SUMMER 2026 NEWSLETTER
Connections The 416’s story is one of compassion and care
Your Summer Community Update
DONNA, CASE MANAGER
The 416 began in the 1980s as a daytime drop-in center for women facing homelessness. Back then, women would show up as early as 5 am looking for warmth and food, even though the doors officially opened at 9 am. Founder Joy Reid always arrived early and saw how much they needed a safe place, so she welcomed them in. Her kindness turned The 416 into more than just a shelter—it became a lifeline for many women. In 2017, LOFT took over the house and promised to keep its original vision alive. They made sure The 416 would keep supporting anyone who identifies as a woman, offering warm meals, medical care, counselling, a justice program, and above all else, a welcoming community.
Donna (bottom right) with The 416 team in 2000, and with the team today.
Among the staff who run The 416, Donna best represents what the program is all about. She’s been involved for almost 40 years and remembers when there were no official roles—just a group of women working together to support one another. They cooked meals side by side, creating a family feeling. As The 416 grew, Donna became a Case Manager and stayed someone people could count on.
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Some of the ladies who come here are originals. They don’t want to retell their stories, so being here for them has been important to me.
SANDRA, COOK
– Donna, Case Manager
Change has not always been easy for Donna, but her colleague and friend, Sandra, encourages her. Sandra started at The 416 18 years ago as a student working in the kitchen. She moved from a relief position to full-time, and now she’s the Head Nutritionist. “I live in the neighbourhood, I understand the neighbourhood, and now I get to give back,” she says. “We didn’t come into this field to get rich—we’re caring, compassionate people.” At The 416, food donations determine the menu. While Donna oversees the food bank, Sandra creatively plans prepared meals based on what is available to ensure variety. She also teaches cooking and baking classes, helping women transform food bank items into nutritious meals. For both Donna and Sandra, food represents empowerment as well as sustenance. During COVID, Sandra and
Donna regularly prepared and distributed 100 takeaway meals to those waiting outside. Recently, onsite meals resumed: dine-in on Mondays and Wednesdays and take-away on Tuesdays, with plans to expand. “We know we have the capacity to do more,” Sandra says. To learn more about the 416 and drop-in programs, visit loftcs.org/the416.
D
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AN UPDATE FROM DAVID FRY, CEO
C Y, FR
On August 14, the Honourable Michael Kerzner hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the $9.7M investment from the Ontario Government to redevelop 20,000 square feet of the Champagne Centre, as the permanent home for The Path Home program, a partnership in client care between LOFT Community Services and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
patients in a new residential setting designed to help individuals transition successfully back into the community.
The Path Home program offers specialized transitional housing and community-based supports for individuals leaving inpatient care at CAMH. Working closely with CAMH psychiatry, LOFT will deliver 24-hour nursing and personal care, case management, care coordination, and life-enrichment services, helping clients maintain stability and independence during their recovery journey. The program will occupy a dedicated wing of the Champagne Centre. Once renovations are complete, it will accommodate up to 36 clients in bright, accessible, hospital-grade rooms for stays of up to one year. Residents will also benefit from convenient access to the Champagne Centre’s comprehensive medical, diagnostic, and healthcare services.
Located in MPP Kerzner’s York Centre riding, the Champagne Centre will house The Path Home program beginning in 2027. Through this partnership, LOFT will offer daily care and support for CAMH
With CAMH’s Sarah Downey, Dr. Lew Pliamm, and MPP Kerzner, at the groundbreaking ceremony on August 14, 2026.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
LOFT Celebrates Community, Inclusion and Pride LOFT was on the field once again this year as part of the Blue Jays Pride Night celebration. Staff and clients were excited to share the thrill of walking onto the iconic baseball field, carrying and unfolding the enormous Pride flag, and celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with fans. LOFT also proudly took part in the York Pride parade, joining community members, partners, and allies in a vibrant celebration of inclusion, diversity, and belonging. Across LOFT’s programs, including The Path Home Bathurst, York Region Street Outreach, and Spencer High Support Housing, clients, staff, and guests came together throughout Pride Month to celebrate community and connection with performances, delicious food, and festive gatherings.
Spencer House residents and staff began celebrations with the Jay’s Pride Night and ended with their annual Pride BBQ!
Drag queen, Ayah Conic, brought the glitz and glamour to The Path Home - Bathurst.
“
The Pride BBQ makes Pride accessible for me because I cannot really go to other larger Pride events in the community and that is really special!
LOFT was proud to walk at York Pride parade again this year.
– Client, Spencer High Support Housing
PROGRAM PROFILE
Client Voices Shaping LOFT’s Future LOFT’s Client Council is making important progress in building client-centred improvements across the organization. By following best practices in engagement such as co-creation, recovery-focused participation, and shared decision-making, the Council ensures that people’s lived experiences shape LOFT’s priorities, policies, and services. Feedback from clients and staff across the organization helped shape how the Council was set up, ensuring participation is accessible, inclusive, and aligned with how clients want to be involved. By the end of the fiscal year, the Council had met three times, bringing together youth, adults, and seniors from different LOFT programs and locations through easy-to-join virtual and hybrid meetings, with staff support.
