Many Scarborough residents have not yet been vaccinated. However, that is why we have our hard-working Vaccine Engagement Ambassadors to promote vaccinations and help remove barriers for people of Scarborough to get vaccinated.
 
Here is Kashmira's story, a Vaccine Engagement Ambassador at The Housing Help Centre, one of SCHC’s Vaccine Engagement Project Partners.

Tell me about your role/work in on the ground engagement with community members to help get Scarborough vaccinated.
My role in the Scarborough community is to engage Indian, Pakistani, Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu speaking people along with other communities. I make them aware of vaccines, their effect, how people can go and get the vaccine, how and where they can book their vaccine appointments, where to get the vaccine, what times are convenient, and more. I help book appointments and work with people online and through outreach. I prefer outreach because when you see a person face to face, that is when they trust you. Outreach has been a great success and now, it becomes part of my everyday life. Whenever or whoever I meet, I always ask, “Did you get the vaccine?”, and when they responded "no", I would ask why and provide them with information on how they can get vaccinated. In the past, I worked in an office environment all day so this job felt different and it has been an exciting experience.

What are some of the challenges in communicating with and reaching non-vaccinated people?
One of the challenges is that I have 16 hours on hand and within 16 hours, it’s hard to come out with a big output. The requirement for this job is 16 hours and in that time, I have to communicate with all kinds of people, including those who already had COVID. Sometimes, they disagree to take the vaccination because they think they are auto immune. 

The biggest challenge is working with isolated communities with mental health challenges. It takes a few weeks to work with them to get vaccinated. Finding a good time to communicate with them is difficult but it is very important as they often travel using public transportation and can easily get COVID-19 and spread it.

What are some of the barriers/challenges our community faces in getting vaccinated?
Most of the barriers or challenges our community faces in getting vaccinated is the time frame to get vaccinated conflicting with their work time, or those who are unaware of second dose appointments. Some residents have waited for months thinking that their family doctors will call them and book their appointment, but I had to ensure that they are aware that you can get the second vaccine once 21 or 25 days are over.

I work with different age groups and find it most difficult to work with youth who are not involved or connected with an education system. It’s different talking to youth compared to adults because adults will talk about getting the vaccine for family’s safety and I can connect with them through questions like “Is your family safe?”. I can use safety with adults but that does not go for younger generations. When talking to youth, I noticed that the best way to convince them is through using phrases like, “Hey buddy, you cannot go to the club and if you want to go to club, you have to do this”. 

I have learned that it is important to be consistent when talking to anyone because multiple conversations to build relationships and checking in with them often have an impact on making a decision. 

By Jadiha Aruleswaran, Client of the YEO program.

​Trying to keep fit when stuck at home can be a big chore, but with Abirah’s Wellness Wednesday tips, they have been a great inspiration to ensuring we live our healthiest lives while we are stuck at home during this pandemic while also giving us the skills and knowledge so we can stay healthy long into the future.

​Wellness Wednesday is a weekly series that aims to provide our viewers with wellness tips and tricks. These posts are meant to motivate people to be the happiest and healthiest versions of themselves that they can be. As of now, the series include a variety of posts such as mood check-ins, healthy snack alternatives, daily affirmations, stress management techniques, a self-care countdown, chair yoga stretches, and many more. 

Definitely the pandemic! During the time I joined SCHC, every post I came across was related to the covid-19 pandemic. As someone who was involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities and loved talking with friends, I noticed that a lot of my time was spent staring at a screen with barely any movement throughout the day because of the lockdown.

It started to get a little overwhelming and zoom fatigue really started to hit me. It was as if there was nothing new to look forward to. I realized that it wasn’t just me but many of those around me were also feeling the same way. A lot of my friends and family I knew were sort of stuck in an unhealthy loop as well and that started to become the new normal.
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This new normal did not feel so good and that’s when I took small steps to incorporate self-care into my daily routine. I noticed a huge difference in my mood and outlook on the pandemic. That’s mainly why I wanted to introduce a motivating wellness series! I wanted people who were feeling down and unmotivated to view the pandemic as a way for them to focus on themselves and to make their health and wellbeing a priority. 

​For me, Wellness Wednesday is important because it is a platform to share the different tips and tricks that I learned with others. I like to make sure that those around me are taking care of themselves. Being able to publish these Wellness Wednesday posts on a wider social media platform allows more people to benefit from the small wellness tips that I’ve used. 

