Ed Graça Reflects on Three Decades at the Helm of the Abrigo Centre
TORONTO, June 26, 2024 − After 32 years of leading a team of 175 different employees at the Abrigo Centre, Executive Director Ed Graça was the singular consistent presence. He became the stabilizing foundation of the agency. In today’s world, it’s a rarity that one individual can place such an endearing stamp on an organization.
Yet, time stands still for no one as it was announced earlier this month that Mr. Graça will be retiring from the Abrigo Centre on Friday, June 28, 2024.
“It’s been an honour and privilege for me to be a part of the Abrigo Centre all these years,” said Ed Graça, “The agency has been an important part of my life for so long. I will always cherish the people I worked with more than anything. Particularly the staff members, all the diverse Boards of Directors and our many volunteers. I will leave with nothing but positive feelings and happy memoires despite some of the challenges we faced over the years.”
As someone who has historically shunned the spotlight, Ed Graça preferred instead to make an impact daily from behind the scenes, working quietly and diligently to ensure the agency ran as efficiently as possible and helped as many people as possible.
“I am extremely proud of our accomplishments, perhaps none more so than being named a United Way Greater Toronto Anchor Agency. But throughout this entire time, it’s never been about me, it’s always been about the we,” said Mr. Graça. “Helping the community, our team making a difference for people in need, that is nearest and dearest to my heart.”
Talks were underway in late 1989 to start Abrigo because of the demand to assist women in the Portuguese-language community who were facing gender-based violence. Mr. Graça was aware of the position, but one event in December 1989 changed his life. The mass shooting at École Polytechnique de Montréal where 14 women were murdered and another 10 injured became the turning point in Ed’s life. “If that tragedy had not happened, I probably would not have applied for the position. But I wanted my then toddler daughter and baby son to grow up in an equal and safe society. I thought that somehow I could help end the senseless violence happening to women.”
What started as a two-year commitment turned into 32 years. “What people don’t realize is that I’ve had multiple jobs over the years,” says Mr. Graca. “Yes, the title of Executive Director remained unchanged, but each year brings with it new challenges, funding, client volumes and staff issues for example. No year is ever the same. The job is fluid and dynamic. We’ve now been in three different locations and more than once I thought this agency might need to close its doors due to lack of funding.”
With the new leadership of Ms. Paula De Jesus and Mrs. Gila Raposo taking over as Co-Executive Directors of Abrigo on July 2, 2024, Mr. Graça sees a bright future for the agency. “Clearly, Paula and Gila have the background, experience, and expertise in domestic violence and other social service issues to take the reins and run with the opportunity they have. Abrigo is in good hands going forward and I know this agency’s outstanding work will continue for many years into the future.”