North Bay soup kitchen lets executive director go

Another blow has been dealt to North Bay's beleaguered soup kitchen as long-time executive director Dennis Chippa was let go following a funding denial in October.

Dennis Chippa, long-time executive director, has been let go from The Gathering Place soup kitchen in North Bay. (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

Chippa led The Gathering Place on Cassells Street for close to nine years.

Board chairman Peter Gregory told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca on Thursday morning that The Gathering Place is looking "to go in a different direction."

He said the soup kitchen is not looking to fill the role and would not go into further details.

"I have a lot of respect for the board and its decision. I know it wasn’t easy, but they have the best interests of The Gathering Place in mind," Chippa told CTV News in a written statement following his dismissal.

"It’s a new direction and they want to have a new voice for that direction and I respect that."

Struggling financially

In August, The Gathering Place decided to reduce the number of meals it offers to one per day instead of three due to major financial struggles.

The Gathering Place soup kitchen in North Bay. (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

The decision came at a time when donations dried up and both the cost of food and client numbers skyrocketed.

A major misstep was not paying remittance to Revenue Canada, the board admitted.

The money owed related to payroll, Gregory confirmed, meaning the organization was withholding income tax from employees, but not sending it the government.

He would not comment on the amount that was owed.

To fix the problem and make ends meet, The Gathering Place refinanced its building.

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In September, a delegation from the soup kitchen approached the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) requesting $140,000 in funding.

The social services agency denied the request and DNSSAB chairman Mark King said it was because the soup kitchen didn't produce required financial documents in time.

King said the agency asked to see statements to justify The Gathering Place’s operation. The decision not to provide the money was supported by almost all the DNSSAB board members.

Last month, Gregory said the board started to look at bringing other people on board with financial expertise to help the soup kitchen find ways to raise money.