The Board of Directors of Trellis HIV & Community Care extends its profound gratitude to Gilles Charette, Trellis' now-former Executive Director.  Gilles concluded his 11-year tenure with the Trellis on August 29th, and on September 3rd will begin a new work adventure with the Ontario AIDS Network's Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance.  Gilles led Trellis through what can only be described as tumultuous times, and did so with kindness, determination, thoughtfulness, strength, and an unshakable faith in our mission and purpose.  Thank you, Gilles, for all you have done and for all you have given our community.  Please go forward knowing you have our immense respect and best wishes for success in your next chapter!

 

As part of its commitment to ensuring continued excellence in serving our community, the Trellis Board has engaged Pivotal Integrated HR Solutions to conduct an executive search on its behalf.  Over the next weeks, Pivotal will lead efforts to find the person best able and best positioned to lead Trellis into the future.  This search will include internal and external candidates, and throughout the process Pivotal will work closely with the Board of Directors and its newly constituted Hiring Committee.  The Board looks forward to announcing the results of its work with Pivotal and to introducing Trellis' new Executive Director in due course.

 

As we manage through this transition, the Board is committed to ensuring strong, thoughtful leadership for the people we serve, our staff, our volunteers, and our partners.  As part of that commitment, we are tremendously pleased to announce that Amanda Girling, Trellis' Manager - Harm Reduction Services, has agreed to serve as Interim Executive Director, effective September 1st, 2024.  Amanda has been with Trellis for over 13 years and has extensive experience in every aspect of the work we do in the community.  Amanda's time as HIV Prevention & Education Coordinator, Women's Community Development Coordinator, Harm Reduction Outreach Worker, Harm Reduction Team Lead, and Manager - Harm Reduction Services has given her the experience and expertise required to take on leadership of the organization as we work through this transition phase.  In addition, Amanda has served as Trellis' senior on-site manager at the Integrated Care Hub (ICH), which has allowed her to develop strong, meaningful relationships with all our ICH partners, each of which works with such strong and unwavering commitment to support so many of our community's most marginalized and vulnerable citizens.  Amanda has the Board's full support and gratitude as she moves into the Interim Executive Director role, and we look forward to working closely with her to ensure continued excellence in the work we all do from our locations at 844a Princess Street and the ICH.

 

Finally, the Board is working closely with our partners at Addictions & Mental Health Services - Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (AMHS) to ensure continued excellence in management of the Integrated Care Hub.  Trellis and AMHS will be making a joint announcement shortly regarding our collective management of the ICH as we work through this leadership transition period.  The Trellis Board is grateful for the support and encouragement given by all our ICH partners, and that of AMHS in particular.

 

We cannot say strongly enough how committed we are as the Board to ensuring continued excellence in supporting the people we serve at Trellis, or how much we value, respect, and appreciate the work of the Trellis staff.  The Board is fully committed to the Staff Team and the work they do day-in, day-out to support and advocate for those we serve, and to Amanda as she leads Trellis through this next phase of its evolution.

 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or thoughts you may have regarding these changes, and thank you for your continued support of the vital work Trellis does in our community.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Ted Robinson

Chair - Board of Directors

TRELLIS HIV & COMMUNITY CARE