Wednesdsay June 20, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 S o c ia l s e r v ic e s a s a b u s in e s s m o d e l Yonge St. Mission executive had to find partnerships to offset Provincial cuts to programs By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Premier Mike Harris may be right: business can boost social agencies. It was a tough sell for Rick Tobias to put that to a room full of social workers Friday during the June 14-16 Family Service Ontario 2001 Conference hosted in Oakville by Halton Family Services. Yet Tobias, executive director of Toronto's Yonge Street Mission, is used to tough sells. He helps the homeless and the desti tute on the mean streets of TO -- and he's sold funding of the 105-year-old Christian mission to Bay Street. He now operates with a surplus, he said. "Please hear this. Sometimes our ideals get in the way of the people we serve. Sometimes our ideals are our ideals, and we must keep in mind that our calling is to get the best for the people we serve," Tobias said. The Maritimes native who's been with the Yonge Street Mission for 18 years took heat about whether his efforts are proving that the Harris government was right in its extreme, if not fatal, slashing of funding to social service agencies. Tobias has brought corporate Toronto on board in his quest to fund his mission. Critics of Tobias say he's simply trad ing on personality and personal friend ships with the rich and influential and was asked what happens when he leaves. "You're right," he responded. Tobias said if charisma can be used, then it will be. Mission staff are also training to learn what he knows about doing "business". Tobias was on hand Friday at the Holiday Inn-Oakville Centre to share his "trade secrets" with social workers from Halton and across Ontario. Halton Family Services is nearly 50 years old and helps local families with family, debt, separation and grief coun selling; abused women, assertiveness training and more. "I will not pretend that this is idealism. This is pragmatism," said Tobias. He likened it to the argument that food banks should close because they're undignified. "Be careful of who pays the price of our philosophical argument with the gov ernment," he warned. "We do all need to know how to do Photo by Barrie Erskine Rick Tobias: " our calling is to get the best for the people we serve." business in a new world. In the `60s, the pendulum swung left. Now the pendulum is clearly swinging right and it's not going to change soon, it's a world-wide move ment," said Tobias. When government funding all but dried up for social agencies early during the Tories' rule, Tobias was already lunch ing with the rich and powerful-- and tug ging at their heartstrings in the hope that they'd show compassion. Though his clothes didn't pass white collar muster, his ideas and manner did. And the businesses showed compas sion. The destitute are often hungry and businesses are often hungry to help, he said. Just as often, businesses are beaten up over not helping the poor, said Tobias whose talk was dubbed Both Sides Now -- was about reaching out to both the poor and corporate Canada. Often there are striking resemblances in what Tobias called the "brokenness" of the poor and the hidden unhappiness of the upper classes. It's tough for each to recognize the other's pain, he said. "Several years ago I met a counsellor who graciously accused me of hurting the very people I was hired to serve," began Tobias, who admitted he, too, had been busy beating up businesses. "We have found that the business community is interested in the needs of the poor and broken, but is at a loss as to how to respond beyond giving dollars. We have also found them eager, even hungry to learn and to invest time and skills," said Tobias. At the Yonge Street Mission, business people help with strategic planning, man agement coaching, program evaluation, think tanks and crisis intervention. They volunteer in basic programs and often help new ones get started. You can't fix the roads. So fix the odds. M - C L A S S . There's a lot working against you out there. Potholes. Inclement conditions. Not to mention other drivers. So skew the probabilities your way; drive one of the safest SUVs on the road. The M-Class is a top performer in crash tests, and has the all-weather