2004 Archived Articles

December 17, 2004 | Food & toys for needy families

Tropicana Community Services is planning to assist more than 50 families with food and toys this holiday season. The move is in keeping with a tradition that began 17 years ago when Tropicana launched its first Christmas Food and Toy Drive.

"All 50 families are clients or former clients of Tropicana,'' said Lincoln Depradine, Community Relations Coordinator of Tropicana. "We solicited the food and toys that are being donated.''

In the past, Tropicana extended its donations far beyond its client base to the wider community, assisting as many people as possible. However, cognizant of the fact that many people had already made huge donations to Caribbean countries that were ravaged by hurricanes in September, Tropicana decided to scale down its Food and Toy Drive solicitation efforts. It sought just enough donations for client families and former clients.

"We were pleased with the response from donors,'' Depradine said. "Some donated cash, others non-perishable food, hampers, gift certificates and toys.''

Assistance was received from some of the Food Drive's most loyal donors, such as Scotiabank, CHUMCity Christmas Wish, Tranquility Alumni Association, the Bermuda Canadian Association, Telus and the Molligan Family.

A new component of this year's Drive was a toy campaign that was initiated by FLOW 93.5 FM and promoted on the radio station. FLOW encouraged listeners to donate new, unwrapped toys to Tropicana and to deliver them at the organization's Progress Avenue office on December 15.

Among those who participated in the Toy Drop-off were Anne-Marie King and her colleagues at North York East Social Services. They donated more than 60 new toys.

[ back to top ]

October 25, 2004 | Supermodel launches cosmetic line

Naomi Sims, one of the first Black supermodels to grace the covers of mainstream magazines such as Vogue and Cosmo, will soon have her cosmetics line of products available on the Canadian market.

The Naomi line, which originated in the United States , includes a range of beauty items for hair and skin for people of colour.

Canadian-based M&C Enterprises is now launching Naomi Sims Canada , making the Naomi line easily and widely available to people in this country. The launch, on Saturday, November 6, is also being used as a fundraiser to support charity work.

The event, titled "Look Good & Feel Great,'' is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road.

"We decided to host this event because we really believe that looking good and feeling great is something our community should celebrate together,'' said Claudette McGowan, president of M&C Enterprises and Naomi Sims Canada.

"We also wanted to make a difference in our community and we identified Tropicana Community Services and the United Way as organizations that share our goal of helping people reach their full potential.''

The United Way, of which Tropicana is a member, is currently in the midst of its annual fundraising campaign.

Entrance to the November 6 event is free but patrons are being encouraged to buy raffle tickets that are being sold at $2 each or three for $5. Raffle prizes include a 36-inch television, a DVD Player, a Digital Camera and cash of $500.

Organizers are also offering free mini-massages, skin analysis, hair care analysis and cosmetics' advice. In addition, designer fragrances and oils from well-known names such as Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Phat Farm, Burberry, Dolce Gabana and Issye Miyake will be available for sale at discount rates.

For more information, call M&C Enterprises at 905-737-6741 or e-mail beauty@naomicanada.com.

[ back to top ]

June 23, 2004 | Calls to make Tropicana celebration showcase of excellence

Steelpan performances, the presentation of awards and singing provided a lighter side to the proceedings when Tropicana held its annual general meeting on June 23, 2004.

On the business side of the meeting, Scotiabank executive Christine Williams was re-elected as President of Tropicana. Ms Williams was recognized for her hard work in leading the organization with the presentation of a bouquet of flowers from Sharon Shelton, Tropicana’s Executive Director. Ms Shelton also reported on the work of the organization over the past year. The following is an excerpt of her report. "Tropicana experienced an exciting year and its work was recognized in a number ways, not the least of which was through increased media attention. A testimony to Tropicana’s worth and credibility was the fact the agency was invited – and agreed to send a representative – to sit on Mayor David Miller’s Transition Team to assist in prioritizing his agenda for the City of Toronto. The agency was also recognized by being chosen as one of the leaders of the Coalition of the Committed – a group initiated by the Association of Black Law Enforcers to address the crime crisis among youth it the community.

In continuing to meet the needs of the community, Tropicana launched Aggression Replacement Training (ART), a preventative strategy to reduce aggressive behaviour. It provides participants with the necessary skills to manage their behaviour and to choose positive alternatives to aggression in situations of conflict and dispute. Mary Anne Chambers – now Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities – launched the program at our 2003 Caribbean Night Gala. Mary Anne and her husband, Chris, pledged their support for ART by offering to match community donations up to $20,000. The next step was staff training in July and October of 2003 by Preudhomme, Dunston and Associates. The program was introduced to the community at an Open House held as part of the agency’s Black History month celebrations in February, 2004.

