DTSSAB Announces Partnership with the Town of Cobalt

The DTSSAB is proud to announce a coordinated partnership with the Town of Cobalt to aid in ensuring the continued security and reasonable enjoyment for DTSSAB tenants in Cobalt. Due to the substantial number of building and units, and constantly evolving situations, the need for a collaborative effort was highlighted.

 “Fostering positive community partnerships allows innovative, sustainable solutions. This has included increasing the accessibility to tenants to access required community supports and improved communication. It is a benefit to all parties involved,” Mark Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer of the DTSSAB.

 Regular meetings are held with the DTSSAB Housing Services Team, the Mayor of Cobalt, Mita Gibson, and Town of Cobalt Manager, Steve Dalley. This platform has encouraged community partners to join the discussion and provide insight, such as the Ontario Provincial Police. This has the further benefit of easing the referral process of tenants to local community partners for services and supports they can benefit from.

 As the DTSSAB’s role as a landlord is governed by laws such as the Residential Tenancies Act, there are procedures, such as evictions, that fall victim to a backlogged Landlord Tenant Board. The DTSSAB and the Town of Cobalt will continue to monitor, strategize, and proactively discuss how to maintain the reasonable enjoyment and safety of DTSSAB tenants and Cobalt residents.

 Any questions or requests for further comments can be directed to communications@dtssab.com

DTSSAB, Northern College, College Boreal, Partner in Creation of Compressed ECE Program

DTSSAB, Northern College, and College Boréal, are partnering in the creation of a local Compressed Early Childhood Educator Program. The program will make it possible for 6 individuals in the district, presently working in the child care field, to continue their education to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in the span of 16 months, as opposed to two years.

Ontario is experiencing a critical shortage of Early Years and Child Care professionals. The Provincial and Federal government announced a $13.2 billion agreement to lower childcare fees to $10/day by Fall 2025. To meet demand, Ontario plans to create 86,000 new licensed child care spaces. The District Services Board funded ECE Program Project has been designed to support recruitment and retention strategies across the North to meet this objective.

DTSSAB will be sponsoring 6 students, employed across the district at Englehart and Area Child Care and Keepers of the Circle, to complete the program. The hybrid format of the program (synchronous and asynchronous) will allow the students to continue to support their respective child care centres during high demand periods, such as before and after school. The compressed program has 4 semesters, beginning January 9th and culminating in Winter 2024, ending with Early Childhood Educator Field Work Placement. Tuition and fees, including books, will be fully funded by the DTSSAB for registered students. The students will also receive their current hourly wage for work hours and school hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

This innovative partnership provides the opportunity to increase the capacity for child care in the Timiskaming district. The flexibility of delivery, made possible through Northern College and College Boréal, creates a feasible option for individuals who wish to continue their education but also wanted to keep supporting their day care centres.

“This program provides a great opportunity for child care staff, which is a win-win for both the participant and their child care centres in our district,” Lyne Labelle, Children’s Services Manager.

If you have further questions, please direct them to:

communications@dtssab.com

DTSSAB Holds Inaugural Meeting and Welcomes New Board

The District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board (DTSSAB) welcomed their new Board on January 19th, 2023. Derek Mundle, the representative of Area 2, was re-elected Chair, and Pat Kiely, from Area 1, was appointed Vice-Chair. 

The 2023 Board is comprised of five returning Board members, including Board Chair Derek Mundle from Evanturel, Vice-Chair Pat Kiely from Kirkland Lake, Clifford Fielder from Harley Township, Ian Macpherson from the Territories Without Municipal Organization (TWOMO) North, and Jesse Foley from the City of Temiskaming Shores. The DTSSAB welcomes four new Board members, Jeff Laferriere from the City of Temiskaming Shores, Lois Perry from Coleman Township, Mary Jo Lentz from TWOMO South, and Rick Owen from Kirkland Lake.  

“I am happy to be returning as Chair for DTSSAB, continuing with the work we started last term,” said Chair Derek Mundle, “I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the DTSSAB team to support the delivery of required services in the Timiskaming district.” 

“We welcome the opportunity to connect with returning and new Board members and convey the importance of the DTSSAB’s Vision, Mission, and Values and the services we provide. The Board serves as an essential role representing and communicating on behalf of the municipalities and territories they represent,” Mark Stewart, Chief Administrative Officer.  

The next meeting of the DTSSAB Board will be held on February 1st, 2023, at the Evanturel Township Hall, where the Board will continue their onboarding and be presented with program specific orientations and budgets.  

The 2023 Board Meeting Schedule was approved at the meeting and can be found at www.dtssab.com, along with past Board Minutes, upcoming Board Agendas, and Board Governance By-Laws and Policies.  

Any further queries can be directed to: communications@dtssab.com

100% enrollment into the Canada-Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) system

The DTSSAB is pleased to inform that the Timiskaming District has reached 100% enrollment into the Canada-Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) system in advance of the November 1st, deadline. The Children’s Services Team has been diligently working to enroll the six (6) Child Care providers who provide care at sixteen (16) different sites throughout the area into the system.

For the full press release, click here.