Dennis Chippa, a highly respected North Bay community leader will take over the reins of the Gathering Place as its new Executive Director.
Chippa will replace the outgoing Executive Director Jill Clark who is retiring on June 30th.
Jill has been the public face of the Gathering Place since January of 2009; providing steady leadership to our staff, volunteers and the Board as we navigate the daily complexities of food insecurity and poverty itself,” stated the Gathering Place stated in a release Thursday afternoon.
“Her final project on the Board’s behalf was to coordinate the capital campaign to raise the $800,000 needed to purchase and renovate a new location so that we can serve our neighbours in need more effectively.”
The Gathering Place announced back in March that they will be moving from the Algonquin avenue location to a new facility on Cassells Street.
See that story here: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/gathering-place-on-the-move-269168
Chippa will take on his new position with the Gathering Place on June 1st where he will work alongside Clark for one month.
“The Board believes that Dennis is an excellent choice for this position and we look forward to working with him in the years to come,” the Gathering Place added in the release.
Meantime, for Chippa this is an exciting new opportunity.
“I feel like things have come full circle,” noted Chippa who was an original member of the Gathering Place Board of Directors back in 2002.
“I certainly feel some pressure to ensure the doors stay open here but it’s a good pressure. I am really excited to get started,” added Chippa who received the Order of Ontario earlier this year.
See the Chippa Order of Ontario story here: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/local-man-invested-into-order-of-ontario-86755