There are so many aspects to health that we do not consider on a daily basis. When we talk about health, there’s emotional health, environmental health, physical health, mental health, social health, spiritual health, and so much more. Tapping into those different aspects of health gives a variety of wellness activities and tips that I am able to use to create new posts every week.

​There’s a lot of things that I want viewers to take away from seeing these Wellness Wednesday points. Firstly, I hope that viewers understand that taking care of yourself does not need to mean a huge change in your way of living. Small steps can take you a long way! Secondly, I want viewers to understand that self-care can look different for each one of us. Some may like going on relaxing walks while others may enjoy a heavy workout. However, both are perfect examples of taking care of yourself. Lastly, I want viewers to prioritize their health! If you notice that you’re overworking yourself, step away for some time and take a break because you deserve it!

​I really miss exploring new hiking trails and nature sites within Toronto. My family and I would always go on random walks and long drives to different places like Bruce Peninsula National Park, Dundas Peak, Albion Falls, Tommy Thompson Park, and many more. With the pandemic, we did not get a chance to visit new parks and trails so that’s definitely something I’m looking forward to as things begin opening up again.

​I would like to see viewers continue to engage with our posts and to let us know if they have any wellness tips that they would like us to showcase. For future posts, as restrictions are lifted, I hope to have more Wellness Wednesday posts related to outdoor activities.

Wellness Wednesday continues to inspire viewers daily, and as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be lifted, the lessons learned from these posts will be instrumental in easing the transition from an healthy indoor life to an active outdoor lifestyle. To learn more about Wellness Wednesday and to catch Abirah's upcoming posts, visit our Instagram page here or you can follow Abirah's posts directly by using the hashtag #schcwellnesswednesday.

If you ever drove by the Comfort Night Mattress & Furniture, you may have noticed a plethora of plants in front of their display windows. It has definitely caught the attention of many, but for us here at SCHC, the story behind it truly moves us. The plants that you see are part of a bigger picture and mission set by Mel & Steve, to plant 400 butternut squashes that will be donated to SCHC's Food Bank and to inspire others to do the same. It was important for us to go down and see for ourselves and learn more about this garden from both Mel & Steve. Read below to learn more about the story and what inspired them to do something like this.

How would someone describe you? 
Mel: My friends would say that I am a very friendly and loving lady.
​Steve: Although Mel is shy, she is always looking to see what she can do to help somebody. I have watched Mel change since she started this garden because this is something she knows and understands. She is able to give back to people who need it.

What motivated you to start this garden?
Steve: We were motivated to start this garden because there was wasted land here. We were cutting the grass one day, and I was thinking, we got to be able to do something better with land than just cut the grass. That is when we decided to turn it into a garden! It took a lot of work initially but now that it is here, this garden will be like this for the next 4 to 5 years. It is nice to know that everything it produces is for other people.

What would you say to encourage someone to donate?
Steve: Anybody can donate. Donations do not have to be money. Donate is whatever you are good at. Anyone can find out what they are good at and do it in a way to help somebody. Mel is good at gardening and look at what she has done. Not only is there a garden in the front, but it also continues all down the side of the building. This was not planned. She was having fun and I simply decided to extend the garden down the side of the building. I am so very proud of Mel, and I think what she has done here is just incredible.

What made you choose to donate to SCHC Food Bank as opposed to other food banks?
Steve: We were new to this area and wanted to affect the local community in a positive way. One day, I had gone with a lawyer, friend of mine, to pick up a truckload of food to distribute Downtown. It was all gone in a few hours. It must be difficult to be in a position where you have to ask for food. Mel and I decided to try and do something where you did not have to ask for it and were able to just take it. We spoke to Michael Thompson and some of the neighbours walking down in this area; and acting on their suggestions we contacted the SCHC. What you see here is the results of all of those conversations.

What is your personal philosophy on what should be done about food insecurity?
Steve: Security is simple. As far as food goes, this country can produce enough food to feed the world. It is just not doing it because big agricultural companies are taking over huge tracks of land, and everything is about dollars and cents. This is a small garden but if you took the land that was available in Scarborough, you could feed all of Toronto. It is not that difficult. There are a lot of Mel’s in the world who can take time out of their day to grow a garden. It takes time to set it up initially, but I guarantee, you would find farmers that would come in and help get something like that started. Four years ago, Mel did not have anything. We bought this property the weekend before we got married and look where it is at today. This is a very small part of it and there is a lot of work behind this that you do not see.

