“You are a great team. I wish you all the best of luck and thank you so much for the happiness you bring back to my family.”
WIAF: An organization that acts on your behalf
Since 1966, the West Island Assistance Fund has been a lifeline for vulnerable individuals and families in our community. What began as an emergency aid initiative has grown into one of the region’s most trusted community service organizations, focused on food security, dignity, and practical support.
What We Do
Food Security
Our food bank provides weekly food baskets and emergency assistance to thousands of residents each year. Our community thrift store reinforces this work by offering quality items at low cost, with all revenues reinvested directly into our programs.
Basic Needs Support
We offer free or affordable clothing and essential household items to help families rebuild stability and independence.
Community Programs
- Annual free income tax clinics for low-income residents
- A community kitchen program teaching practical cooking and budgeting skills
- The Garden Of Hope collective garden, which grows fresh produce and provides free educational activities for nearby summer day camps serving underprivileged children
- School supply distribution to support children from struggling families
- Holiday toy and food baskets programs for individuals and families in need
- “We Got Your Back” offering basic essentials and comfort kits to people experiencing homelessness
- Ensemble Vers Demain, a support group for recently arrived immigrant women—many of them single mothers—helping them build networks and access resources
Advocacy & Impact
The WIAF advocates and takes an active role in the fight to reduce food insecurity. We recognize that long-term food security begins with better access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for those in need. We advocate for policies, partnerships, and community action that address the root causes of poverty and strengthen the social safety net for vulnerable families across the West Island.
Our Impact
Nearly sixty years after our founding, the West Island Assistance Fund now distributes close to $2 million in goods and services each year, as assistance requests have more than doubled since the beginning of the pandemic. Rooted in compassion and community, we remain a vital safety net and a pillar of solidarity for those who need it most.
Vision
Working towards the elimination of the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition in the West Island by focusing on the quality of our services and promoting the autonomy of our members.
Culture
Equity
Provide food, clothing and furniture to our community, as well as services supporting autonomy
01
Compassion
Support and encourage the development of initiatives that meet the essential needs of the community
02
Trust
Support and encourage cooperation between those that work towards the wellbeing of the community
03
Respect
Offer services that promote the autonomy of our members
04
Meet the team
We’re a team made up of volunteers and hard workers passionate about fighting food insecurity within the West Island community.
Having lived in Pierrefonds all his life Nicholas wanted to give back to those in need in his community. With a background in Economics, he brings his love of stats and numbers as well as a smile to the WIAF. Known as the « jack of all trades » or « homme a tout faire » he is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs.
At WIAF, Dillimah handles our customer service and is our main contact at the office. Her biggest accomplishment is knowing that she is there to help put food on our clients’ tables. Hearing their genuine gratitude warms her heart and makes her want to keep going. Not only does she handle day to day of the office, but she is our in house accounting specialist and makes sure everything always runs smoothly. We would be lost without her!
Lucky for us Connie joined the WIAF Team in April 2025, and fit in right away! Connie ironically, is an avid thrifter; what a fit! Her previous 30 plus year career was primarily in corporate credit and collections, but in the past few years, she reinvented herself several times in areas very new to her. These new experiences have helped her learn and turned her into a stronger version of herself.
She is eager to work with the WIAF team, sharing her experiences and learning along the way. If you pop by the thrift anytime soon you can see Connie’s style and influence already in full display in the store.
She is eager to work with the WIAF team, sharing her experiences and learning along the way. If you pop by the thrift anytime soon you can see Connie’s style and influence already in full display in the store.
Board members
Chantal possède plus de 25 ans d’expérience en leadership de haut niveau dans les secteurs philanthropique et communautaire. Sa carrière est dédiée au renforcement d’organisations qui soutiennent les personnes et les familles en situation de vulnérabilité. Elle est largement reconnue pour son expertise en gouvernance, transformation organisationnelle, développement philanthropique et leadership exécutif dans des environnements communautaires complexes.
Throughout her career, Chantal has served as Executive Director to numerous foundations and community organizations active in areas such as food security, mental health, housing, healthcare, and social inclusion. She has led major fundraising initiatives totaling tens of millions of dollars, mobilized multidisciplinary teams, and overseen organizations with diversified funding models and significant operational and real estate complexity.
