David Townsend to leave South Frontenac Community Services this week

Jeff Green | Aug 24, 2022

“Twelve and a half years,” said David Townsend when asked how long he has been employed as the Executive Director of Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS). “I like to say that’s a long time for a job I took on as a six month contract. It’s been a great run.”

During that time there have been a lot of changes, and growth, at the agency that provides services for senior’s, adults with physical disabilities, and families in need within the catchment area of South Frontenac and Rural Kingston.

“When I started we had 9 employees working out of a small rental space on George Street in Sydenham, and a budget of $500,000 per year. We did not have a hot meals on wheels program, and a small food program,” he said.

“We now have close to 30 employees and a budget of $1.6 million, hot meals 3 days a week, a food bank that serves 80 households a month, exercise programs and other recreational programs out a permanent home at the Grace Centre. Lots of good things have happened,” he said.

Not that Townsend was always the biggest fan of the purchase and renovation of the former Grace United Church as a home for SFCSC.

The late Joan Cameron was the chair of the SFCS Board at the time, and she pushed very hard for the Grace Centre project. While the space had great potential for programming, and the price was more than right at $50,000, it’s limited office space was a concern for Townsend.

“I had issues with the space, which were and are very real, but it has enabled the agency to grow and establish a solid footprint in the community,” said Townsend. “It has been a trade-off

It has also led to the use of portable offices for the burgeoning staff complement and the South Frontenac Food Bank.

“After seeking provincial government support for a major construction project on the Grace Centre site on a couple of occasions, without success, Townsend led SFCS in his final couple of years at the helm to a more modest addition at the back of the Grace Centre that will eliminate the portables, and create a suitable home for administration and the food bank, while maintaining the greenhouse and community garden at the site.

The project, which is set to begin construction later this year, with support from grant money and a commitment of $750,000 from South Frontenac Township, is also the subject of an ongoing fundraising campaign.

While Townsend will not be around for the construction phase, helping get the project to this point is a fitting end to his tenure.

“We have solid finances, a dedicated and well-trained staff, and our facility will enable us to continue serving the community well into the future,” he said as he prepares to leave.

One of the goals that he came to SFCS with back in 2010 that has not some about, however, is pairing the agency with other health care providers or social service agencies to in order to streamline services for seniors and others and ensure long term funding for the agency.

“We tried to consolidate with a number of other agencies, even with primary care, but none of that has happened. I still think it is important and will let my successor know my views,” said Townsend.

“At least, the new Ontario Health Teams seem to be more aware of community support services for seniors than the Local Health Integration Networks were,” he said, “that is one thing that I worked hard to accomplish, with my colleagues in other agencies that provide the services.”

Last fall, the SFCS Board of Directors developed a plan for Townsend to work part-time this year, and for the agencies Director of operations, Heather Rogers, to take over his job at the end of the year.

When Heather Rogers decided she no longer wanted to make that change, a search was initiated for a new Executive Director. The new person is expected to be confirmed within the next week.

Townsend will be available in mid-September “if the new Executive Director is interested in my perspective. Aside from that I’m looking in new directions for myself,” he said.