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MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIReCTOR
The theme of this year’s Annual Report is present in this moment.
This is the third time we document our experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in our annual report. This past year has perhaps been the most challenging, with pandemic distress and fatigue
growing and deepening within the Indigenous community. We saw this amongst our community members and our staff and volunteers. When we look back over the past twelve months, we define this moment in time as one of being present, of accompanying community members in the realities of their day-to-day pandemic lives. PAQ remained open 365 days and nights this year, and our 2021-2022 annual report documents this presence in the lives of community members. It has been a year of looking forward and looking back, but certainly not standing still; we have grown and changed. Most importantly, we have been present: present in moments of crisis and adversity, but also in joy and laughter. This report bears witness to these moments.
Two of these moments that stood out this year happened very close together, last summer. In June 2021, we hosted a Celebration of Life for the 14 community members who had passed away since the start of the pandemic. Family, friends and community members gathered in a sad but poignant moment to remember the lives of those lost, many of them in the
Heather Johnston, Executive Director
circumstances unique to the injustices of the streets. Less than a month later, we shared a moment of pure joy when we hosted our summer BBQ in the PAQ courtyard with drumming and dancing – the first time we had come together as a community in over a year.
We remember many moments from this year when PAQ was present. Moments of pride: the showing of two inspirational short films made by Life Skills participants. Moments of celebration: the first participants
checking in at PAQ2 when we opened 24/7 services at the new site! Moments for reflection: a conversation at the MAP house between Simeonee and the Honour- able Mark Miller, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, when Simeonee sat with him and quietly and patiently explained the impact of residential schools on his people and him. Moments of pain and sadness: every community death we witnessed. And moments of sheer joy: paddling around the lake in the Laurentians at Camp Kanawana in the sunshine on a glorious September day. These are the moments of our community life, and we were present.
To every community member, staff, volunteer, partner or friend, thank you for sharing your moments with us this year.
William John, President