Media Release: TBDSSAB Celebrates Housing Milestones and Technology Hubs

August 26, 2021, Thunder Bay – The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) celebrated exciting milestones for community housing this week, with two building anniversaries and new tenant technology hubs announced.

TBDSSAB board members, staff, tenants, and community partners gathered on August 24 & 26 to celebrate 50 years of safe, affordable housing for families at 707 John Street and 288 Windsor Street. Celebrations at both locations included a smudging ceremony and prayer officiated by Nathaniel Moses and Esther Chung with the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration at Windsor Street, a ceremony was also held to open a new technology hub in the Windsor Street resource centre. This is the first of three new Technology Hubs at TBDSSAB-owned properties to be opened to the public.

Units at three TBDSSAB-owned properties have operated as resource centres for several years, with additional programming offered through community partners. In addition to Windsor Street, Technology Hubs will be opened at the resource centres at Limbrick and Trillium neighbourhoods in September. The hubs will provide access to computers and an internet connection for clients, tenants, and anyone in the neighbourhood. Each hub will be open to the public during scheduled operating hours. Starting this fall, TBDSSAB will also be hosting on-site workshops and training for service-users.

Quotes:

  • “TBDSSAB strives to provide the highest standard of community housing for all of our tenants throughout the District of Thunder Bay. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to celebrate the Gold Anniversary of these 2 community housing properties. I can think of no better way to celebrate this milestone at Windsor Street than by opening the doors to the new Technology Hubs. Our Board has advocated for technological equity for our communities, and we are grateful to the TBDSSAB team for bringing this vision to life.” – Lucy Kloosterhuis, Board Chair, TBDSSAB
  • “Both properties have undergone many changes in the last 50 years, but our core mission remains the same: to provide safe and affordable community housing to the people of the District of Thunder Bay. The John and Windsor Street townhomes have a strong sense of community, and I look forward to the positive impact the new technology hub at Windsor Street will have on the next generation of tenants.” – William (Bill) Bradica, Chief Administrative Officer, TBDSSAB
  • “TBDSSAB has had computers and internet access available for public use for many years at our May street office. With these new technology hubs, service users have computers closer to home. Access to computers will make job searches and online education accessible to those without the resources at home.” – Ken Ranta, Director Integrated Social Services, TBDSSAB

Additional Information:

  • The John Street and Windsor Street townhomes have a combined 97 townhomes. Both properties were built in 1970, with celebrations planned for 2020 delayed due to the pandemic.
  • Construction on the technology hubs began in 2020, and renovations were completed in spring 2021. The technology hubs have been a group effort, involving both TBDSSAB’s Integrated Social Services and Corporate Services divisions.
  • Plans to implement the technology hubs were identified in TBDSSAB’s 2020-23 Strategic Plan: https://www.tbdssab.ca/board/strategic-plan/

 

About TBDSSAB:

The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) supports people to improve their lives and become self-sufficient. We do this as the service system manager for vital, quality social services needed by individuals and families living in the District of Thunder Bay—including child care and early years, community housing, homelessness prevention programs—and through the delivery of Ontario Works.