Trellis Society Report to Community 2020-2021

Report to Community 2020 -2021

SOCIETY TRELLIS SOCIETY

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CONTENTS 1/

Trellis Land Acknowledgement

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Message from Jeff Dyer, CEO

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Message from Board of Directors

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2020 Numbers at a Glance

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Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: Wahnita’s Story

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

– Margaret J. Wheatley

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Partner Highlight

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Sustainable Families: Frank’s Story

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Indigenous Initiatives

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Thank You to our Community of Support

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Donor Q&A: Barb Gosling, Nulli

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Splash it Forward

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Community Development: 1000 Voices

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Staff Thank You

ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND

Trellis’ commitment to reconciliation starts with taking this opportunity to acknowledge our honour and privilege to live and work within the Treaty 7 territory.

We acknowledge the traditional and ancestral territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Siksika Nation, the North and South Piikani Nations and the Kainai Nation.

We also acknowledge the other members of Treaty 7 First Nations, the Tsuut’ina and Ĩyãħé Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) which include Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations. In addition, the City of Calgary is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Region 3).

Finally, we acknowledge all nations, genders and spirits who live, work and play in Moh’kinstsis, the Blackfoot name for Calgary, and Treaty 7 Region of Southern Alberta who help us steward this land, honour and celebrate this territory.

MESSAGE FROM FROM JEFF DYER, CEO Trellis is a dream that was planted last year, and like all seeds, once planted you have to wait and see what emerges.

You do what you can to ensure it’s planted in good soil, has the nutrients, water and access to light that’s needed, but you also need time. For us, most of that time was during a pandemic but what has already begun to sprout has far exceeded the initial dream.

Over the past year, we have had the privilege of supporting close to five thousand children, youth and families in our community, helping each person grow towards their full potential through the most unpredictable and challenging year in decades. This deserves to be celebrated and we share in this with the people we serve. The fact is we simply offered support and honoured the courage and resilience of each person while actively becoming the trellis of support behind them.

What you will read in this report are stories of transformation and impact. Each one is a small expression of Trellis’ intentions to: ready little ones for their learning journey and stick with them through to graduation, bring empathy and advocacy to families during their most challenging days so that they can stay together and thrive, be there for young people when they navigate profound crises and encourage them to pursue their dreams and finally, provide shelter from life’s storms so that everyone finds home again. These aspirations have come true for countless lives over the last year and for that, we celebrate.

In the year ahead, we look forward to watching Trellis grow even more. Nourished by our combined 117 years of history, our goal is to shatter programmatic silos, work across generational lines and look beyond the horizon towards generational change. As we stand at the intersection of our societies most challenging and complex problems, we will unearth potential so that everyone grows to reach their dreams. As one agency, Trellis has unmatched potential through efficiency, scale, reach and capacity but what really differentiates us is our ability to act boldly in real time with agility and intention. We will do that by optimizing the impact we make, by being a great place to work and serve and by speaking up for justice and equity with strength and empathy.

As you read this report, please understand it as a story of our collective success. Trellis’ impact reflects the investment entrusted in us by our funders, the generosity given to us by our donors, the connections made with our partners and the time and talent shared with us by our staff and volunteers. It is this collective effort that allows Trellis to flourish.

It has helped us grow over this last year and will carry us into the future.

Please accept our wholehearted gratitude for you, as we celebrate what we have accomplished together in the past and anticipate how we will evolve for years to come.

Growing with you,

Jeff Dyer, CEO

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MESSAGE FROM KARLEEN BATTY, BOARD CHAIR We, as a Board, are all extremely proud to help govern an organization focused on doing better for those we serve. Over the past year there were a lot of extra hours put in by people passionate about doing better for all of our stakeholders–our funders, our staff, our program participants and future program participants. Together, we are poised to execute on our goal to support people with complex needs through teams with skill, passion and a range of expertise to make a difference across lifespans and generations.

We would also like to express sincere appreciation for the dedication and talents that the legacy agency Board members brought to the table. They ensured appropriate governance and stewardship were at the forefront not only for the legacy agencies, but throughout the merger, giving us a strong foundation to grow from.

At Trellis we are constantly striving for new and innovative ways to make a real impact on the lives of the vulnerable youth, families and communities that we serve.

