Board of Directors, Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS)

Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS) is a not for profit Legal Aid clinic providing poverty law services. DVCLS was incorporated in April 2019 following the amalgamation of East Toronto Community Legal Services (incorporated in 1978) and Flemingdon Community Legal Services (incorporated in 1983). DVCLS is one of 70 Legal Aid clinics in the Province of Ontario. The Clinic provides free legal services for low-income people living in the area bounded by Lake Ontario in the South to York Mills / 401 in the North and from Yonge Street / Don River in the West to Victoria Park Avenue in the East. Most poverty law matters involve proceedings before government bureaucracies or administrative tribunals, not courts. Poverty law matters are often of overwhelming significance to the individuals and groups affected.

DVCLS is funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) and governed by an independent, volunteer Board of Directors, who are responsible for clinic governance including clinic administration, personnel management, financial management, the determination of legal services to be provided (both the areas of law to be provided and the methods or strategies to be used), and the evaluation of services. The Board is the employer of the clinic’s lawyers, paralegals, community legal workers and administrative staff. The day-to-day management of each clinic is the responsibility of the Clinic’s Executive Director and Director of Legal Services. The Board Directors are drawn from residents of the catchment area, community agencies and partners.

Clinic operations :

• The clinic operates out of two offices in the catchment area; the North Office at 1 Leaside Park Drive, the South Office operates out of the Ralph Thornton Community Centre at 785 Queen Street East – The North office will be shut down at the end of August 2024 and the clinic will relocate to the Thorncliffe Hub in the latter part of 2024.
• The clinic provides representation in poverty law matters, serving persons of modest income in the catchment area on an individual, case-by-case basis
• The clinic serves as a community legal resource by providing outreach, legal education and community organizing to agencies, individuals, and community groups.
• The clinic attempts to balance the casework of individuals with its role as an agent of law reform in respect of test case or greater impact litigation, and novel areas of law.
• The clinic is responsive to the diverse cultural mixes in our catchment area.
• The clinic networks with other agencies in the community to link clients with community services and is a known and trusted resource within the community.
• The clinic endeavours to engage the community in the identification and assessment of its legal needs (Public Legal Education).

We are currently seeking three new Board members including persons with expertise in Accounting, Community Development, Human Resources and Communications.

At DVCLS diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Our commitment to these values is unwavering in our service to our clients, with our employees, community partners and stakeholders. All individuals are treated with dignity and respect.