Gregory M. C. Orleski est président du conseil d’administration du FDOI (Fonds d’aide de l’Ouest-de-l’Île) et apporte plus de 25 ans d’expérience à des postes de haute direction, au cours desquels il a accompagné des organisations dans leur croissance, leur transformation et les moments où leurs responsabilités se sont accrues.
Dirigeant d’entreprise formé en droit, Gregory a consacré sa carrière à l’intersection de la stratégie, de la gouvernance et de l’exécution, en soutenant des initiatives qui exigent une gestion rigoureuse, une prise de décision claire et une harmonisation entre les personnes, les partenaires financiers et les institutions. Il est largement reconnu pour son style de leadership pragmatique, son jugement sûr et sa capacité à rassembler des parties prenantes diverses autour d’un objectif commun.
L’une des principales forces du leadership de Gregory réside dans sa capacité à établir des relations de confiance et des partenariats avec les gouvernements, les institutions publiques, les fondations et les organisations communautaires, contribuant ainsi à traduire une intention commune en actions durables. Son travail vise systématiquement à garantir une bonne gestion des ressources, la pérennité des partenariats et la réalisation des missions avec intégrité et impact.
Au sein de la FDOI, Gregory contribue à diriger l’organisation à travers une expansion significative, en renforçant la gouvernance et en soutenant les efforts de collecte de fonds et de partenariat afin que l’organisation puisse atteindre davantage de personnes et de familles confrontées à l’insécurité alimentaire, aux difficultés financières et à l’isolement social.
Bilingue en français et en anglais, Gregory vit dans l’Ouest-de-l’Île depuis plus de 25 ans. Son attachement de longue date à la communauté et son engagement en faveur d’un leadership collaboratif guident son travail pour veiller à ce que FDOI continue de se développer de manière responsable et bienveillante, au service de ceux qui en ont le plus besoin.
Harry est actif dans la communauté depuis 1975. Lorsqu’il n’aide pas notre banque alimentaire, il aime faire du bénévolat à la journée de Roxboro et être entraîneur de hockey et de soccer. Le dévouement des bénévoles et des membres du conseil d’administration est ce qui le touche le plus à propos de le FDOI.
Shant Kancachian est un professionnel chevronné qui possède une vaste expérience dans les secteurs liés aux organisations commerciales et aux organismes à but non lucratif. Titulaire d’un baccalauréat en génie (B.Eng) et d’un MBA de l’Université McGill, il a acquis une solide expertise en gestion financière, ayant travaillé en qualité de prêteur commercial et de contrôleur dans divers milieux d’affaires. Sa compréhension approfondie de l’exploitation des entreprises et des éléments de stratégie financière lui a permis de contribuer efficacement au succès des organisations avec lesquelles il a collaboré.
La passion de Shant pour le développement communautaire l’a amené à s’ancrer dans le secteur lié aux organismes à but non lucratif, où il a occupé le poste de directeur général d’une école alternative axée sur des modèles éducatifs novateurs. Son leadership dans ce rôle a permis de stimuler la croissance de la population étudiante et de créer des opportunités pour elle dans un environnement d’apprentissage unique. Par ailleurs, Shant a également travaillé comme commissaire à l’économie sociale, collaborant avec des organismes à but non lucratif de l’Ouest-de-l’Île pour obtenir des subventions et soutenir des projets communautaires d’envergure.
Fort d’un sens aigu des affaires et résolu à favoriser les retombées sociales, Shant entreprend ses projets en mettant à profit sa riche expérience et sa vision stratégique dans le but d’aider les organisations à atteindre leurs objectifs financiers tout en étant des vecteurs de changement positif au sein de leurs communautés.
Yves has been doing volunteer work in the community almost his whole life. Starting by coaching in both hockey and soccer for many years, co-organizer of a foot race in Cap St Jacques for almost 20 years and has done multitudes zoo therapy visits in hospitals and schools with his dog Nilan. He is especially proud of being a small part of helping those in need by being a board member of the West Island assistance fund since 2018 and hopefully for many more years.