We remain steadfastly committed to

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governing this organization in a way that ensures organizational health and provides generational change for those most vulnerable in our community. On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my privilege to share our first Report to Community celebrating the impact of Trellis’ dedication to help everyone reach their full potential.

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2020

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

4,764 PERSONS SERVED (THOSE WITH AN INTAKE AND ONGOING PROGRAM INVOLVEMENT)

FOSTER CARE supported 69 kids and youth and their foster families

CLUBS worked with 568 kids across 5 sites, supporting their socialemotional learning during out-of-school care

BUILDING YOUTH CONNECTIONS supported 94 newcomer youth and 73 citizen youth through recreation and settlement supports

GROUP CARE served 87 youth in 7 group homes

Youth: “What I like best about the group home is the staff. They are absolutely amazing and genuinely care about the kids.”

IN HOME FAMILY SUPPORT served 119 families to enhance attachments with their children, repair strained relationships and build parenting capacity

SUSTAINABLE FAMILIES worked with 146 families to work on their housing needs and overall wellbeing

AURA, INFINITY AND HOMEFIRE provided Housing First programming to 108 youth 26 youth ended their experience of homelessness through graduation and transitioning to a positive next step

YOUTH TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD 88% of youth told us that the program was helping them with a sense of community, friends and positive relationships

IIYIKA'KIMAAT 100% of youth said they feel safe at the program, have good relationships with staff and other youth, and can talk to staff about problems they might be having

FUSION worked with 31 youth and their family members to support housing stability and family cohesion

1000 VOICES supported an additional 11,220 people to connect to programming and services important to them.

23 resident leaders were engaged and contributed 203 hours to multiple events and programs

44% of families had their children remain safely in their home

Over 900 people were supported in preventing or ending their experience of homelessness

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Fusion Youth: “I have a relationship with my mother now, and she is less judgmental of me. I can talk to her when I need help and we fight a lot less. I also no longer get pushed out of the house.”

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Wahnita is a creative and bright twentyyear-old who recently graduated from our Youth Transitioning to Adulthood (YTA) program. Going into YTA, Wahnita had been through a lot in her life and already had a strong sense of independence.

When she looks back at what made the program memorable, she credits her YTA worker for helping her become who she is today.

Wahnita was initally hesitant about working with Justin, but as she got to know him, she felt comfortable opening up to him.

“It’s usually really hard for me to trust people, but Justin never showed me not to trust him,” Wahnita says. “I used to have 15 social workers that would leave all the time, and I was worried that he would too. But, he never left.”

Justin continued to be there for Wahnita during the ups and downs of her first year in post-secondary. On top of being stressesd about finances, Wahnita found it hard to find friends at school and wasn’t sure what she should study. Justin helped to ease her worries by talking things through with her every week and offering advice when needed. Wahnita says Justin “Having Justin there, was always supportive of her he made me a little going to school and helped her to do her best through the bit more humble and hard times.

Growing up, Wahnita remembers wearing clothes that were always too small and not having a lot to eat at home. Her mother struggled with complex mental health issues, making it difficult for her to take care of Wahnita. This all amounted to Wahnita being placed in foster care at the age of eight.

YOUTH TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD

WAHNITA’S STORY

When Wahnita was seventeen, her case worker connected her with YTA. Wahnita found that she already knew a lot of the material they were teaching, really helped me with thanks to the supportive Due to her earlier childhood, some tough times I Wahnita still dealt with foster parents who raised her.

Despite Wahnita’s personal was going through.” depression and anxiety. There resourcefulness and resilience, were days when she had little she says her YTA worker Justin made “a huge motivation, but Justin was there to help. difference” by being there to support her in her journey.

“I would go through depression stages where I just didn’t want to do anything, and he’d “Having Justin there, he made me a little bit always get me up and going.” more humble and really helped me with some tough times I was going through.”

Each month, Justin and Wahnita would work TRELLIS SOCIETY

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PARTNER HIGHLIGHT

on a few small goals. For her bigger goals like buying a car, Justin played a supporting role calling dealerships so Wahnita could look at the different cars she wanted.

“He always helped me with my own journey, not just because he was in YTA,” Wahnita says.

On October 1, 2020, after announcing a $1 million gift and five-year partnership with Trellis, Gibson Energy became our first ever Youth Mental Health Champion! This is the largest donation in Gibson’s history. The partnership is focused on providing mental health supports to youth and their families across Trellis’ 34 programs. In addition to the donation, Gibson employees committed their time to Trellis and will be dedicating significant volunteer hours and skills.

