators, purchasing required first aid equipment to run the courses and, finally, delivering the babysitting course to community youth.

ONTARIO ZONE 15

Water Safety

This year, to complete the 10-year Drowning Trend Summary series, Red Cross published three drowning trend reports: Module 3: Boating and Powerboats, Module 4: Unpowered Boating, and Module 5: Fishing. In recognition of the Society’s outstanding contribution to Canadian marine safety, the Canadian Red Cross injury prevention program received Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Award for 2009. Drowning research enables the Canadian Red Cross to continue to develop high quality swimming and water safety programs as well as public education resources aimed at reducing the number of water-related injuries and deaths. To ensure continued excellence in drowning research, Red Cross plans to combine media tracking and annual data collection with provincial and territorial coroners’ offices to provide current statistics. These initiatives will help sustain water safety training and ensure Canadians have the skills and knowledge to make safe choices, prevent injuries and respond in emergency situations.

S . P. L . A . S . H . E . S .

Red Cross and Ontario Parks teamed up in 2009 to help bring water safety programs to local parks. For this project, it was especially important to provide resources created in multiple languages to meet the needs of various ethnic groups. As a result, Injury Prevention’s S.P.L.A.S.H.E.S. summer safety handout was created in French, Russian, Spanish, Punjabi and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

B R I N G I N G W A T E R S A F E T Y T O F I R S T N A T I O N S C O M M U N I T I E S

A pilot program, launched to address a gap in water safety education within First Nations communities, proved to be a tremendous success. Through Swimming and Injury Prevention for First Nations Communities in Ontario, more than 100 children received swimming lessons and water safety education; 12 adults received Water Safety Instructor training; and 134 reserves received new water safety and injury prevention resources.

The program focused on First Nations because incidents of drowning are 10 times higher in their communities compared with the rest of the population. Even though many First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities are located close to rivers, lakes and oceans, their communities tend to have limited access to swimming lessons and lifesaving training.

Ontario Zone formed an advisory committee and engaged First Nations communities in the process of developing new, culturally effective water safety resources for children, teachers and parents.

An illustration from new water safety resources for First Nations communities.

Violence is Preventable: Education is Key The Canadian Red Cross aims to break the cycle of abuse, neglect, harassment and interpersonal violence to ensure every child’s right to live, play and learn in a safe environment. We teach children what to do if abuse is happening to them or a friend, and we teach the adults in their lives to recognize the signs of abuse and what to do when they see it. RespectED programming includes:• Workshops for children and youth which address personal safety, healthy relationships, and

bullying prevention• Recruitment and training of providers to deliver workshops• Design of curriculum and presentation materials

R E S P E C T E D

In 2009, Red Cross in Ontario saw the greatest number of youth reached in RespectED since the program was implemented more than ten years ago. We helped reach more than 42,000 youth - a 41 per cent increase from the previous year. RespectED is a volunteer-driven program that aims to stop the hurt before it starts. Our nationally recognized, award-winning programs teach kids and adults what a healthy relationship is, how to recognize the signs of abuse, dating violence and harassment, and how to get help.

This past year, RespectED delivered several workshops on bullying and healthy dating relationships to several high schools and the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies.

W A L K I N G T H E P R E V E N T I O N C I R C L E

RespectED presented six simultaneous Walking the Prevention Circle workshops at the National Indian and Inuit Community Conference which took place May 27-30, 2009, in Toronto. Walking the Prevention Circle is a comprehensive three-day workshop, developed in close collaboration with Aboriginal communities. It acknowledges the history, challenges and potential of Aboriginal individuals and communities as it explores issues relating to abuse, neglect and interpersonal violence. Over 250 health representatives attended the conference.

16 ANNUAL REVIEW

In 2009, Red Cross

in Ontario saw the

greatest number of

youth reached in

RespectED since

the program was

implemented more

than ten years

ago, reaching

42,000 youth

6 Violence and Abuse Prevention

ONTARIO ZONE 17

Thanks to You, Red Cross is There W A L M A R T R A I S E S $ 2 . 4 5 M I L L I O N F O R D I S A S T E R P R E P A R E D N E S S

In September 2009, Walmart Canada announced that its Canadian Red Cross campaign had exceeded its $2.1 million goal with a record $2.45 million raised for disaster preparedness and response.

Walmart Canada’s sponsorship helps Canadian Red Cross provide emergency supplies such as food, clothing, shelter and hygiene kits, which include toothbrushes, soap and other toiletries. Including last year’s record donation, Walmart Canada, its customers, associates and suppliers have raised more than $9 million for the Canadian Red Cross since 2003.

“Walmart Canada is proud to play a pivotal role in providing urgently needed relief items during disasters and beyond,” said David Cheesewright, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. “We want to thank our customers and associates for their record levels of generosity, making this year’s campaign our best ever.”

T H E O N T A R I O R E D C R O S S L O T T E R Y W I N N E R S

The 2009 Ontario Red Cross Lottery had two big winners: Simcoe resident Catherine Willson, who won $250,000, and Doug Isaac of Ancaster, who won $100,000.

Every year, the Canadian Red Cross Lottery offers an amazing assortment of prizes including cars, vacations, cash and electronics. Proceeds from the Red Cross Lottery go directly to support the programs and services offered by the Red Cross in communities across Ontario.

T H E S P R O T T F O U N D A T I O N M A T C H I N G G I F T C H A L L E N G E

A special luncheon was held to honour the past and present women of the Red Cross. Juliana Sprott, a strong advocate, financial supporter and volunteer, in honour of the women of Red Cross, announced that the Sprott Foundation, of which Juliana is president, will match any new gifts of $1,000 or more, up to $100,000.

A W I N N I N G Y E A R F O R T H E N O R T H E R N R A F F L E

The Northern Raffle had its biggest year to date, raising more than $105,000. The grand prize winner had the option to take home a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV or $25,000 cash. Second prize was a 2010 Polaris Sportsman ATV and a $750 gift certificate. Other $1,000 prizes were also awarded. Raffle tickets were sold by branches in Dryden, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins.

T H E C I R C L E O F H U M A N I T Y

The Circle of Humanity is a monthly giving program that provides stable, reliable and cost-effective financial support to the humanitarian efforts of the Red Cross. Donors make monthly contributions that are deducted from their credit cards or bank accounts, which add up to make a big difference in a measured and budgeted way.

Over the past year more than 15,000 new donors have joined The Circle of Humanity across Canada.

“Walmart Canada is

proud to play a pivotal

role in providing

urgently needed relief

items during disasters

and beyond.”

David CheesewrightPresident and CEO of Walmart Canada

Financial Health and Sustainability 7

B Y T H E N U M B E R S - R E D C R O S S I N O N T A R I O

I3,169 people assisted by Red Cross disaster services

469 disaster responses

2,050 active disaster management volunteers in Ontario

30,125 pieces of health equipment lent to clients through our Health Equipment Loan Program

180,106 Ontarians received Red Cross first aid training

358,169 participants in Red Cross swimming and water safety training

42,000 Ontario youth reached through RespectED workshops

20,392 Ontarians educated by the Red Cross on international humanitarian issues

3.5 million hours of home support services delivered

298,098 meals delivered by Red Cross volunteers through Meals on Wheels program

233,283 transportation rides provided to clients

6,275 Red Cross volunteers in Ontario

18 ANNUAL REVIEW

Facts at a Glance

Canadian Red CrossOntario Zone

5700 Cancross CourtMississauga ON

L5R 3E9

Telephone:905.890.1000

www.redcross.ca

All content copyright © 2010Canadian Red Cross