Message from Leadership
Letter from the President of the Board
As President of COSTI, I am proud of our long history of serving newcomers and the most vulnerable, addressing the evolving needs of our community.
President
Since 1952, we have remained steadfast in our mission, delivering essential services to tens of thousands with a client-focused, trauma-informed approach. This last year, I am proud to report we served 39,269 clients and our services were accessed across multiple digital platforms.
As we reflect on this last year, I want to express, on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, how deeply inspired we are by the collective efforts of the COSTI family. Our commitment to supporting newcomers and diverse communities has only grown stronger. We have delivered much needed employment, skills training, housing, mental health and settlement services across the Greater Toronto Area. This success is driven by the passion of our Board, staff, volunteers, donors and partners. Each achievement reaffirms our shared mission to create a more inclusive and equitable Canada.
We have gained insights from the past and we also adapt with the future. The Board and staff have embraced these insights, continuously adapting our programs to improve and evolve.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to excellence and innovation. We will continue to build on our legacy by embracing new opportunities with the same spirit of collaboration and resilience that has defined our journey. While we highly value one-on-one, in-person services, we have also been integrating advanced technology to enhance our digital offerings, allowing us to reach and serve as many clients as possible.
In 2024/2025, the Board will review and update COSTI’s strategy to address the challenge of serving more people with fewer resources while responding to our community’s changing needs. Our Board and staff are committed to adapting to shifts in our health, social and economic environments. We also aim to continue to enhance our partnerships with community organizations to better serve our diverse communities.
We are immensely grateful to our volunteers for their significant impact and dedication, especially during key projects like the Afghan Initiative. Their efforts have been invaluable.
I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to my fellow Board members, volunteers, partners and COSTI staff for their unwavering commitment throughout the past year.
Sincerely,
Pina Alberelli-Arone
President
