When the community needed support during COVID-19, Northern College stepped up.
To allow City of Timmins staff to work from home, the college loaned the municipality laptops. The college residence has also been used to house some of the local homeless population.
To allow for physical distancing, since the early days of the pandemic people who would normally use the Living Space emergency shelter have been staying at the college residence and the McIntyre Curling Club.
In a news release, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board CAO Brian Marks said the college space allowed them to comply with public health orders and recommendations.
“Having access to these rooms at the college has allowed us to move some clients into stable housing and truly transform lives,” he said.
The college also loaned the city 30 laptops so staff could work from home when changes were made at city hall to follow Ministry of Health and the provincial emergency declaration guidance.
"This partnership has allowed us to ensure the continuity of work while maintaining and continuing to provide the citizens of Timmins with the best service possible during these unprecedented times," said CAO Dave Landers in a news release.
Timmins Mayor George Pirie is grateful for the partnership with the college.
“Northern College stepped in and filled some immediate needs we had as a community, ensuring the safety and health of our citizens, and for that, we are filled with gratitude,” he said. “Our relationship with the college has always been a phenomenal one, and this time, they have really gone above and beyond, also providing us with some long-term learning regarding how to effectively manage homelessness in our community, by providing stable housing and helping to transform lives.”
Because the college has the resources, president Fred Gibbons said it made sense to reach out to see how they could help.
“That is the essence of partnerships,” said Gibbons. “We’re not only at the table when we need something, but we’re there when they need us.”