Council members have already helped shape key areas, including how clients are recruited, how honourariums are handled, and how client perspectives are incorporated into decisions. These early efforts help LOFT be more transparent, improve how we engage with clients, and support a culture of shared learning throughout the organization. LOFT will continue building on this work by co-designing a client-focused evaluation strategy and creating a topic calendar led by members, aligned with client priorities and organizational needs. This will help ensure client voices play an even bigger role in shaping LOFT’s future.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
CrafTAY Market Returns! Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 3:30pm to 7:00pm | Toronto Public Library: Lilian H. Smith Branch – 239 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R5 Join us for the third annual CrafTAY Market featuring incredible artists and makers from our Transitional Aged Youth program. For every purchase made, 100% of the profits are kept by the vendors. Come shop handmade goods, hear powerful stories, and support local youth creatives!
Formal Notice for the Annual Meeting: September 16 at 8:00am The Annual Meeting of LOFT Community Services will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, beginning with the Members’ Meeting at 8:00am and the Public Meeting at 8:30am. The Members’ Business Meeting will be for the following purposes: • To receive the Annual Report of LOFT Community Services • To elect Directors for the ensuing year • To receive the Auditors’ Report and the Consolidated Financial Statement of the Corporation for the year ended March 31, 2026 • To appoint auditors for the ensuing year and authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration • To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting For more information, please contact Alice Liew at ALiew@loftcs.org
THE ART OF
LOFT Date
November 6 to 10, 2026
Thursday, November 6, Opening Reception 2026 Location
FUSE Create 45 Ossington Avenue Toronto, ON M6J 2Y9
The Art of LOFT is a week-long exhibition celebrating the creativity, talent, and resilience of many of LOFT’s clients. Through clients’ original artwork, the exhibition will highlight their skill and creativity, as well as our holistic and person-centred approach to care. Adjacent community programming will explore the intersections of art-making and mental and physical health, and how, as part of our Life Enrichment Programming, this promotes well-being.
For additional information, please contact Lara Roccatani at LRoccatani@loftcs.org or 416-979-1994 ext. #2115
BRADFORD HOUSE UPDATE
Bradford House now filled with life, care, and new beginnings.
Almost ten years ago, Bradford House was just an idea and a promise to rethink how we care for seniors with complex mental and physical health needs. We wanted to create more than just a place to live. Our goal was to build a real home that is affordable and brings together dignity, comfort, accessibility, and specialized support in a meaningful way. LOFT has officially opened and welcomed its first residents home. Each move-in is more than just a milestone. For those coming from the original Bradford House, it means change, celebration, and relief because their unique needs are recognized and supported. For people who have been waiting for a home, it is a personal step toward stability, safety, and care that fits their needs. Bradford House was carefully designed to help people connect while also respecting their independence. The new building has 99 affordable units, stands six stories tall, and covers 4,380 square metres. This doubles the capacity of LOFT’s original property nearby. Residents will have accessible, bright private suites with their own washroom, kitchenette, and living area. Every detail shows our commitment to improving quality of life, from the living spaces and shared areas to an environment that supports both physical and emotional well-being. Seeing clients move into their new homes reminds us that every step of planning and building had one main goal: to create a place where people feel valued, understood, and truly cared for.
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DONOR RECOGNITION
Thank You to our Generous Donor Through CIBC’s generous donation, LOFT’s TAY Hub will help youth facing complex mental health challenges build job readiness skills, confidence, digital access, and pathways to employment and education through personalized, trauma-informed support. Many LOFT youth face barriers such as interrupted schooling, stigma, and limited access to resources, making it harder to achieve stability and independence. Through individualized guidance and ongoing resources, this project will help participants overcome these challenges and reach their education and employment goals.
New Corporate Office – We Have Moved LOFT’s Headquarters has relocated to 26 Wellington Street East in downtown Toronto. This site was chosen after a thorough review as the best fit for our current and future needs.
To reach us by mail: LOFT Community Services 26 Wellington Street East, 10th Floor Toronto, ON M5E 1S2
Join our community and help change lives month after month. At LOFT, we believe everyone should have dignity, stability, and a sense of belonging. When you become a monthly donor, you give steady support to people dealing with mental health challenges, homelessness, and addiction. A small monthly donation makes a big difference over time, offering people the support they need to rebuild their lives and rejoin their communities. It’s easy to start, Call: 416-979-1994 ext. 2033 Scan to donate flexible to manage, and truly an impact. Ormakes Visit: loftcs.org/summer LOFT Community Services Services LOFT Community Call: 416-979-1994 ext. 2033 Street East 26 Wellington Street East Visit: loftcs.org/summer 26 Wellington Toronto, ON M5E 1S2 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1S2 Or Scan the code to donate10th Floor,