During the week of September 30, three Riis staff members participated in the 2026 Open Doors Exchange in Toronto, hosted by Toronto Neighbourhood Centres (TNC). As fellow members of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres (IFS), a global network spanning six continents, TNC invited Riis to join the exchange and share in this unique learning experience.
Representing Riis were Desiree Lewis (Associate Executive Director for Children, Youth, and Family Services), Diego Gonzalez (Immigrant Services Outreach Coordinator), and Luka Pertenava (Director of Special Projects). Throughout the week, they visited community organizations and attended workshops to learn about the role of social services in Canada. They observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, toured community land trusts and Kensington Market, learned about community mediation services and neighborhood hubs, and attended a play performed by older adults that brought real-life challenges to light.
The exchange was truly a two-way conversation: our team went both to learn and to share knowledge and experience from Riis’s diverse programs. They came home with several key takeaways. They saw firsthand that dignity is a design choice: small changes in how services are delivered can have a profound impact on how people experience support. They also learned that reconciliation begins with listening, taking people’s experiences seriously, and acting on what we hear. By listening to understand, not just to respond, we can build stronger relationships and better serve our communities.
Thank you to Toronto Neighbourhood Centres and our IFS partners for this meaningful opportunity to learn, connect, and exchange ideas!