traction of our 4-ETS+ and ESP systems. So come in today for an exceptionally safe test drive. Mercedes-Benz T h e F u t u r e o f t h e A u t o m o b i le L im ite d T im e O ffe r! C h o o s e A n O p tio n ... * 4 .9 % 24 month lease rate Or *No Charge Scheduled Maintenance - 4yrs or so.oookms Or *Mercedes-Benz Signature Class Extended Limited Warranty total of 7yrs or 160,000kms (Psst! First 20 custom ers who choose m aintenance or w arranty options receive no charge 6 disc CD player) Meray Motors & Collision Ltd. Q.E.W & Dorval Drive, Oakville 905 · 845-6623 www.m eraym otors.m ercedesbenz.ca *Some restrictions apply, contact Meray Motors for details. Police looking for new recruits So you want to be a cop? Halton Regional Police is hosting a recruiting infor mation night on Thursday, July 5 for anyone interested in a career in law enforcem ent. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Halton Regional Centre, 1151 Bronte Rd. Recruiting and training staff will be on hand to explain the constable selection process as well as how to prepare for testing and interviews. A pplications were also be available for those who qualify. For more inform ation, contact C onstable Dennis D im itroff at 905-825-4747 ext. 5062. The service is looking for community m inded and ser vice oriented individuals who are prepared to com m it to a challenging career with a "team of professionals whose foundational hallm arks include excellence, trust, respect, integrity and accountability." Floral Arrangements From $39 Silverplate Candlesticks Reg. $159 pair E N N IS C L A R E IN T E R IO R S Dresser, Wing Mirror, Night Stand Bombe Chest, Brass Accents Reg. $7227 Metal Shelf Assorted Sizes From *59 Brass Tennis Bookends Reg. $99 set Sale $75 Reg. $989 pair Reg. $6981 Sale *59 set Sunflower Arrangement Reg. $195 Blue Chenille Chair Sale s499 Leather Bergere Chair Reg. $1325 Sale *2089 Computer Cabinet Reg. $7659 Sale *3299 Armoire, Painted Finish Reg. $21289 Sale *97 Planter on Stand Reg. $195 Sale s 499 Grape Arbour Carpet Wool 5 7 " x T Reg. $719 Sale *4589 Sale *6379 Sale *109 Soft Gold Wing Chair Tone on Tone Stripe Reg.$929 Sale *499 End Table, Glass Top Leather and Brass Accents Reg. $1187 Sale *499 Bustle Back Wing Chair Reg. $1199 Sale *539 Executive Desk Chair Reg. $1317 Sale *589 Proud 3 Time W inner m the BEST WINDOW S Category Matching Oval Cocktail Reg. $1637 Sale *724 Cane Bergere Chair Reg. $1905 ea. s tM ttii19% m C f 1999 Sale *649 Occasional Chair Reg. $1359 tm J w . 2000 Sale *759 Chenille Tub Chair Reg. $1519 C a ll F o r A Free Estim ate (9 0 5 ) 8 4 9 -7 8 0 0 Sale *699 Floral Tapestry Wing Chair Reg. $1439 Sale *759 Bronze & Olive High Back Chair Reg. $1419 SHOWROOM 402 W n s to n C h urchill Blvd. { 3 0 0 y a r d s n o r t h o f L a k e s h o r e Rdf.) Sale *789 Blue Plaid Sofa Reg. $2019 Sale *779 Matching Sofa Turned Legs Reg. $2649 w w w .s u p re m e w in d o w s .c o m Sale *997 N O W . O P E N Sale *1449 6 Drawer Leather Pedestal Reg. $1517 % FAMILY R E STAURANT & DELI Club chair - Blue Reg. $2495 Sale *999 6 Drawer Dresser Reg. $1749 L im ite d Q u a n titie s H N N IS C L A R t; IN T E R IO R S Sale *1059 Rust Chenille Chair Reg. $3127 4 th L o c a t i o i Sale *1199 Chair, Taupe Stripe Reg. $2169 each Sale *1199 Cherry Lateral File Reg. $2399 j-Under r Sat. Kids rtFREE lon.-Thurs. $C ?9s _ 23 W ellington St., Guelph, ON N1H 3 R 7 ........................ 519-822-0507 125 King George Rd., Brantford, ON N3R 5K7 . . ...........519-757-1777 370 Highland Rd. W., Kitchener, ON M2M 5J9..............519-581-1158 369 Speers Road. Oakville, ON L6K 3T2 ....................... 905-849-0308 7 OftVS A WEEK: f i Wenu seniors Sale *1199 Plaid Wing Chair Reg. $3069 each XJ ENNISCLARE INTERIORS 1075 NORTH SERVICE RD. WEST, 0AKV11E. Tel: (90S) 825-2450 wwwLennisclareinteriors.com Sale *1199 Plaid Sofa Turned Legs Reg. $3449 Sale *1229 Sleigh Bed Reg. $4089 Sale *1598 Sofa & Chair Taupe & Blue Stripe Damask Reg. $3108 Mon.-Wed. 7am-9pm, Thurs. 7am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 7am-11pm , Sun. 8am-9pm Sale *1229 369 SPEERS ROAD (west of Dorval) 905-849-0308 STORE HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed. & Sat.10:00 am to 5:30 pm Thurs. & Fri.10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Sun., Noon to 5:00 pm * Sale *1699