Justin also encouraged Wahnita to keep up with her passions like photography and to use what she had to help others. Whenever they got together with the youth at YTA, Justin had Wahnita talk about her skills and interests to inspire others to pursue their own passions.

“It helped other youth to know that they could be just like me even if they had issues,” Wahnita says.

The first volunteer opportunity came when the Gibson Energy team came together to create the beautiful Gibson Garden space at our Renfrew Hub. The garden is a safe and reflective outdoor space for youth and staff to decompress, connect with each other and build positive relationships in calm surroundings.

Since graduating from YTA, Wahnita has been focused on her part-time job (which she drives to in her new car) and is on her way to completing a degree in hospitality tourism.

She still carries the same determination when she came to YTA. The biggest difference, though, is that her journey now includes more people who accepted and supported her along the way.

“I loved the people at YTA, how they helped me and knew that I didn’t have to be babied,” Wahnita says. “I loved spending time with them, knowing that they’re always there for me.”

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WATCH MORE OF WAHNITA’S STORY

The Gibson Energy team also built and installed a gorgeous little free library, filling it with books for kids of all ages. The generosity that flows from their partnership continues to extend through donations of PPE, basic needs items for kids and families, youth mental health kits, engagement in Trellis Indigenous Initiatives and so much more.

“At a time of crisis and great uncertainty, Gibson is showing incredible corporate citizenship and leadership by investing for the long-term in the mental health and well-being of children and youth,” says Jeff Dyer, our Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to Gibson, families can continue to count on Trellis to take the best possible care of their children’s mental health.”

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Every day at 4:30 am, Frank begins the morning by making breakfast for his three sons. After work, he cooks dinner and winds down by reading books for family time.

“I look at my boys here, and they’re just happy,” Frank beams. “Today I’d be lost without them.

They are everything.”

It’s a life that Frank has fought hard to keep.

For many years Frank lived on the streets and was addicted to drugs. His situation picked up when he started his own business and began a family with his former partner. But Frank’s struggles with addictions continued, which resulted in the apprehension of his son the day he was born.

When Frank’s partner left and all of his kids were taken away, he was devastated.

SUSTAINABLE FAMILIES

FRANK’S STORY

“I collapsed. Everything that I’d worked for, it was gone,” Frank says. “Basically, I ended up back on the streets. I fought not to, but it was hard.”

Frank eventually received help from other agencies and was set up with a place to live. As he began to rebuild his life, he was introduced to Lillian from our Sustainable Families program.

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Frank was wary about having another social worker in his life, but as he and Lillian learned to understand each other, she became someone that he could trust and relate to.

“It’s a tremendous turnaround where we don’t just talk about the program. We can talk about anything,” Frank says. “We talk about flowers.

My house is full of them, and so is hers.”

“Believe in yourself because we all deserve the opportunity to be a parent.”

In the first few months of working with Sustainable Families, Frank learned about self-care and looking after the home. Lillian also helped to connect him with resources for different basic needs. However, Lillian made the biggest impact when Frank fought to overcome his addictions and regain custody of his children.

“When I wake up in the morning, I get three hugs, three kisses, three breakfast orders. You can’t ask for any better love and affection from your little boy.”

At age 60, Frank faced skepticism left and right as he was told there was no way he could do it. He recalls how one judge even told him directly that he would never regain custody.

In the midst of all the doubts, it was Lillian who encouraged Frank to keep going.

“If you have an addiction issue, put a picture of your child on your phone. Believe in yourself because we all deserve the opportunity to be a parent.”

Five years and fifty-three court appearances later, Frank opened his door to a surprise visit from Children’s Services. His children were coming home.

Frank describes that moment as a blessing, and it’s one that he now gets to experience every day.

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Just as Lillian gave Frank affirmation to keep going, he also shares his own advice for parents working to get their kids back.

As for Lillian, someone who was once a stranger to him, Frank is immensely grateful for all the times she was there to support him.

“There isn’t enough flowers in the world to express that feeling.”

INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES In everything we do, we strive to create a space of reconciliation and inclusion.

At Trellis we work to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and being in our programs and all of our staff and foster families receive education on Indigenous culture.

