Community Living Ontario is inviting students and classes to participate in a contest where students can send individual stories or poems and classes can submit a video that show why it’s better when everyone learns together including students with an intellectual or developmental disability.  The intent is to have students to begin thinking about inclusion and start a conversation about how a diverse class offers a better educational experience for all students.

Winners can win some exciting prizes including resources for the classroom, a pizza party, a tablet (for individual entries) and more!

The deadline to submit is Tuesday January 28, 2020

Community Living Toronto’s AGM

With Special Guest, Minister Todd Smith

On September 26th, Community Living Toronto hosted our 71st Annual General Meeting at the Alliance Francaise. With over a hundred people in attendance including Association members, staff, families, self-advocates and other DS agencies, we were pleased to welcome our guest speaker for the event, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Todd Smith.

Also the MPP for Bay of Quinte riding, Minister Smith spoke to attendees about how Community Living agencies across the province and the work that we collectively do are close to his heart because his wife, who is now a school teacher, used to work at her local Community Living agency. Because of this, he knows first-hand the impact that we have on the lives of the people we support, and he was eager to visit us when he recently took over as Minister of MCCSS.

Minister Smith also commented on the Ministry’s decision to once again provide stabilization funding to the sector for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, which is a positive sign that the Ministry is understanding the challenges that our sector faces. Stabilization funding will go a long way in helping us to continue to provide quality supports and services to individuals and families. After concluding his remarks, Minister Smith was presented with a piece of artwork from Creative Village Studio as a token of thanks.

To close the business portion of the meeting, outgoing Board Chair Victor Figueiredo and CEO Brad Saunders delivered an update on strategic priorities and program direction, and retiring Directors, Judith Andrenacci and Donna Britten (absent) were presented with gifts for their contributions. Lastly, our Annual Report for 2018-2019 was unveiled and we are proud to share it on our website, here.

We are also pleased to welcome incoming Board Chair, Susan Silma as well as returning Directors Victor Figueiredo (Past Chair), Michael Challes (Treasurer), Emory Gilbert, Laura Parsonson, Valerie Picher, Edward Lau, Nelson Raposo, Nick Macrae, Donald Hale and Stephen Andrews.

Ask your staff or family for help to decide who to vote for. Remember it is YOUR decision. Find out who your MP is in your riding who stands up for things important to you.

You can get support if you need it to go vote:                         

Election Day Monday October 21, 9:30am—9:30pm                        

Advance polls: October 11, 12, 13, 14 , 9am—9pm.

For information on where to vote, please contact your Membership Coordinator:  

· Etobicoke and Central:   Eric Laimer | elaimer@cltoronto.ca

· North York:                       Wendy Dyke | wdyke@cltoronto.ca

· Scarborough:                    Felicita Zanatta | fzanatta@cltoronto.ca 

Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) is an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of Disability Employment Awareness Month is to promote employment inclusion for people with disabilities and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. NDEAM (a federal initiative celebrated in the U.S. every October since 1945), is gaining traction in Canada with a number of provinces proclaiming October as Disability Employment Month. Reflecting this year’s theme, (Inclusive Workplace Cultures), CASE will be engaging in a variety of promotional activities to raise public awareness of disability employment issues and the role that everyone plays in fostering a disability-friendly work culture. We want to spread the important message that a strong workforce is one inclusive of the skills and talents of all individuals, including people with disabilities. CASE sees DEAM as an excellent opportunity for Employment Service Providers and Canadian Employers to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to Canadians with disabilities and to help promote employment inclusion in our country.

DEAM in the News 

“I am excited by the progress we are making to improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities. We are working hard to ensure all Canadians have equal access and opportunities in their communities and workplace. An inclusive Canada is good for employers and good for business, and by working together, I know we can improve the lives of all Canadians.”
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

Government of Canada News Release: Government of Canada Highlights National Disability Employment Awareness Month 

Government of Saskatchewan News Release: Province Declares Disability Employment Awareness Month in October

Government of Ontario News Release: Government of Ontario Recognizes Disability Employment Awareness Month

Government of British Columbia News Release: Creating Opportunities;Disability Employment Month

City of Calgary: Official Proclamation of October as Disability Employment Awareness Month

Global Calgary News: October is Disability Employment Awareness Month

The Globe and Mail (Michael Prince): Canadians with disabilities need real work, real pay, real leadership 

Resources

Download the PDF version of Donor Dollars in Action Fall 2019 edition! Or contact your local Membership Coordinator if you would like a printed copy!

Introducing our 2019 Annual Report!