Pink Triangle Services receives donation of $100,000

Pink Triangle Services will be welcoming some additions to the organization this year.

Thanks to a donation of $100,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, PTS has been able to hire new, much-needed staff, who should, in turn, increase volunteer involvement.

Keith Duncanson, the president of PTS, says the organization has hired a new special events coordinator. He says the coordinator will also help PTS to maintain and even to increase its volunteer base, allowing the organization to move forward.

“Our donations are sort of on a downward trend right now, so we haven’t really diversified in terms of our special events.”

Richard Patton, MPP for Ottawa-Centre, presented PTS with a plaque at their Jun 23 annual general meeting to commemorate the grant.

According to PTS members, the donation will go a long way after a tough past year.

Joe Clouthier, who sits on the board of directors, said at the meeting, “We weathered a rough year, and we’re a much stronger organization because of it.”

Executive director Michelle Reis-Amores says she wants to maintain the organization’s grassroots status, while at the same time branching out and finding new opportunities for programming.

The meeting also officially changed the group’s letters patent to add “trans,” “two-spirit” and “queer.”

One member, Judy Girard, asked about the cost of fundraising expenses. “I thought the fundraising expenses were a little high,” said Girard.

“I could see that it wouldn’t get an answer there [at the meeting] and I wouldn’t really pursue it,” Girard told Capital Xtra. “I hope they would exercise more prudence this year.”

But PTS treasurer Sandi Bonini says fundraising expenses were not high.

“Compared to previous years, they’re not. They’re quite in line with previous years.

“[Girard’s] specific question was that she thought that the fundraising expenses for the signature event… that it was more expensive having it at the location that we did (the NAC) as opposed to the previous years where we held it at the museum of science. Her concerns were unfounded.”