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What we do at ITPC

ITPC Durham Social is dedicated to making a profound impact on the lives of underprivileged individuals by fostering a sense of community engagement and support within the local area. The organization’s core mission revolves around addressing the needs of newcomers and families who are struggling, by providing them with essential resources and opportunities. Through their efforts, ITPC aims to create meaningful change and enhance the quality of life for those who are less fortunate.

The vision of ITPC extends beyond immediate assistance; it seeks to tackle broader social issues by implementing programs and services that address pressing social challenges. By focusing on reducing inequalities, ITPC strives to achieve positive social outcomes. Their approach includes advocacy and a range of initiatives designed to promote fairness and inclusivity in society.

As a not-for-profit social enterprise, ITPC offers a variety of free services across several critical areas. These include health, employment, civic engagement, legal assistance, political rights, and language support. By providing these essential services at no cost, ITPC helps ensure that all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, have access to the support they need to thrive.

The organization is guided by a commitment to accessibility and equity, with a goal of making services available to all members of Canadian society. This includes efforts to raise awareness and empower individuals, particularly focusing on women and seniors in the Durham region. ITPC offers comprehensive support that spans social, economic, educational, medical, financial, and settlement needs, aiming to uplift these communities and help them navigate various challenges effectively.

Our Vision

The inception of the initiative can be traced back to a Worker Cooperative Development Project, which received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This project was executed by the Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counseling Centre of Durham, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering diverse women within the community.

The project began with a series of workshops focused on the concept and benefits of worker cooperatives. These workshops aimed to educate participants about the cooperative model, which emphasizes collective ownership and democratic decision-making. During these early sessions, a number of women, who were already equipped with language skills and interpretation certifications, expressed a keen interest in contributing to this community-centered service initiative.

These women, motivated by a shared commitment to community service and the potential of the cooperative model, were not only enthusiastic but also possessed the expertise necessary for the initiative’s success. As a result, the project quickly gained momentum, and it wasn’t long before more than 20 women, proficient in 10 different languages, came together with a strong desire to join the cooperative.

This growing interest and the diverse linguistic capabilities of the participants led to the formation of the 'Interpreters and Translators Platform Co-operative Inc.' The cooperative was officially incorporated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, marking the formal establishment of a new entity dedicated to providing interpretation and translation services through a cooperative model. This incorporation signified a significant step forward in leveraging the collective skills and passions of its members to deliver valuable services to the community.