May 12, 2020
A Loss for Dixon Hall
Today, Dixon Hall mourns the loss of a member of our community. Joseph Chibala, born May 17, 1967 in the Republic of Congo, came to Dixon Hall to stay in November 2018. He resided at our men’s shelter, Schoolhouse, until April 16, 2020. On that date, Joseph underwent testing at St. Michael’s Hospital; he passed away from Covid-19 on May 8 at Etobicoke General Hospital.
Joseph spent many years in the shelter system here in Toronto. Staff who knew him remember him as a quiet man who was always very respectful to staff and other guests. Joseph has also volunteered his time for Dixon Hall in the past, supporting others in the community.
He was meticulous about his appearance and referred to himself as a proud Torontonian. Joseph was known and will be missed at the Regent Park Community Centre and at Toronto Haven. We will certainly miss his steady smile, his calm demeanour, and his gentle presence at our Schoolhouse Shelter.
Dixon Hall staff, clients, and volunteers alike will remember Joseph Chibala warmly. We ask that his family here in the city, and the Dixon Hall family be permitted to grieve this loss privately. We are proud to have served Joseph during his life, and we will strive to maintain our levels of care for the community Joseph left behind.
There are no cases of Covid-19 currently at any Dixon Hall site. And we continue to work with the City of Toronto, and Toronto Public Health to ensure the safety of our clients, staff, and community during what is a challenging and complex time for our sector.