Tropicana was fortunate to have received an increase in funding from the United Way of Greater Toronto – a funder that fortunately maintains its finger on Toronto’s social service needs. These additional funds were allocated to assist in sustaining the current level of services in the youth and education programs and to hire a Financial Manager. The new position allowed the agency to bring its accounting services in-house, thus ensuring greater accountability and the timely, efficient and effective reporting of financial information. I would like to welcome Louis Alfonso to the Tropicana team as Financial Manager. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank JoyKay Enterprises for their professionalism and support over the past six years.

Even though Tropicana continues to be recognized for its quality service, the agency is still being plagued by under-funding. We knew we were being under-funded, but the magnitude was brought to light during our participation in a project undertaken by the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto. The Council presented data which showed that agencies like Tropicana were not being adequately funded for costs generated by essential activities, facilities and supplies to permit them to deliver their programs. And it’s not like Tropicana has not been trying to find solutions from within. The financial status of the organization is continuously under scrutiny by the Board of Directors. There was a small breakthrough and an optimistic flicker in April 2003 with the development of a comprehensive three-year fund-raising and communication plan by Gail Picco and Associates. This firm also assisted in the first phase of the plan – application for funding to implement the plan from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Implementation of the plan will be a major focus for the agency for the coming years. We look forward to the support of the membership of Tropicana and the community at large to help us realize our goals for on-going sustainability of the organization.

Ever mindful of the welfare of our employees and clients, we took a hard look at Health and Safety issues. An audit conducted by Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario (HCHSA) gave us much-needed direction. As a result of this audit, a Health and Safety Committee was established at the AYCE office; Health and Safety representatives have been chosen for each of the other Tropicana sites – Progress Avenue, Youth Resource Centre at Scarborough Town Centre, Danforth Road and McCowan Road. Policies around Health and Safety have been developed and many changes have already been implemented. A Health and Safety manual is currently being developed.

The spirit of Tropicana was evident in many of its events this past year. The Caribbean Night Gala returned to the Delta Toronto East and for the first time received major sponsorship, thanks to Scotiabank. The Robert K. Brown scholarship, now being administered through the Black Business and Professional Association’s Harry Jerome Scholarship, was awarded to a Masters student, Simone Kassim. Staff and volunteers came out to support the United Way at its campaign kick-off – Leaps & Bounds. Walkers were highly visible in their "very” bright yellow/gold T-shirts and were heard from a distance with the pulsating rhythm supplied by our drummers. Special mention was made of the Tropicana contingent by the United Way organizers. We would welcome new walkers and their families for the event in September, 2004.

The coming year, 2004/05, may prove to be one of exciting challenges, renewal and of setting the momentum for the future of Tropicana. We will begin our preparations for our 25th anniversary year which starts in March, 2005. Many committees will be struck and we are counting on everyone to make these celebrations a showcase of excellence! We are indebted and deeply grateful to all who supported us over the past year. I extend special recognition and thanks to Tropicana’s dedicated staff and volunteers. "Working together to help each other” will ensure that we continue to provide excellent, quality service to the community.’’

[ back to top ]

May 8, 2004 | Tropicana provides "essential’’ services, says Chambers

A senior Ontario government minister says Tropicana is a "very worthy organization’’ and is urging more support for the organization.

"Tropicana is in its 24 th year of operation and its services have never been more essential to our community,’’ says Mary Anne Chambers, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The minister made the remarks as she delivered the keynote address at Tropicana’s annual Caribbean Night Fundraising Gala at the Delta Toronto East Hotel.

"Tropicana has always been involved in the delivery of programs for youth,’’ Chambers told more than 350 guests attending the Gala.

"We should be ready and willing to position ourselves alongside this organization (Tropicana) in order to do whatever we can to provide solutions that will serve our young people well. We all have a part to play in providing solutions.’’

Other speakers at the event included Tropicana President Christine Williams and Executive Director, Sharon Shelton. The Executive Director commended the event’s patrons, saying their presence means that they see Tropicana as a "credible organization that can make a difference and you want to equip us with the tools to make the difference.’’

She added: "To solve our problems, we need to provide organizations like Tropicana with the resources to do the job. The funds raised tonight will go a long way in equipping us.’’

Among those who attended the Gala were the founding-president of Tropicana Robert Brown, and lawyer Leonard A. Braithwaite, Q.C., who was the first Black person to ever be elected to the Ontario Legislature.

[ back to top ]