Our Mission
Sharing, Learning, and Growing.
Together.
Our Mission
Following the example of Jesus, Oasis exists to foster relationships among diverse community members who join together to meet physical, relational, emotional and spiritual hunger.
Oasis is a unique and diverse community. Centred in the Dufferin and Dupont neighbourhood of central west Toronto, it attracts people from all over the city. Founded and governed by Christians, it welcomes people of all faiths or no faith. Serving people, Oasis has learned that we all have profound needs that are met by and with each other. Members of all social, economic and cultural communities join together to share, learn and grow together.
The traditional labels applied to Oasis community members dissolve as we discover that we all have needs and we all have gifts to contribute to the community. By sharing we learn. By learning we can grow as individuals and as a diverse and welcoming community. Growing enables us to better share with and teach each other.
Oasis Dufferin Community Centre began with a burden placed on founder Phyllis Ortiz' heart. As a returning missionary, she saw the need for immigrants coming to Canada — a need for a community centre as a place of refreshment and meeting emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.
The doors opened in 1994 and the first classes of hairdressing, crafts, E.S.L., and the food bank had their humble beginnings. The Board of Directors was formed and Oasis was incorporated with a charitable status.
Since then Oasis has grown and has had an impact on numerous lives.
“I learned that being heard and listened to is a basic need for people. ”