Fresh faces take on leadership of social services admin board

The board that oversees social housing, daycare, paramedics and other vital services has voted for its new chair, Stephanie Hopkin, and vice chair Angela Caputo.

The District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) voted for new leadership after former chair Luke Dufour reached the four-year limit of his term.

Hopkin has been a member of the DSSAB since being acclaimed in August 2022. For about 10 years, she has been working in marketing, communications and public relations within the province's Ministry of Tourism, with prior time at the Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as four years in the office of former mayor Debbie Amaroso.

She will now act as chair for the social services administration board that oversees a number of important files.

“It’s been a big honour to be a part of those portfolios," Hopkin said by phone on Monday. "I am learning all about the homelessness portfolio, seeing the transition of Ontario Works, the child care piece has been huge and then of course the work we do with EMS, which has been a really big priority with us, as well."

Ward 3 councillor Angela Caputo will take on the role of vice-chair.

Hopkin currently sits on the board of directors for the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie and will be moving from her current role as treasurer of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario into its vice-president role.

Hopkin said she looks forward to applying her experience to the housing and homelessness portfolio. 

"A healthy community is a community worth visiting and spending time and money in. I think from a social services lens, that is what we are consistently trying to do is to build a healthy community for our residents and our visitors," said Hopkin. “The housing and homelessness portfolio is definitely at the forefront of everyone’s mind and it will be for me, continuing the affordable home ownership program is a big priority."

Hopkin takes over the chair role from Ward 2 councillor Luke Dufour, who has held it for the past four years.

Dufour said he is proud to have overseen a number of successful projects during that time, including the low-income homeownership pilot, the DSSAB's diversification into market-based rentals and the total overhaul of the local shelter system.

“Today, both our men’s and women’s shelter are in newly renovated buildings and also have transition housing attached to them, which they’ve never had before and the Comunity Resource Centre has been totally reborn, complete with a lot of the health care supports that are really going to drive their success in the future," said Dufour.