Is there anything else that you would like to add that I may have missed?
Steve: This garden is all Mel! I hope we get a chance to give it away to people that need it. I do believe that if there were more Mel’s around, we would not have an as serious food shortage that we do have today. 

The story of this garden is truly inspiring especially since the pandemic has brought more attention to the fact many Scarborough residents face food insecurity ​on a daily basis, that's why we launched the Food Fight. To learn more about how to get involved and support the food bank, visit our food fight page here or you can donate directly online here. 

Our church recognizes the important work of SCHC and has been a supporter of the SCHC Food Bank for several years collecting food and providing an annual donation (for the last couple of years it has been $1,000.) We also have participated in SCHC's Wishes for The Holidays program. 

What do you want people to know about food insecurity and why should they give back? 
Why the $10,000 goal? 
 
Our church has done a major fund raising mission project approximately every two years. In past years we have targeted and raised $20,000 each time, but this year, since the church is not open due to COVID we were less ambitious and targeted $10,000. In past years, our Mission Projects have supported both local and foreign activities where people were in need. The local ones included supporting the computer lab at Evangel Hall Mission, renovating the kitchen at Portland Place, supporting ARISE ministry to people caught in the sex trade in Toronto. Foreign missions included supporting providing wells for clean water in Malawi and roofs for schools and churches, also in Malawi.

This year we selected the SCHC food bank because of the added pressure on food banks caused by COVID. We are also promoting donations of food to the food bank. As of June 24, we are a little over 1/4 of the way to our goal which we think is good since the project did not start until mid-March! 

We know that an annual goal of $10,000 is a big donation for anyone to make, which is why we are extremely thankful for the commitment Don and his team at the Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church has made this year and all the years they have been supporting us. The food bank is a dependable source to many Scarborough residents who face financial health issues. That is why we launch our Food Fight campaign to help collect as many donations as we can to help support those in need.

​It doesn't have to be $10,000 because every donation matters and counts towards helping feed those experiencing a hard time. If you'd like to donate in any capacity please visit our donation page and select either Food Fight or Food bank to make your contribution! 

My mother joined all the classes that were offered, from computer classes to yoga classes to drawing classes, and more. She said that the computer sessions were helpful for her because she learned how to access zoom. It made her feel more confident when she sat in front of a laptop. During the drawing classes, she got many compliments from her kids and her grandkids. They were impressed which made her feel really happy. She did not know how to draw before so being able to realize this profound talent of hers made her super proud and happy. My mom's hand also shakes a bit so with the drawing classes, she was able to draw with precision. It was quite admirable to see. Even with the yoga classes and breathing exercises, she did not know anything prior to attending. 
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My mother has been a homemaker, had not really done anything much for herself. Attending these classes not only helped her physically and mentally, it helped her gain confidence that she can do something for herself too. She feels motivated to try new things and being able to see these small changes in my mother’s life has made me really proud of her.

Rashme Nanda, 17, is a volunteer at the SCHC hub in a child and youth health program. She joined through the MYSL (Mind & Spirit Youth Leadership) group. She wants to make changes for her community and encourage people to have more empathy.

Hi, my name is Rashme Nanda, and I'm a volunteer here at the Hub in a child and youth health program. I always feel like a family here, and everyone is welcoming that every time I want more of it. It’s amazing that you start with strangers, and then they become your family. 

What led you to come here in the first place?

I started coming to SCHC for the MSYL (Mind & Spirit Youth Leadership) group. It was an amazing experience. There's just that sense of security and safety once you're in a room with people that aren't going to judge you. You always feel welcomed here and just progressing with people that you start off as strangers with, and then you kind of become family. I love staying here at the hub, and even my WiFi connects automatically now!

What is your family's reaction to you spending so much time here?

They love it but not a big fan of it because I'm not home so often. They love that I've changed so much where I can kind of be myself more openly around people. When I first started, I was a very introverted person that I wouldn't talk to anybody. This place has helped me be more myself outside my home.

Who do you think is your greatest mentor? 

My greatest mentor would be Charanjit. I was a very introverted person when I first started here, and Charanjit helped me overcome many difficulties. I was the person who would never speak up for anything. If somebody asked me, hey, do you want to do this? I'd be like, Yeah, I'd barely make any noise. Now I'm here talking to you, and it took three years to get where I am. It took a lot of work and persistence. He made me try different things and pushed me outside of my boundaries. He encouraged me the most to initiate things, and that's what I look for in a mentor. 

