The head of Windsor's largest homeless shelter will have the "interim" title removed from her name.
The Downtown Mission announced Monday that Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin has been named the permanent executive director. She had been serving in that role since November 2021, when the Reverend Ron Dunn left to pursue an opportunity in eastern Canada.
“It's been an absolute honour and pleasure to work alongside the Mission's incredible team of staff and volunteers in my role as Interim Executive Director and getting to know them, as well as our community partners, and more importantly, the people we serve," said Ponniah-Goulin in a media release. "I look forward to continuing working with these amazing individuals as we move forward into this next chapter of providing service and care to those who are most vulnerable in our community."
Mission board chairperson Michele McGregor said the appointment was a reward for continuing to provide benefits for Windsor's vulnerable.
"Under Rukshini's leadership these past few months, the Mission continued to serve our community as well as work with other organizations to enhance services," said McGregor. "Rukshini's vision is shared with the board of directors in building positive relationships within the community while continuing to genuinely care for those who we serve."
Ponniah-Goulin has been working with the Mission since 2016, first as the director of its Distress Centre and Enterprise Program. In the fall of 2017, she took over as the Mission's director of development and was in charge of fundraising. She held onto that role until being named interim executive director last fall.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the continued rise of Windsor's homeless population continue to bring challenges to the Mission, which will completely vacate its Victoria Avenue building this summer after being sold. The Mission continues to function at 875 Ouellette Avenue and 1247 Wyandotte Street East.
