Across our city, more than 140 emergency and homelessness programs operate 24/7, supporting over 10,000 people each day with safe shelter, essential services, and compassionate care.

This work is made possible by dedicated and skilled staff whose empathy and commitment support some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents every day. Especially during the winter months, your work is critical and deeply appreciated.

Emergency Shelter and Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week runs from January 19–25, 2026. In partnership with the City of Toronto, we invite you to join a series of virtual events created to celebrate you, support your well-being, and recognize the impact of your work.

CN Tower Lighting

In celebration of Emergency Shelter and Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week, CN Tower will be illuminated in blue and white on January 19th! A standard light show will grace the tower's pinnacle every hour beginning at sunset for 5 minutes, with additional displays on the half-hour mark.

Catch the spectacular lighting on CN Tower’s live webcam at https://www.cntower.ca/live-views

Toronto Sign Light up

The 3D Toronto Sign will also be lit in blue and white on January 19th, and it will stay on throughout the day.

Emergency Shelter and Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Session with Chris Leonard - January 20

This interactive session offers space to come together, reflect, recharge, and celebrate the incredible work you do. Chris Leonard brings an engaging and inspiring perspective that promises to make this a meaningful and energizing experience.

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Microsoft Teams

Virtual Sound Bath Session Presented by Pause and Expand- january 21

This calming session is designed to provide a moment of rest, grounding, and renewal. Join us for an opportunity to pause, breathe, and care for your own well-being amid the important work you do each day.

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Microsoft Teams

Trauma-Informed Practices Webinar with Katherine Hambleton- january 22

This session will explore trauma-informed approaches that support both staff well-being and the individuals we serve. Katherine, a paramedic, brings extensive experience and insight, and this discussion will strongly reflect the compassion, complexity, and care at the heart of your work.

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Microsoft Teams

Meet the Frontlines

We spoke with staff across the homelessness sector about their work, and we’re proud to showcase the incredible impact of homelessness and shelter workers throughout the sector.

Meet Julian:

Julian’s journey with The Scott Mission is one of resilience, compassion, and lifelong service. Originally arriving in Canada as a refugee from Colombia, Julian first encountered The Scott Mission as someone in need. Through interpretation services and access to the food bank, the organization supported him as he began building a new life in Canada. That experience would become the foundation for a career dedicated to supporting others experiencing homelessness.

Julian joined The Scott Mission as a support worker and, in 2007, transitioned into a full-time front-line counselor role, where he worked closely with shelter residents for many years. In 2019, he became Shelter Manager, followed by Director of Shelter and Respite in 2023. As of October 2025, Julian now serves as Senior Director of Operations, providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure high-quality, client-centred shelter services.

In his current role, Julian no longer works directly on the front lines, but his impact is felt throughout the shelter every day. He collaborates closely with the Shelter Manager and leadership team to identify opportunities to improve service delivery and to ensure residents’ needs and concerns are addressed with dignity and care. He also attends monthly house meetings with residents, creating space for open dialogue, feedback, and shared problem-solving. This open-door approach reinforces a culture of trust, transparency, and respect.

With over 20 years of experience in the homelessness sector, Julian has learned alongside key partners such as ARO, TSSSQA, TSN, IDEA, and other strategic collaborators. What continues to inspire him most is witnessing the transformation that can occur when people are met with compassion. Many guests arrive at the shelter exhausted, emotional, and broken from the experience of homelessness. Seeing their relief at simply having a safe place to sleep, and later watching them leave with renewed hope and stability is deeply meaningful. Knowing that the shelter played even a small role in helping someone turn their life around is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work.

Julian’s motivation to work in the homelessness sector is rooted in his personal history. Growing up around alcoholism, he developed a deep desire to help people affected by substance use and life instability. Today, rising levels of homelessness reinforce the urgency of the work. While the needs continue to grow, Julian believes compassion must grow even greater. By meeting immediate needs such as food and shelter, the team can then support longer-term healing through medical care, counselling, and spiritual care.

Data also plays a vital role in shaping shelter services. Regular resident and staff surveys help identify gaps and guide meaningful improvements, from culturally respectful meal planning to staff scheduling changes that have significantly reduced turnover. Data-informed decisions have helped create a more welcoming, trauma-informed environment, reduced service restrictions, and strengthened relationships between staff and residents. Yet, Julian is clear: no metric will ever outweigh the value of human connection.

At its core, Julian believes the work of shelters is about advocacy, humility, speaking for those who cannot, caring for those who feel forgotten, and breaking cycles of pain rather than perpetuating them. During Emergency Shelter and Homelessness Service Worker Appreciation Week, Julian’s story is a powerful reminder that shelters are not just places of refuge, but spaces of hope, transformation, and renewed possibility for both those who seek help and those who are called to serve.