Have you ever witnessed a change in someone here? 

I remember we were having recruitment for our youth MYSL, and once the recruitments came in, there were a bunch of people that I didn't know. I saw this boy walk through the door, who I've been friends with since third grade. I haven't seen him in so long, and I was excited. They've always been the person who is like the class clown, never involved in what’s going on at the moment. I've watched them grow as a person and take on responsibilities, they normally wouldn't take on and step up to the plate for a lot of things that they usually wouldn't step up to.

Was there a moment in your life where you decided, this is who you're going to be? 

I guess it wasn't just one moment, it was a lot of things that added up to where I am. I want to make people smile, and I want to make people feel good. I want to work with people to make sure that I've done something for our community. It makes me feel great that I'm making the change. I realized that I have the power to bring change to my community so that they can have different things that I didn't have before. There's much more passion in the work that I do now. 

According to you, what is the difference between empathy and sympathy?

Sympathy, for me, it’s like I'm pitying someone, and that's the opposite of what I want to do. There's a moment where I took pity on one of my friends and their situation, and I realized I can't do anything for them with pity. It doesn't make them feel great, and I can't do anything productive with it. But having empathy, kind of putting yourself in somebody else's shoes, knowing what they feel like, trying to change things for them the way they wanted them to change.

I had a conversation with someone at school with one of my classmates. We're sitting in the lecture hall, and there was a moment where they're like, nobody listens. I asked What do you mean? They said nobody really listens to anybody. They just kind of Listen, to respond, not to listen to understand. That hit me like a tonne of bricks. It is important for people to just listen to someone to understand them better. 

To learn more about the SCHC Health & Wellness - Children & Youth programs visit here. For youth interested in joining MSYL (Mind & Spirit Youth Leadership) please email msyleadership@schcontario.ca or call (416)-642-9445 ext. 4473.

Annakim fFrench is a former staff member at SCHC, who worked as a Youth Service Navigator helping vulnerable and at-risk youth by directing them to the services they needed. She was then promoted to be the Youth Mental Health Case worker with the Interprofessional Primary Care Health team. Annakim is now working with the City of Toronto on the Vaccine Engagement project as the coordinator for the South Scarborough cluster. In this interview, she talks about her work at SCHC, her own experience as an at-risk youth, and her personal journey of growth and change. 

Hi, my name is Annakim fFrench. And my role at the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities is as a youth service navigator. 

What were your duties as Youth Service Navigator? 

My duties were to engage with at-risk youth and their families and connect them to services that met their needs. Being at risk is anything that can put you in a situation to be in trouble. At-risk situations can range from being homeless and having mental health challenges to human trafficking and sexual violence; anything along those lines is a rescue. As a harm reduction worker, we provide them with whatever they need at the moment. 
It’s a position where you have to put yourself out there, be non-judgmental, and connect with the people because you’re dealing with a tough population.

What rewards do you get out of this work? 

My whole persona has always been to help people. Anybody who knows me will define me as a girl who is always there to help. That’s just who I am, and I don't want anything in return. It's just my nature to always want to see somebody do better.

Why are you that person?

Growing up, I faced a lot of difficulties, and I went through a lot myself. I had a pretty rough background growing up with my parent's abusive relationship. During my teenage years, I sailed into a relationship where I allowed someone to abuse me as it seemed quite normal to me. 

I was an at-risk teenager. Got pregnant when I was 15, and I had my son when I was 16. I was still in high school at the time and I went to school straight up until my due day. My son came two weeks late, and I was still in school. Teachers told me to go home, but I had this fear of not being successful because society labeled people who have kids at a young age were less likely to be successful. 

I had my son in November, and I went back to school in January. Many people told me to take more time off but I noticed when people take time off, they get comfortable, and they don't go back. So my biggest fear was getting comfortable and not having the momentum to go back. My biggest focus was to graduate high school on time and get to college on time. It was just really challenging for me with my abusive relationship and taking care of my son. 

How did you get out of your abusive situation?

 It was tough. I used to go to my son’s daycare to pick him up, and outside it was like 40 degrees, and I used to wear long-sleeve clothes. It was embarrassing for me because I felt I was the only one going through it. There was this young lady at the daycare, and she used to invite me to her prayer group on Thursdays but I used to avoid them until one day I decided to go. I went with my son after daycare and realized it was interesting. We talked about things all of us women were going through at the moment. 

