
The Ontario Public Service’ Spirit 2007 Campaign was kicked off Tuesday with the help of a moving speech delivered by a self-described “chronic volunteer”.
“I was raised in an environment where the village raises the child. I truly appreciate the work of volunteers,” Cassandra Williams, a program/policy analyst with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, told a gathering of about 100 people in the St. Lawrence Lounge of the MacDonald Block.
Williams, who was raised in Trinidad, said the mentors of her youth, who helped her navigate a safe path to adulthood, inspired her to embrace volunteerism as she grew up. “I have volunteered medical services in Tanzania for three months living with the Massai, in Trinidad for three months caring for end-stage palliative patients and for 3 months in a Northern Aboriginal community of 611 people, where youth suicide had become a serious issue."
“I am a foster parent for the sickest animals at the Toronto Humane Society, and I am involved as a board member with YOUTHLINK, a United-Way funded agency, which supports vulnerable youth in making positive life choices,” Williams said.

Cassandra Williams, a self-professed chronic volunteer, helped launch the OPS Spirit 2007 Campaign.
Williams, who was among a group of OPS employees recognized in December with a Volunteer Recognition Certificate for their tremendous volunteer efforts, urged her colleagues to look in their own communities for the umpteen ways they can volunteer and make a difference.
Marc Lalonde of the MOHLTC, who was announced as 2007 Chair of the Spirit Corporate Team, said Williams and many more like her throughout the OPS represent a powerful force for change for the betterment of communities across Ontario. Each year the Spirit Corporate Team, made up of ministry Spirit Leads, chooses a signature campaign to promote throughout the OPS. This year’s campaign of Developing Our Youth—Building Our Future is an especially compelling theme Lalonde said. “Helping youth, truly is about building the future,” Lalonde said. “The kids in the world today, in the province, in the GTA, they need help, they need mentors, they need guidance.”
A number of community organizations serving youth, set up displays and passed along information during the launch, including the Boys and Girls Club of East Scarborough, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Future Possibilities, Tropicana Community Services, Voices for Children, Youth Assisting Youth, Kids Grow Ontario, 7th Generation Project, YOUTHLINK and the Toronto Public Library.
Although youth is the focus of this year’s campaign, Lalonde said he would encourage OPS members to get out in their communities and volunteer for any organization of their choosing. “We’re about promoting volunteering period,” Lalonde said. “There are so many reasons to volunteer.” Lalonde said he was excited and looking forward to an exciting and eventful year as campaign chair.
A number of other speakers also shared their thoughts with the crowd on youth issues as well as volunteering, including Michelle DiEmanuele, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Government Services and Associate Secretary of the Cabinet, Trinela Cane, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Business Planning and Corporate Services Division in the Ministries of Children and Youth Services and Community Services and Angela Coke Assistant Deputy Minister, Modernization Division, Ministry of Government Services. Dr. Avis Glaze, Ontario’s Chief Student Achievement Officer and CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat was the guest speaker of the well attended event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo credit: Allen Paul
After my presentation, I was approached by a journalist for TOPICAL--a government newszine that promotes accomplishments/best practices/examples of change in the Ontario Public Service (OPS)--who was interested in writing an article about me, my work with youth, and my inspiration for volunteering. The article should be posted the week of January 29th.
I was also approached by a Coordinator for the Deputy Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. She invited me to present at a conference in May, which I graciously accepted.
I was also personally invited to join TOPS, a forum of new professionals in the OPS that have been identified as a key partner in the internal delivery of the Youth and New Professional Strategy as well as a conduit for identifying and implementing suitable learning and development opportunities. TOPS is an organization that was created by young professionals from across the OPS, with the aim of providing networking, mentoring and learning opportunities, and to harness the energy and ideas of a dynamic OPS workforce.
Hi Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteI've just been reading your profile on the Spirit site and it's most inspiring and impressive! Well done!