For 50 years, the Physically Handicapped Adults' Rehabilitation Association (PHARA) has been providing services that promote independence, health, and housing services in North Bay and the surrounding area. In celebration of their fifty-first year, the organization is now formally known as PHARA Community Services.
"Over the past several years, from listening to our community and from the direction of PHARA's Board of Directors, it was recognized that a name change was needed in order to reflect the updated vision, mission, and goals of the organization," says a news release.
“The name change has been long overdue,” said Mike Van der Vlist, CEO of PHARA. “The community recognized this, and we listened. Our new name removes the word handicapped, a word that in today's world is inappropriate as we strive for an inclusive environment providing health and housing services.”
In addition to providing much-needed affordable housing, PHARA Community Services has a mandate to enhance quality of life and independence for individuals with disabilities, or those facing the effects of aging. Through rehabilitative and recreational programs, skills training, and advocacy, it promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being while addressing daily needs and fostering lifelong independence and community inclusion.
“It takes time to change an organization's legal name, especially when you're a non-profit organization that has such deep roots in the community. There is a great deal of consideration that must go into the new name, not to mention the formal paperwork that must be filed and approved,” said Matt Duquette, Board Chair of PHARA. “I'm proud of Mike and his team for making this a priority and for making it happen. It sets the foundation for another 50 years of great PHARA Community Services.”
“Over the past year and a bit, PHARA Community Services provided over 49,000 days of housing, expanded multiple health services, renovated our Stroke rehabilitation center, advanced our Assisted Devices program, became accredited, and won multiple awards” said Van der Vlist. “There have been some great advancements at PHARA, and they have all been possible thanks to our amazing team whose opinion earned us a Best Workplace in Canada recognition in 2024.”
PHARA is comprised of two legal organizational entities:
- Organization 1: Representing Nipissing Parry Sound is known as PHARA Community Services
- Organization 2: Representing Westwind Heights is known as PHARA Community Services WH
PHARA purposes are:
- To relieve conditions associated with a lack of housing through providing residential accommodations, including specially adapted accommodation, financially assisted accommodation, incidental facilities, and support to individuals, couples, and families.
- To enhance quality of life by providing trained personnel and specialized services that assist in the daily activities of those with a disability and/or facing the effects of aging.
- To enhance quality of life by providing rehabilitative and recreational programs to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of those with a disability and/or facing the effects of aging.
- To enhance quality of life by providing skills training, advocacy, and supportive services to those with a disability and/or facing the effects of aging.
- To enhance individual independence throughout a lifetime to those with a disability and/or facing the effects of aging.
