Board Chair and Treasurer Report 2021-2022

A Second Year Dominated by the COVID Worldwide Pandemic

For the second straight year, people supported by the Skills Society, their families, allies and the Skills Society team (employees and board) lived and worked within the evolving context of the COVID pandemic. Vaccines were introduced, public health restrictions and measures were implemented, later relaxed, then reinstated as hospitalizations and deaths spiked again. This rapidly evolving context created unique challenges for the entire Skills family. Keeping the people we support and our staff team as safe as possible was an unrelenting challenge during this tumultuous year. The Skills board wishes to convey our deep and heartfelt thanks to the people we support, their families and allies, and our dedicated staff team for all your hard work and sacrifice during another difficult year. 

Skills Society – A Community of Common Care

During the last two years, deep cracks revealed themselves in Canada and in many other nations around the world. Even public health measures as simple as masking and social distancing became seen as significant infringements on personal freedoms. Making matters worse, public health measures became politicized between left and right leaning citizens. The air was toxic with angry division and protest. Our civic duty of common care for each other seemed to evaporate in significant proportions. I and many others felt heartsick as we witnessed the erosion of our social contract to look out for one another. 

During the difficult and troubled times of the last two years, the Skills Society remained firmly committed to our duty of common care. Individuals, their families and our staff team sacrificed many personal comforts, inconveniences and freedoms to ensure the safety and well being of our entire family. It was our privilege to do so.

While COVID numbers are declining, public health officials warn us that the pandemic is not over and that spikes in case numbers will rise again as the seasons change and as new variants evolve in our communities. Be assured the Skills Society will continue our commitment to our value of common care.

Service Provider Accreditation 

Once every three years, the Skills Society must undergo an accreditation review in relation to a comprehensive set of rigorous service delivery standards. The accreditation review is undertaken by the Alberta Council of Disability Services. I am pleased to report the Skills Society was accredited for the next three years and passed with 100% success. Thanks to all staff and board members who participated in the review process.

Fund Development

Most organizations in the not-for-profit sector invest volunteer and staff resources to raise funds to supplement funding provided by various orders of government. Last year, the Skills Society launched a fresh initiative to improve our fund development capacity. This year, a group of board members and staff built upon the work undertaken last year. This year was mainly focused on building a foundation of knowledge to support the development of a strategic plan for our next fiscal year. A consulting group has been retained to support the next phase of implementation. Thanks to board members Kate Gunn, Carmen Norris, Debbie Royer and Darcy McDonald. Thanks also to senior leaders Ben Weinlick and Rebecca Rubuliak. 

This year, the Skills Society improved our fund investment strategy by entering into a relationship with the Alberta Treasury Branch (ATB). ATB has a division whose sole purpose is to advise and manage investments for not-for-profit organizations. Investment income has improved significantly as a result. As part of this initiative, the board developed a spending policy to guide the expenditure of investment income. Thanks to board Treasurer Rochelle Mitchell for guiding us through the development of this policy. 

Also, a heartfelt thanks to all those who volunteered their time and energy for our casino fundraiser.

Education and Influence

First off, the Skills Society is non-partisan. However, we do keep a watchful eye on issues affecting the people we exist to support, inform funders and others about these issues, and make recommendations to improve the lives of people with disabilities and service provider capacity to deliver safe, reliable and effective supports. 

The next provincial election is scheduled to be held between March 1 and May 31, 2023. The Skills Society Advocacy Committee is positioning itself to inform all political parties and candidates about significant issues in need of attention in the disability support sector. 

Two priority issues affecting the lives of people supported by Skills are income support levels for people with disabilities and staff salaries for employees working in the disability sector. 

A priority is that people who receive income supports from government programs such as AISH live below the poverty line. Doing so has a direct impact on their health, safety and opportunities to be fully included in community life. For example, people on income support programs experience diminished capacity to find affordable and accessible housing in safe communities. Living in substandard housing in unsafe communities poses significant risks to the health, safety and well-being of many income support recipients. Another critical example is a diminished capacity to afford healthy, life-sustaining food. While this has been an issue for decades, it has been exacerbated recently by runaway inflation in the cost of food. Many income support recipients are faced with the heartbreaking dilemma of choosing between food, rent and medicine. The Skills Society Advocacy Committee is well positioned to bring these important issues into focus for all parties and candidates during the year ahead.

Another high priority issue is wage levels for disability sector employees. Funding for disability sector employees has not increased since 2014. That’s eight full years of stagnant income. As a result, community service providers are not able to compete in the labour market for qualified staff, resulting in diminished capacity to deliver quality services in the quantities necessary to meet the needs of people who require support. Again, the Skills Society and others in the sector will do our part to ensure all parties and candidates understand the ramifications of this circumstance. 

Again, a big thanks to board members and staff who work to keep the organization informed and focused on mission-critical issues. Included are board member Amy Abbott (Committee Chair), board member Dr. Dianne McConnell, Executive Director Ben Weinlick and Senior Manager Bev Hills.