What helped you get over the embarrassment of being in an abusive relationship? 

I got out of my embarrassment by connecting with people like me. I met several women who shared their stories and struggles with abuse. For me, the embarrassment eventually faded as I connected to other women who were going through the same trauma. I found comfort in discussing with these women, and they were connecting me to different resources to help me get out of the situation. And in December 2009, I decided to get out of that abusive relationship.

How do you help at-risk people to get over the embarrassment of their situation? 

For a very long time, I kept thinking that I was the only one going through that situation. There are women in their 40’s, 50's and 60's who are still going through this, and I was so young. They encouraged me to get out, and I sat down and thought about my life and how I could do something about it. 

The first step is to accept your situation. One should always realize that they are valuable and whatever they are doing is better. There was a time when I even shaved my head to become a brand new woman. When I started university, everything fell into place and began to make sense. It’s all about being connected, and you have to be connected, as you cannot do it alone.  
I always connect youth clients with different services out there for all types of situations. For someone like me, who has gone through an abusive relationship, I’ll connect them with different healing groups where they can listen to other survivors and not feel alone. When they realize all of the resources available to them, and just open those doors, they are able to expand themselves. Sometimes people think the things that they're doing make them not valuable. So you always want to remind them that they are and then encourage them to do better. It's a lot of healing in those groups, and that gives people the strength to be able to overcome many things.

Who would you say has been the greatest mentor to you? 

My grandfather and my son. My son has taught me how to say sorry. Every time I say sorry to him, he will ask me, do you really mean that mama? He humbles me and teaches me a lot of things. He changed my world. He changed my life. He gave my life a purpose.

If you are in a at-risk environment and need support, visit our health services page to learn more about the different programs available to you including our Interprofessional Primary Care Team and the SCHC Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre (SADVCC).

Heather Talbot is a former client and current volunteer at the bereavement program. She came to Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities as a bereaved mother after losing her son in a car accident in 2009. She now facilitates bereavement groups and one-on-one with other bereaved parents at SCHC.

Why did you come to SCHC as a client? 
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I had already gone to the bereaved families of Ontario as a client after losing my son in a car crash. I had my 10 sessions once a week, but I was still grieving so strongly for my son. I saw an ad in the Scarborough mirror, looking for people who had lost an adult child to come to a bereavement group. And so, I came to SCHC, where it just feels very loving, welcoming, and an inclusive environment.

Viviane, who was leading the bereavement group, was the person who interviewed me to take the training because they needed volunteers to give peer support to other bereaved parents. I found the training to be therapeutic. I've recommended the training to clients that I've had in my groups and after training, they have even co-facilitated groups with me. We're all in this together, and we're all hurting, and we all want to help each other, and only other bereaved parents know what it's like. I've been doing it now for six years, and I find it's very healing for myself. 
 
 What was the feeling when you walked into that room?

I didn't know anybody in my personal life who had lost a child; you feel like you're being punished. Then you meet all these other lovely people who are on the same boat. Whether we lost a child because of a car crash, like, in my case, or whether it was a disease, whatever it is, we are all grieving. We can all understand how that feels, and it's going to open up some deep wounds, and you're going to cry. It's okay to cry, the tears are healing, and that's the main thing. It's the raw emotions that these groups bring out. We can all help each other, support each other, and I think people are looking for that kind of support. 

 Why volunteer?

Well, it's a purpose, and it's something that I'm doing from my heart. I had this idea, I'll go to the group, and then I'll be fixed. Well, that doesn't happen, but the group really did help. And so, it just happened that when I came here as a client, and then I was asked to take the training, I thought, oh, that will make it three years since my son died. So, to me, it was the perfect time to help myself heal. Part of it is doing this having a purpose in my life. This came directly from the loss of my son; I would not be helping other bereaved parents if I were not a bereaved parent. When I was in a group with other people and the facilitators were also bereaved parents, everybody there gets it. It's been nine years since my son passed away, and it does get easier as time goes by, but I still cry when I talk about my son, and things still trigger me. In the groups, we'll all be crying, and then we'll be laughing for some reason. It's like, wow, we never thought we would ever laugh again. So, you know, all these positives come out of it. I feel like I can pay it forward and help other people on their journey to healing. It makes you feel like you have a purpose and they're doing good, that you're helping, and that you're paying forward what you got when you needed it. 
 