We are grateful to the Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous coworkers who continue to walk with us on this path. Here are a few highlights of the work happening at Trellis over the past year.

CULTURE CAMP

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

Over the past few years, Okotoks Indigenous River Camp has served as a place for Indigenous youth and Elders to come together and reconnect to the land. The camp’s purpose is centered on creating opportunities for young people to learn about their Indigenous culture, build relationships with Elders and find healing.

Each year on September 30th, Trellis, along with many across the country, celebrate Orange Shirt Day to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.

“Being in foster care since I was very young, I have never had an opportunity like this one before. Five days with so many Elders, hearing the traditional stories and language. I needed this.”

– Culture Camp Youth

Last year Trellis hosted virtual events so that staff and the community could still participate in Orange Shirt Day from the safety of their homes during the pandemic.

IIYIKA’KIMAAT PROGRAM Our afterschool program encourages a youth’s sense of belonging and social inclusion from an Indigenous worldview. In addition to going to ceremony and receiving traditional teachings, youth also learn life skills such as communication styles, how to cook a meal, doing taxes, etc.

Iikyika’kimaat is very much a community that builds relationships. One of the highlights this year was the monthly family dinners hosted over Zoom. Meals were provided, and youth were always excited to invite all their friends and family.

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THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT Trellis Society’s programs and services are only possible because of our incredible community of supporters. Last year was unlike any other, marked with complex requests for support and causing all of us to navigate challenges that no one could have imagined. At the same time, unsurprisingly and continuously, Trellis Society’s community of support stepped in and stepped up with critical resources to meet the ongoing needs of those we serve.

Special thanks to the generosity of our donors and funders. The work and the impact that you’re reading about in this report would not be possible without the people who support Trellis – people like you!

Our ability to continue through a pandemic without permanently closing programs or turning people away is a testament to the incredible donor community that we have at Trellis. We are so grateful for your support and we can’t wait to continuing growing with you!

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FOUNDING PARTNERS

CHANGEMAKERS (25K+)

FRIENDS (10K+)

Charitable Foundation of the Family City of Calgary Evans Hunt Kanovsky Family Foundation PwC Canada The Beddoe Family The Byler Foundation The Read Family Foundation United Way of Calgary and Area Viewpoint Foundation

A Way Home Canada Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation Trellis Foundation for Community Impact Calgary Flames Foundation Cecil and Dorothy Vogan Fund at the Calgary Foundation Charitable Foundation of the Family Clearwater Charitable Foundation Daryl K. Seaman Foundation Fund at the Calgary Foundation ENMAX Corporation Gift Funds Canada Harold and Betty Allsopp Fund at the Calgary Foundation Hockey Helps the Homeless HSBC Bank Canada Jays Care Foundation Nulli – Identity Management P.E.A.R.L. Foundation Poelzer Family Foundation Fund at the Calgary Foundation PwC Canada Foundation Shaunessy Family Foundation Shaw Birdies for Kids Program Ted & Enid Jansen Fund at the Calgary Foundation Burns Memorial Fund Calgary Foundation The Read Family Foundation The Toni Kohn-Woodward Foundation Tides Canada Foundation TOM Capital Foundation William and Constance Topley Fund at the Calgary Foundation

Accenture Inc. Carolyn McAlpine D.R. Ashford Fund at the Calgary Foundation David and Leslie Bissett Fund at the Calgary Foundation David Boone and Jane Poole David Forbes Elaine & Murray Frame Enbridge Inc., Calgary Employees Club Fully Managed Inc. Gary & Leslie Peddle Graydon and Dorothy Morrison Flow Through Fund at the Calgary Foundation Groupe Dynamite Inc. Industrial Alliance Heartprint Threads Richard and Cathy Bird Kinsmen Club of Calgary Mealshare Aid Foundation Michael and Jane Evans Nickle Family Foundation Norris Family Foundation Nutrien Ltd. Qualico Communities Sharon Martens Social Venture Partners Inc. Stephanie & Brian Felesky Suncor Energy Inc. TC Energy TELUS Friendly Future Foundation The Greene Family Charitable Foundation The Michael R Shaw Outdoor Development Foundation QR77/Westin Calgary Children’s Foundation Tim and Susan Hearn Velvet Energy Ltd.

