Merger Announcement

March 31, 2010

Dear Client of New Heights Community Health Centres / York Community Services: 

The Boards of Directors for York Community Services and New Heights Community Health Centres have fully considered the merger benefits and risks and are excited to announce they are recommending to their Corporate Memberships that the two organizations legally merge. 

This decision was made after an extensive assessment conducted by both Boards that determined that a merger would produce the following mutual benefits:

• Improve and increase services delivered to the community; 

• Generate efficiencies and opportunities to strengthen organizational capacity; and 

• Gain a stronger voice in the provision of health and social services for marginalized populations in Toronto’s West End. 

The Corporate Members of each organization will now be asked to make a decision about the merger at a meeting in late April, 2010, and will be provided information from the Boards of Directors to inform this decision.  

The Toronto Central LHIN has continued to support these merger discussions.  The LHIN Board of Directors is planning to review a submission about this merger at their meeting on April 21, 2010.  The LHIN Board will determine at this meeting whether or not to object to the merger. 

Pending the Corporate Member and LHIN decisions, the merger process would commence in Spring/Summer of 2010 with an aim to have the organizations legally merge in Fall 2010.

We are also pleased to announce that Andrea Cohen, current Executive Director of New Heights, is the successful candidate to fill the position of Executive Director for the merged organization.  Andrea has been the Executive Director at New Heights for the past five years and has been instrumental in establishing New Heights as a leading organization recognized for innovative, high quality, and high performing programs and services.  Andrea brings extensive leadership experience in the Community Health Centre sector as well as a strong vision and enthusiasm for overseeing the successful integration of these two organizations.  Andrea will assume the position of Transitional Director and Interim Executive Director as of April 15, 2010.  Both Boards are looking forward to working with Andrea during this important transition. 

Steven Harrison, current Executive Director of YCS, has been instrumental in supporting the Board of Directors at YCS in reaching this decision about merging.  Steven joined YCS four years ago as Executive Director and worked diligently to secure additional resources in order to meet the needs of the YCS community.  Most noteworthy has been Steven’s relentless dedication to the development of the YCS satellite-community hub which brings together additional social service providers to help meet the needs of the community.  We recognize the strong leadership Steven has provided to YCS staff, the community, and the broader CHC sector for the past four years and thank him for his dedication and commitment.  Steven will be leaving on April 15, 2010.  On behalf of the YCS community, we wish him well on all his future endeavors.  

The Board of Directors of the new organization will be comprised of representatives of each board and additional members that are reflective of our communities and bring the skills and experiences needed for the new organization.  Michael Rethazi, the current Board Chair of New Heights, will be the Chair of the Board for the new organization.

Thank you for your continued support of our organizations and for supporting the Boards through this merger assessment process. 

Yours Truly,                     

Michael Rethazi                            Lee Fairclough

Chair of the Board of Directors     President of the Board of Directors

New Heights CHCs                       York Community Services