Complacency – Good Enough isn’t Enough

For every person, for all of society and for all organizations (formal and informal), complacency is a daily threat to excellence in all we seek to achieve. Complacency rears its head in many forms. It often manifests itself in thoughts, attitudes, statements and performances. ‘Good enoughness’ is the enemy of excellence. The theme for this year’s AGM, and the stories and reports within this report, addresses the problem of ‘good enough-ness’ in some detail. I encourage you to read these various offerings from people we support, board members, and Skills leadership, and think carefully about how we can all do our part to safeguard the path to fully included and accepted lives for people with disabilities.

The Skills Society board and staff are and will continue to be fiercely committed to avoiding the many pitfalls of complacency and ‘good enough-ness’, and rooting it out when we find ourselves wandering off the path that leads to deeply meaningful lives for those we support.

University of Alberta Board Internship Program

There are approximately 26,000 not-for-profit organizations in Alberta. This large number is a reflection of citizen commitment to our many communities of interest and our fellow citizens. The demand for knowledgeable and experienced board members to govern these organizations is nearly unquenchable. The Skills Society believes it has a duty to help prepare the next generation of board governors. Therefore, each year the Skills Society invites students from the University of Alberta to intern with the Skills Society board. This year, University of Alberta (U of A) student Larissa Mitchell joined our ranks for several months. Thanks to Larissa for her hard work to improve the Skills website and to board member Kate Gunn for mentoring Larissa.

It Takes A Community – Donors, Grants and Endowments

The Skills Society relies on the generosity of citizens, organizations and foundations to supplement funding provided for disability supports by Alberta taxpayers through the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Community and Social Services. 

In addition to Alberta taxpayers, we are deeply grateful to the friends and organizations for their thoughtful contributions to the people supported by the Skills Society. Your generous gifts will make a real difference in many lives. 

Doors Closing and Opening

It is said, when one door closes, another door opens. 

This year two doors are closing. 

Amy Abbott, Skills Society Vice Chair and Advocacy Committee Chair finishes her third and final term with the Skills Society. We are all deeply grateful to Amy for nine years of unwavering commitment to the people we support. Amy is a rare principled gem who combines humility, clear and thoughtful analysis and insights, a penchant for practical action and a warm welcoming heart. Thank you, Amy, from the bottom of our hearts! We’ll miss you a ton. 

The second door is mine. I will be leaving the Skills board following the 2022 AGM. It has been my honour to serve the people we support and to play a small part in the 41-year life of one of Alberta’s very best not-for-profit organizations. I am exceedingly grateful to all of my board colleagues and to Ben Weinlick for partnering with me in leading the Skills Society. I will treasure many fond memories and will miss you all. I wish you every success in the years ahead. 

The good news is – three doors are opening.

Please welcome Dr. Nancy Spencer to the Skills board. Nancy is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation at the U of A and has a deep understanding of the disability sector. The research portion of her duties at the U of A focuses on issues relevant to disability and the experiences of children and youth in the contexts of physical activity, sport and play. Nancy was also the lead researcher of a 3-year collaboration between the U of A Community Service Learning and the Skills Society focused on what citizenship means in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. 

Also, please welcome Robert (Bob) Philp to the Skills Board. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and governance acumen to the Skills board. Bob was previously Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, a Provincial Court Judge, a respected lawyer, and an Adjunct Professor at the U of A, Faculty of Business. As a resident of Edmonton for many years, Bob has served on many community boards. 

Last but not least, please welcome Debbie Royer to the position of Skills Board Chair. Debbie has served as Board Secretary for six years. Debbie brings the all-important ‘parent’ perspective to the Skills Board. She also brings a deep understanding of the disability sector derived from decades long experience working in service delivery and academia. Debbie is a warm, wise woman with impeccable people skills, and will undoubtedly do the organization proud. Debbie currently teaches at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

A Special Thanks

The Skills Society is blessed with a high-performance leadership group, headed by our Executive Director, Ben Weinlick. In addition, our mid-managers, supervisors and front-line staff are second-to-none in your hard work and commitment to the people we support. In addition, we are fortunate to have a skilled and committed administrative support team, without which we could not function. We are proud and grateful to have you all as part of the Skills family. 

The Skills Society sees itself as partnering with the family members, friends and allies of the people we support. We are deeply grateful for your contributions of love, knowledge, time, energy and flexibility during the last two challenging years. Thank you one and all!

Hart Chapelle, 

Board Chair

The pandemic has remained the largest challenge to Skills Society. However, I am pleased to say that to date it has not significantly affected our financial position.

The 2021/2022 fiscal year for Skills Society has ended on a positive note. Our prudent management has resulted in a surplus for the year.

Skills Society recorded just over $21.74 million in operating revenue for the current year which was $44,000 less than the original budget. Total operating expenses for the year were $21.65 million, or about $245,000 less than budget.

Skills Society has a small operating surplus of just over $94,000 in the current year, compared to a surplus of just over $268,000 reported in 2021. Including amortization, Casino and unrealized ATB Investment Income, Skills recorded a surplus of just over $115,000 in the current year compared to just over $229,000 in the prior year.

Looking to the 2022/2023 year, Skills Society is budgeting an operating deficit of $72,000. Inflation and administrative costs can no longer be absorbed by the agency. Skills has also not received an increase to direct wage funding in 8 years.

All government contracts are now in the last year of three year terms. Management will be requesting an increase in government funding to address the cost pressures we face.

Rochelle Mitchell, CPA, CA

Treasurer