Clients and participants can expect respect and dignity while at EHM, but this is not always guaranteed that attitude outside our building. Luckily, EHM is part of a strong community that shares our same beliefs and cares for our neighbours. This is why we feel it is important to recognize those in our community who help support our clients and the work we do.
In March MPP Chris Glover hosted the Spadina Fort-York Community Recognition Awards. These awards recognize and thank individuals and groups for their outstanding efforts in our community. EHM nominated the following two individuals to recognize their outstanding commitment to the EHM community as Business Leaders.
Nadine Farida Milne, Senior Customer Service Representative at BMO
EHM offers a Financial Trustee program, that helps clients make sure their bills and utilities are paid, help them save and spread their money to the end of the month, so they will never be evicted for not paying rent, and will always have enough money to buy groceries. These clients use the local BMO branch to cash cheques and help them with transactions that EHM can’t assist with.
Nadine and her colleagues have been providing the support through the local BMO branch to these clients.
Because of our partnership and the way that Nadine gets to know clients, they are able to help in ways they normally wouldn’t.
In her role as Senior Customer Representative at BMO, Nadine (Farida) Milne has been a big support when individual clients need help for unusual or complicated transactions, and is always working to deliver service quickly, and help clients protect their funds. She is always outstandingly helpful and timely when EHM needs assistance.
While Nadine may feel that this is just part of her job, she demonstrates care and professionalism to a group of clientele who have struggled their whole lives with poverty, and many with mental illness and addictions. Many clients are used to being treated poorly by people in stores and institutions, but Nadine shows them the same care and respect that any client of BMO would receive. Something so little means so much, and helps clients feel a sense of respect and dignity.
Ajay Chahal, The Pharmacist at WholeHealth Pharmacy.
Ajay has demonstrated an outstanding commitment as a local business leader, to the health and safety of vulnerable people in the ward.
Ajay has been providing the tenants at Portland Place with personalized pharmacy services. He has gone above and beyond for tenants, with a level of care and empathy that extends far beyond what would be expected of a pharmacist. For many tenants, managing their medication is a very overwhelming task, and Ajay has been providing these services not just as a business leader, but as a true member of the community.
Ajay has also been providing education sessions with the Drop In staff and volunteers with overdose and naloxone training, and education on Cannabis and substance use. Questions during these sessions have been complex and challenging, and Ajay demonstrate a genuine commitment to helping participants understand and responded with incredible professionalism.
We were very happy to welcome Nadine and Ajay to EHM to show them our thanks and appreciation in person. The work that is done at EHM to support our community is important but it is just as important to have the support continue outside of EHM’s walls.