This year’s Award Recipient is –

Bryan Keshen, CEO of REENA.

Bryan has provided effective leadership not only for Reena but the whole DS sector for several years. He supports a team of more than 700 employees, providing services to over 1,000 individuals with diverse disabilities in over 36 locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Bryan serves as Chair of the OASIS Housing Working Group and has also taken lead roles with The Toronto Developmental Services Alliance (TDSA), the Provincial Network, ONTrac and other sector leadership tables.

Bryan has effectively advocated with governments on behalf of the sector and holds several volunteer roles outside of the sector in support of and advocating for individuals to have equitable access to healthcare, affordable housing, and service. He is the founding chair of the Intentional Community Consortium (ICC) which is dedicated to developing housing across Ontario for people with developmental disabilities.

Bryan is the co-chair of the Western York Region Ontario Health Team, the first DS leader to be appointed to this role in the province. Bryan sits on both the Mackenzie Health President’s Advisory Committee and the Vaughan and York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Bryan will use the award to collaborate with an outstanding leader or leaders in Healthcare Systems planning and consulting to create a “Blueprint Paper” on how to assist DS organizations to partner effectively with Ontario Health Teams and the broader healthcare system in their locations which will lead to a presentation at the 2024 OASIS Conference.

Mazal Tov – Congratulation, Bryan.