If you could pick the proudest moment in all your journey of this so far, what do you think when your proudest moments would be?

I do feel that the proudest moment is one particular client. She, she looked so down, her son had completed suicide, and she looked old beyond her years. She just looked so depressed. I saw a real change in her as the weeks went on, and she was one that I encouraged to take the training, and she facilitated a group with me. She said to the group, Heather saved my life. That, to me, was my proudest moment.

To learn more about the Bereavement program please visit here.

The Hub being transformed into a vaccine clinic has received great praise from clients, staff, and the community overall. However, this wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable commitment and dedication of different staff members from various departments, with one common goal. Keep the people of Scarborough safe. Read below to get the perspectives from some of these staff members and how this experience has been. 

​I’m the Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement and Student Placement at SCHC. Being asked to get multiple volunteers to help at the vaccine clinic for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, was a challenge. Since we have so many amazing people who volunteer with us, I sent the request out to our existing  group. The responses came in and almost 40 people now volunteer at the Hub vaccine clinic. Scheduling a volunteer “staff” of that many people has not been without its ups and downs but we are fortunate to have a wonderful, dedicated group. These volunteers want to help make history happen with no other reward than knowing they are making a valuable contribution to their community. 
- Lori Beesley

Over the last couple of months I have observed the dedication of the team members from the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) and the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) come together valiantly to meet the urgent needs of our high-risk community. At SCHC we opened an extension of the SHN Covid-19 vaccine clinics (CVC), which began by prioritizing the most vulnerable.  We continually strived to overcome any barriers our clients may face, such as reduced physical mobility, transportation concerns, language barriers and any other challenges that arise.  Furthermore, we have keen staff and volunteers to welcome clients, beginning with screeners and greeters, as well as registration staff who do their best to expedite the administration requirements. Then after registering, clients will be directed to the vaccine room where doctors and Nurse Practitioners like myself will briefly screen for relevant health related criteria, and then administer the vaccine safely. It has been a pleasure to meet staff from both organizations who are committed to coming together for the common purpose of eradicating Covid-19 from our community as soon as possible. It’s also encouraging to notice clients eager to receive the vaccine, so that soon their families and community will be safe and resume some sense of normalcy in the months to follow. Finally, it’s been very gratifying to be a part of an organization which has faced every obstacle and challenge head on. I know we will continue to make a significant difference for the Scarborough community.
- Jason Posnansky, NP
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As a site lead at the COVID-19 vaccine clinic, when I arrive I make sure all of the staff know where they are going and I lead the team huddle to go over all over the important points like eligibility criteria, how many people we have booked and safety protocols. Once we know what vaccine we have received we open our doors to the public. During the day, I assist with helping those who may not be eligible for the vaccine. However, I do miss my clients and my role as a Registered Dietician but we feel the team spirit of those at the clinic and being able to work together is amazing. I really enjoy the team I get to work with and that I am contributing to making things go back to normal. Everyone works together to give our clients access to the vaccine which is so important because everyone needs to get vaccinated.
- Chris Pinto, RD 

I am an RPN at the SCHC Markham site but I have really enjoyed working at the SCHC Hub Vaccine Clinic as an Observation Nurse. As an observation nurse, I interact with a lot of clients by providing post vaccine care health teaching. In this position, it is critical for me to ensure patients who are nervous feel supported. I endeavour to make them feel comfortable and reassure them that the side effects they are feeling are normal after receiving the vaccine. We also confirm that clients receive a record of their vaccination. With COVID-19, I didn’t get to work with my usual team as we rotated on-site but now I get to experience that large team approach again working at the clinic. It has been a great opportunity to meet different staff both from SCHC and SHN. Everyone is supportive, patient and helpful to one another, as well as the clients, and this enables us deliver services efficiently.
- Joanne Fernandes, RPN

I am a primary health care NP working at SCHC. Since the opening of the Covid vaccine clinic at the HUB I have been working as charge nurse and vaccinator.
I am grateful to have this opportunity to be a part of this valuable service offered to the Scarborough community. Being in charge entails coordination and constant communication with vaccinators, the pharmacist and site lead. It keeps you on your toes, nevertheless is very rewarding at the end of shift. Being a part of the vaccine clinic has given me the opportunity to meet with a number of physicians, nurses and dedicated volunteers from the community. It has also allowed me to appreciate and value the hard work and dedication of our team to make this clinic a successful and rewarding experience during these challenging times.
- Kareema Nizar, NP-PHC