FUNDERS Family & Community Support Services Calgary Calgary Homeless Foundation Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Government of Alberta Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada United Way of Calgary and Area

CHAMPIONS (100K+)

SEE OUR FINANCIALS

Anonymous Donor (3) BGC Canada Galvin Family Fund at the Calgary Foundation Gibson Energy ULC The Beddoe Family The Home Depot Canada Foundation

Over 2500 donations were made to Trellis in 2020-2021.

Every contribution supports growth across generations. Thank you!

Can you tell us a bit about Nulli?

DONOR Q&A

BARB GOSLING, NULLI For the past eight years, Trellis has had the honour of having Nulli as a generous donor and partner. Hear from co-owner Barb Gosling on why they chose to support Trellis and what this partnership looks like.

Nulli is an identity management professional services organization. We’re a Calgary-based company that has been in operation for over 25 years. We work with our clients to ensure that their customers and employees have the right access to the right systems at the right time, in a safe and positive experience.

What inspires yourself and the team at Nulli to be involved in the community?

We wouldn’t be Nulli without our people. Our people live in communities that they care about, and at Nulli we believe that we have a corporate responsibility to support their communities.

Giving in whatever shape or form is part of the human condition that just makes everything better. It makes a difference to all of us to know that for the people living in our community who may have struggles or challenges, we can do something to help their day.

Can you tell us the story of how Nulli decided to support Trellis?

Back in 2013, we decided that we needed to be intentional in our community engagement. Our employees came together, and we looked at what kind of organization we would like to support, and Trellis was the one.

Trellis is an organization that works with so many different aspects of youth and families in the city.

And for us, the best part was that in their work, they did research to look at how they were doing and always looked to better their work and their practices. We decided that we would direct our financial support specifically toward Trellis’ Impact and Evaluation Team to help grow the research and outcomes of the organization.

What are some other ways in which Nulli supports Trellis?

We volunteer. We’ve worked in the group homes, painting, gardening, making cookies.

We’ve worked in familiy centres by building IKEA furniture, and who doesn’t like to do that?

At Nulli we also have a matching donation program. Trellis’ Winter Breather Program is one that many of us support, and Nulli loves to match that program. We love giving additional support so that families can enjoy their winters and have funding to cover their utilities.

Where do you see Nulli’s partnership with Trellis going in the future?

Nulli is here to support Trellis in the long run. Every time we review our relationship and talk about what we’re doing together, it just gets better.

HEAR MORE FROM BARB

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SPLASH IT FORWARD 2021 Sixteen years, $5 million, thousands of lives changed.

For 16 years, the Splash of Red Gala has helped thousands of youth and families move beyond their experiences of homelessness, exploitation and trauma.

In March of 2020, when pandemic realities became clear, the Splash of Red committee knew that even more young people would be needing our help and immediately took action. They knew we couldn’t host our usual gala, so instead they created the Splash it Forward initiative, welcoming former gala guests and friends to fundraise and donate.

Collectively this group raised $697,253 in 2020 and made a lasting difference in the lives of young people and families who entered our doors. To the incredible committee and everyone who participated, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.

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Double your impact! Building on last year’s success, Splash it Forward 2021 invites friends of Trellis Society to join the committee for a splash of DIY fundraising activities and COVID-friendly events. Visit our website to buy tickets, donate and participate in Splash it Forward 2021. Every dollar raised is being generously matched by an incredible family in our donor community.

FIND OUT HOW TO GET STARTED Your support is critical to the generational change achieved by Trellis program participants.

With your help, we can continue to show up for youth and families that rely on us. Please consider signing up or making a gift today.

2020 By the Numbers:

1200 km Cycled or Rollerbladed!

26 Social media posts Achieving 10,266 impressions

186 Donors made 235 donations:

$697,253 Raised!

6 Fundraising challenges 12 auction items 1 safely distanced dinner party 3 fitness challenges 1 Thanksgiving reimagined and delicious bake sales!

6 Committee members who invested their hearts and souls into 200+ hours of committee meetings, telephone calls and emails to friends, family and professional networks

Thousands of warm and safe night’s sleep for: 349 youth sheltered or housed, 149 discharged to positive housing options 145 diverted from experiencing homelessness

564 Macrons baked and sold!

Increasing bicep strength and love shared

100 Radio ads including: 377,000 impressions

their own homes, it was essential to maintain engagement.

