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The head of an organization founded in London more than 35 years ago that helps people with complex needs is being recognized with Ontario’s top civilian honour.
Brian Dunne, president and chief executive of PHSS, formerly Participation House Support Services, was among 29 people named to the Order of Ontario for 2024 on Jan. 1. The honour is “reserved for exceptional individuals who have made a lasting impact in our province, country and the world,” the province said in a news release.
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“It’s very emotional . . . I never imagined (the appointment) being something that would be attributed to me,” Dunne said. “It’s humbling.”
A London resident since 1967, Dunne, 76, has held the position of president and chief executive of PHSS since the non-profit was established in 1988 to provide in-home support for people with physical, medical and developmental needs. PHSS has grown to employ more than 750 people who support nearly 400 individuals living in 80 locations across Ontario, including London, St. Thomas and Stratford, Dunne said.
PHSS’s aim is to allow individuals with complex needs to live at home and take part in the community with friends and family. Its vision is to be a leader in community inclusion and enable people to live in healthy, caring communities.
“At the heart of it all is our vision and mission, which is really about people living well in community with the supports they need,” Dunne said.
Through the organization’s work, Dunne has heard “many interesting stories” about people “not being defined by a condition.
“Our job is to support you to be the best you can be, and make sure that your health and your well-being is also taken care of, and also . . . lifting the burden of care from families,” Dunne said.
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The provincial government described Dunne as “an innovator in the field of disabilities,” characterized by a person-centred approach “receiving international recognition as one of the most comprehensive and effective designs for community-based care and support.”
Those named to the order were announced on Jan. 1 by Edith Dumont, Ontario’s lieutenant-governor and chancellor of the Order of Ontario, with appointees representing various disciplines such as public service, medicine, skilled trades, health care and sports.
“The 2024 appointees to the Order of Ontario have enriched the lives of countless people in our province and well beyond,” Dumont said.
The appointees will be presented the honour at a ceremony in Toronto later this year.
More than 900 individuals have been appointed to the Order since it was established in 1986.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
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