Welcome to the web site of Davenport Perth and Jane Finch Community Ministries (social justice/outreach ministries) of Toronto Conference’s South West Presbytery of the United Church of Canada. The ministries are located in what are considered low-income areas of west-end Toronto and through a ministry of presence, we are engaged in providing community development support, pastoral care and advocacy through coalitions and networks.

Before July 2009 the ministries were part of the Toronto West Presbytery until the Toronto Conference restructured 9 presbyteries into 4.  Until 2007 there were three community ministries of Toronto West Presbytery but due to financial constraints it was decided to close Shalom Community Ministry (which at one time was called King Dunn Community Ministry). For archival purposes we have still kept a Shalom page.  Also through the restructuring process the position of mission strategist of the presbytery, which was held by Judy Shand for 26 year was eliminated but we have left some of her stories and reflections on the web site as well as some of the other bio of Shalom staff.

The web site provides specific information about the ministries, as well as, links to community and congregational resources and ways that you can further support these vital ministries.

In reflecting on this past year I must say that two collaborative initiatives that the Ministry has been heavily involved in over the last several years have really come into their own: the Firgrove Community Learning Centre and the Black Creek Micro Credit program.

The Firgrove Community Learning Centre, a learning centre for all ages and cultures, continues to be the ‘Heart of the Community’ and a place for interacting, educating, entertaining and socializing for residents in Firgrove and Jane Finch wide. This collaborative program with residents and various local agencies .......

The ministry continues to play a lead role with the Black Creek Micro Credit program which is a collaborative initiative of the Black Creek Community Collaborative and Access Community Capital Fund. In addition to providing small business loans up to $5,000 the program has been providing a weekly small business drop-in and workshops .......

One other highlight this year has been the Unity BBQ. For the last couple years I have been providing support to Andrea Tabnor in helping organize this grass roots event. Andrea Tabnor is a Jane Finch resident and spoken word artist who has been tired of going to funerals of those who have died from gun violence ....... With Andrea’s deep connection to the community she pulls off an incredible event that truly aids in diminishing some of the brokenness that this community faces.

Click here to view the Jane Finch Community Ministry 2012 Annual Report

Davenport Perth Community Ministry is visible primarily in the neighbourhood of Weston-Pelham, but links with people west of Lansdowne, east of the tracks, north of Dundas, and south of Rogers Road.  For almost 25 years we have been located in the Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre (along with the congregation). We are down the street from The STOP Food Access Centre and the Community Access Resource Centre. Each of these organizations plays an important role in the neighbourhood, and through partnerships and on our own, our mission is to “listen to the experiences of people in the community; to affirm and share their gifts; and to work together to transform hopes into reality” (DPCM Mission Statement, Approved November 25, 2010).

I started working for Davenport Perth Community Ministry three years ago in the Inspiring Youth Program. It made a big difference to me because they gave me a chance. Now I am the Youth Rep where I live, and I am applying to the community worker program at community college.

Part-time staff member

Community ministry brings people together from all backgrounds.  People come who don’t have a place to live and people that are professionals and own their own houses also come. Where else can people all get together like that these days? Usually somebody has to pay a membership fee or agree with some kind of idea. When DPCM puts on an event like Beat the Winter Blues to raise money for people in the neighbourhood – everyone is welcome.

Volunteer, Beat the Winter Blues Annual Coffee House.

We had a big problem in our neighbourhood, and nobody was listening to people. Community ministry called a couple of meetings and asked us to write down how the construction was affecting us.  . Nobody would have cared about my wife and I and our son if they hadn’t come and found us. They took us seriously.

Member of East of the Tracks Neighbourhood Action

We talked to a lot of people in just a few days! So many people don’t vote, and they don’t come to events either. Our government system is complicated with different levels. But if we don’t vote, then our MPP won’t carry our message. So we went to the Bingo and the Galleria Mall and places like that and we could answer questions because we had training and information that Voting Education had given us.

Participant, Voting Matters

Just before Easter in 2007, a young man by the name of Allen Benn was stabbed to death in Firgrove.  At first we thought it was gang related but later found out that it was more of a Cain and Abel story. The two youth were from the same youth program with one youth extremely liked by his peers, going back to school and just being offered an outreach workers job. Everything seemed to be going great for him. The other youth just recently got out of jail, was homeless and on the fringe of formal and informal youth groups.  Something must have transpired between them resulting in the one youth robbing Allen of his life.  This murder sent shock waves through Firgrove, the youth community and Jane Finch itself. In conjunction with resident leaders and other institutional and organizational support we conducted two talking circles in Firgrove to bring some healing.  One of the circles was a healing circle which was done in conjunction with a First Nations youth from Firgrove who smudged the circle.  This helped with the grieving process and also helped other youth to learn from this senseless tragedy.

I remember the day that Lorraine came to me. She stood in my door way, sheepishly saying, ”I’m shy but would like to volunteer”. I told her about the Firgrove Tenant’s Association and also asked her to be part of the Jane Finch Community Ministry Steering Committee. Eventually through the support and mentoring of the previous chair she agreed to chair the Tenant’s Association. That role led her to being elected as one of Toronto Community Housing (TCH) Tenant reps and being appointed to a grant review committee for Housing’s Social Investment Fund.

Website: http://blackcreekcapacity.ca/communityloanfund