“We were making sure that people knew where we were,” Suzanne says. “We needed people to know that they could connect with us if they needed support.”

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1000 VOICES No one can thrive in isolation. For change to be sustainable, people need a community to go to for help, to provide connections and to offer opportunities to give back in ways that are meaningful and add purpose to life.

1000 Voices is a bustling, multi-purpose space situated in the heart of northeast Calgary, the most culturally diverse quadrant in the city. Here, residents can access—and lead—all kinds of programs, services and activities that are important to them. On any given day, you’re likely to find seniors sitting

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and chatting together, newcomers taking language classes, friends sharing meals and so much more. For residents, 1000 Voices is not just a physical space. It is a place to gather and find support in community.

When they were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic, 1000 Voices knew the adjustment would be challenging. But time and time again, they continued to respond with the same unwaivering commitment: to be there for the community.

Suzanne Pointer, who manages the bookings and contracts for 1000 Voices, says one of the earliest challenges was overcoming social isolation. With residents and staff dispersed in

Going the extra mile to support the community’s diverse needs meant staff would have to do things beyond their normal roles. Prior to COVID-19, 1000 Voices offered a central space for over 30 different service agencies that residents could access. During lockdown, however, 1000 Voices bridged the gap to bring the programs to residents.

“We needed people to know that they could connect with us if they needed support.”

In the first few months, staff spent hours on the phone checking in with residents. At times their calls consisted of coaching seniors and new Canadians on how to set up an email so that they could access virtual programs.

Once residents were online, they were eager to connect.

no longer attend in-person exercise groups, the team brought in a yoga instructor to teach classes they could follow from home.

Staff also set up Zoom calls before programs so that seniors could socialize with each other.

“They realized that their mental health was deteriorating, and so they really needed that connection with people,” Suzanne says. “A lot of them were already connected with each other before COVID, so to see their friend online and to hear their voice, they were just thrilled.”

Behind the scenes of all the various programs, the team could be found making deliveries to residents’ doorsteps.

These included:

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Calgary Reads Literacy bags for 3-8-year-olds

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Kids Up Front kits (Holiday Magic at Home)

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Tablets/Laptops

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Grocery Gift Cards

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This was especially true in the face of hardships brought on by an unprecedented year. Conversations with residents revealed growing needs for resources like counselling and financial help. Food insecurity was another pre-existing problem exacerbated by the pandemic as residents experienced lay-offs, struggling businesses and barriers to accessing settlement counsellors. When agencies such as the Salvation Army, Calgary Food Bank and Brown Bagging distributed food hampers at the Genesis Centre, 1000 Voices again served as a bridge to ensure food was culturally sensitive and that residents knew these resources were available to them.

Both residents and staff are looking forward to when they can return to the 1000 Voices space. Although it has been a difficult time for the community, this year has reminded them that they are not alone.

Staying connected with the community also included a network of agencies. Suzanne recalls how morning team meetings would often be followed by multiple phone calls and emails. From finding nurses to help with dietary needs to registering families with Immigrant Services Calgary’s Parents and Tots program, the 1000 Voices team was there to ensure residents could access the help they needed.

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“The team has stayed supportive, and we’ve stayed connected with the community that we love so much,” Suzanne says. “So, even though there have been challenges, we stayed connected. We stayed available.

I would say that’s a huge accomplishment, and I’m proud of that.”

STAFF THANK YOU

The work done across Trellis is complex at the best of times. Add a merger and global pandemic to the mix and what our team has been able to accomplish over the last year is truly remarkable.

The work represented in this report is just a snapshot of what’s happening at Trellis, none of which would be possible without the incredible people who choose to be part of our team. Showing up each and every day to do their best, while facing the impacts of COVID-19 in their own lives, took real courage.

Trellis is more than a name, it’s who we are. Trellis Society’s goal is to act as a backdrop to community and individual striving, meeting people where they’re at and providing the resources and supports needed to thrive. Every day the team at Trellis brings this dream to life, acting as a ‘trellis’ for those reaching toward their full potential. Over a year in and our team continuously demonstrates relentless commitment to those we serve and each other, growing the potential of Trellis in immeasurable ways.

For all of this and more thank you to the Trellis team! It’s your dedication that contributes to the impact that Trellis is making in our community. It is you who turn dreams into realities!

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SOCIETY

@TrellisYYC

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