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Champion of affordable housing loses battle with breast cancer

Jan 26

Written by: admin
1/26/2012 

Rima Zavys gave a voice to those who didn't have one.

A devoted wife and mother of two young sons, Zavys was a dedicated advocate for safe, affordable housing as well as for the rights of those with mental health issues and developmental disabilities.

The longtime east-end resident lost her year-long battle with breast cancer Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the age of 45.

For the past 16 years, Zavys worked for WoodGreen Community Services in a range of roles from manager of housing to manager of neighbourhood development and onto director of that department where she developed the east-end agency's housing help and homelessness programs. She also led WoodGreen's mental health and development services.

"Her impact on the most needy groups in our city has been quite remarkable," said Brian Smith, who has served as WoodGreen's president and CEO since 1978.

A committed and focused individual who knew what was needed to get the job done without drawing attention to herself, Smith said Zavys had a special place in her heart for society's most marginalized but was also able to relate to the "higher ups" and get her message across.

"We all learned so much from Rima. We're quite fortunate we have people who will continue in the same stream Rima has given us and they will carry on her work," said Smith, adding many of Zavys' former colleagues saw her as a true mentor.

"We'll really miss her work, her dedication and her personality. She had so much knowledge."

On a personal note, Smith said his friend and longtime colleague made an extra effort to spend quality time with her husband and sons in the last year, even when she was working full-time and undergoing cancer treatment.

"She still wanted to live her life to the fullest and enjoy her family," said Smith, who spoke at Zavys funeral service.

"She wanted her boys to have lasting memories of their mother. She dedicated all the time she could to her family."

He said despite taking an extended sick leave in June, Zavys still wanted to know what was happening at WoodGreen.

"It was important for her to stay in touch. She had dedicated so much of her life to these issues," Smith said, adding Zavys was a private individual who didn't want her leave publicized.

"We didn't even know until a few days before her death that she was so seriously ill. It's been a tough week."

Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher worked with Zavys several times over the years and was a strong supporter of Zavys' social justice efforts.

"She had a deep understanding and respect for people who found themselves in difficult circumstances," said the Toronto-Danforth representative.

"Rima had a tremendously lovely quality about her of acceptance, a quiet understanding and people really did trust her. She was very, very special."

Early in her career, Zavys worked diligently to secure safe, affordable housing for those displaced by a deadly fire in December 1989 at the former Rupert Hotel near Queen and Parliament streets.

In September 2002, she was one of the first people the city's Affordable Housing Office contacted when more than 100 "Tent City" residents were evicted from their makeshift homes at the foot of Parliament Street.

"It was quite an intense period of time. Many of those individuals we still support today," Smith said.

Sean Gadon, director of the city's Affordable Housing Office, worked with Zavys for more than a decade on a range of housing issues.

"Rima knew the kinds of solutions needed to help displaced people. She was a leader in the housing-first approach in Toronto," he said.

"She was a central character in the re-housing of the Tent City residents. We wanted to find permanent solutions and Rima was a part of those early meetings."

Gadon said Zavys' work embodied her commitment to meet the needs and respect the rights of the most vulnerable people in society.

"She felt people should be treated equally and with respect regardless of their situation," he said, adding Zavys has left behind a legacy for all to follow.

"As a person, she was both compassionate and effective. The lives of many in our city have been transformed because of her work."

Beric German, co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, sat on a committee with Zavys when Tent City was dismantled.

"I'm quite sad she is gone. She was a person who had a lot of knowledge and caring," he said.

"She got down to business and ensured that serving the people of Tent City was done in a practical manner. Many Tent City residents feel affection for Rima."

German said Zavys understood the supports needed to help marginalized individuals, especially those struggling with addictions and mental health issues.

"We've lost a leader and a good friend," he said.

Zavys also played a huge role in advocating for the eradication of bed bug infestations.

"Rima took it on. She worked hard to give those people a voice and raise the issue with (Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike) Colle at the provincial level," said Smith, crediting Zavys for making bug bugs an issue all are aware of today.

In September 2010, Colle held the first Bed Bug Summit in Canada at Queen's Park inviting front line stakeholders involved in the battle to eradicate the creatures to give their recommendations and share best practices on how to deal with the problem.

Two months later, he called on the provincial and federal governments to adopt a comprehensive strategy to address bedbug infestations.

Zavys, recognized internationally for her expertise on the topic, was heavily involved throughout the process.

"She was my right-hand person. Rima was one of the most impressive people I've ever met," said Colle, who said he was honoured to share a few thoughts at Zavys' funeral service.

"Her intelligence, her understanding, her effectiveness was really second to none. It's remarkable what she did and what she achieved."

Colle said he was so struck by Zavys' ability to understand an issue and quickly get to the solution that he felt she would have been the ideal person to lead the province's public health initiatives.

"She was so personable and she really deeply, deeply cared. She is irreplaceable."

Colle had tried to contact Zavys a few weeks ago to help plan a follow-up meeting on beg bug eradication efforts in the province but was upset to learn she was on sick leave.

"I was eager for Rima to play a key role. She was instrumental," he said.

Fletcher also recognized Zavys' "fierce advocacy" for those struggling with bed bug infestations.

"She felt passionately about them and had empathy for their plight. The (Toronto) Board of Health felt honoured to have worked with her," said Fletcher, who is currently serving as a committee member.

In recent years, Zavys was instrumental in helping transform the former New Edwin Hotel near Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue into a transitional, supportive residence for 28 street-involved and homeless men aged 55-plus called First Step to Home.

This innovative concept, which provides safe and affordable housing as well as on-site health and other support services, is the first of its kind in North America.

"She was a leader in terms of helping create the First Step to Home model. She spent a lot of time trying to move that forward," said Smith, adding WoodGreen is still in talks with the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing about how to expand this model and help even more people.

On a larger scale, Zavys was involved in several housing and agency capacity building initiatives in Lithuania, Latvia and Armenia. She also coordinated a North American forum on rooming house issues.

Zavys is survived by her husband Dan Cox as well as her sons Nathan and Kalan and her mother, Stace Zavys.

A celebration of Zavys' life took place Saturday, Jan. 21 at First Unitarian Church on St. Clair Avenue West.

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