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Interview with Kevin McShan
We are excited to share this insightful YouTube interview across social media! Huge thanks to Kevin McShan for this in-depth conversation on how the Back Door Mission plays a crucial role in Ontario’s homelessness crisis. This discussion dives deep into government policy, service models, urban planning, and funding challenges, while also showcasing our inclusive, dynamic, and symbiotic relational strategy—a model that continues to evolve as we work to better serve our community. "Kevin McShan, a dynamic Multimedia Journalist and inspiring Motivational Speaker, invites you to dive into his engaging YouTube Podcast, titled “Let’s Have This Conversation.” This podcast is designed to offer a rich tapestry of diverse content that spans various dimensions of our contemporary news landscape." The video includes closed captioning and speed modulation for accessibility. hashtag#WeAreYourPeople |
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Oshawa Urges Province for Help Amid Drug Crisis
May 16, 2025 | Global News Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter held a press conference on May 16, 2025, following a tragic shooting on May 14. In his address, he urged the provincial government to allocate $40 million to combat Oshawa’s growing public health crisis. Carter specifically called for the establishment of a 24/7 in-hospital mental health and addiction urgent care clinic, along with improved coordination between agencies and governments to strengthen recovery programs. “As Durham’s largest municipality, Oshawa bears a disproportionate share of social challenges, yet we lack social services operated by the Region within our city,” Carter said. “Despite the dedication of many, the absence of coordination among these dozens of volunteer-led drop-in centres and charitable organizations leaves serious gaps in care. It is time for Durham Region to lead a unified, accountable approach with trained professionals delivering integrated, responsive support.” Nathan Gardner, Back Door Mission’s Executive Director, shared his thoughts with Global News on Carter’s proposal for a dedicated hospital program. “People are tired of living on the streets. People are tired of being addicted to drugs,” Gardner said. He acknowledged that a mental health and addictions ward at Lakeridge Health would be beneficial but emphasized that it is only one part of the solution. “The entire treatment front and back is not going to be something that involves one entity. There’s going to be lots of small to big institution service providers, and they all have to really get in line and work together, but in general, it can only help adding more support, particularly through the hospitals.” |
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KRM Podcast: Building Key Relationships in the Non-Profit Sector
Back Door Mission Executive Director Nathan Gardner was interviewed recently for the KRM podcast, a show that focuses on how non-profits develop key relationships. Nathan shared giving tours to show what we do on a day-to-day basis built trust in our community relationships. It’s important we go “beyond the ask and the numbers and the data and the quantitative, Nathan said, “which is all important, but really asking them to be a part of your organization from an understanding and a promotional level is a shift that I think is starting to pay dividends for us and is really important for the community at large.” We encourage donors to become our advocates and promoters, shifting beyond a simple transactional interaction to a shareholder in our socially innovative organization. |
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As Ontario restricts supervised consumption, can 'HART hubs' fill the gap?
Aug. 27, 2024 | Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan Provincial funding for addictions treatment is desperately needed, say operators and experts, but restricting harm reduction could undermine their goal. Executive Director Nathan Gardner sits down with Robyn Bresnahan on CBC Ottawa morning. The discourse on this announcement, as you can imagine, is layered, complex, and extremely important. Have a listen! https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-100/clip/16090323 |
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Executive Director Nathan Gardner speaks about "Finding Community Solutions" on the Surviving Addiction Channel
March 24, 2024 | Surviving Addiction | YouTube Nathan Gardner has spent over a decade in the Health and Social Services sector, and has helped develop mental health and addictions programming with a focus community development. An Educator by trade, he has sat on various committees including the Social Planning Network of Ontario and Lakeridge Health Integrated Planning Committee for Mental Health and Addictions. He has also co-authored two reports on the Non-Profit sector in Durham and Ontario, entitled "Connected Through Uncertainty" and "We're on our Way." |
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Pathwise Spotlight: Back Door Mission
Mar 29, 2024 | Pathwise Credit Union | YouTube Join David Vink, our Director of Commercial Services at Pathwise, as he dives deep into the heartwarming and crucial work carried out by The Back Door Mission. David shares his firsthand experiences volunteering with the organization, shedding light on the profound impact their services have on the community and the individuals they serve. From providing essential resources to offering comprehensive support services, The Back Door Mission is truly making a difference in lives every day. |
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Oshawa’s Back Door Mission receives $1.1 million in provincial funding
June 30, 2023 | Global News | Ojasvini Parashar The Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty in downtown Oshawa has secured a one-year funding commitment of $1.1 million from the provincial government. Oshawa’s Back Door Mission receives $1.1 million in provincial funding - Durham | Globalnews.ca |
The Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty in downtown Oshawa has secured a one-year funding commitment of $1.1 million from the provincial government. Ojasvini Parashar/ Global News
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Oshawa’s services hub for vulnerable people releases video series
March 25, 2022| Global News | Ladna Mohamed The Backdoor Mission released a video campaign titled "We Are Listening," to give vulnerable community members a platform to share their stories. An episode is released every two weeks. https://globalnews.ca/news/8710442/oshawas-services-hub-for-vulnerable-people-releases-video-series/ |
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Pandemic Heroes: awards program taking nominations to recognize those making an impact
May 7, 2021 | Global News | Brittany Rosen https://globalnews.ca/news/7843710/pandemic-heroes-awards-program-taking-nominations-to-recognize-those-making-an-impact/ |
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‘It’s life or death for some people’: Oshawa’s Back Door Mission health clinic can’t continue without funds April 9, 2022 | Durham Region: Oshawa This Week | Jennifer O'Meara Local politicians and MPP French are asking the Ontario government to restore funding now for the Back Door Mission clinic and to provide sustainable health care funding. “It’s critical that this continues. There are people who are going to fall through the cracks,” said Coun. Giberson. |
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Durham farmers donate fridges to local food banks
Durham Radio News January 6, 2021 https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/131370 |
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Mission United a success
The Oshawa Express July 29, 2020 https://oshawaexpress.ca/mission-united-a-success/ |
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Oshawa’s Mission United supporting hundreds of individuals each week during coronavirus pandemic
Global News
May 21, 2020
https://globalnews.ca/news/6965057/oshawa-mission-united-homeless-support-coronavirus-pandemic/
Global News
May 21, 2020
https://globalnews.ca/news/6965057/oshawa-mission-united-homeless-support-coronavirus-pandemic/
Community groups team up to help unsheltered
The Oshawa Express
April 22, 2020
https://oshawaexpress.ca/community-groups-team-up-to-help-unsheltered/
The Oshawa Express
April 22, 2020
https://oshawaexpress.ca/community-groups-team-up-to-help-unsheltered/
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Rogers TV Interview May 21st, 2020
This week's guest is Oshawa Councillor Derek Giberson who speaks about how Mission United is coming to the aid of those in need during COVID-19. |
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Rogers TV Interview April 28th, 2020
COVID-19 updates in the Durham Region. Feed the Need in Durham, Ontario Power Generation and the Back Door Mission responds to an increased demand during COVID-19 pandemic. Derek Giberson's interview at 15:15 |
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Wheelchair Accessibility 2018
Thanks to the Rick Hansen Foundation, the Back Door Mission was able to install wheelchair accessible doors making it easier for Patrons to enter our facilities. Thank you Rick Hansen Foundation!! |
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Professors Of Funk Christmas special returns to Oshawa 2016
Oshawa This Week December 9, 2016 https://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/7005904-professors-of-funk-christmas-special-returns-to-oshawa/ |
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