When Mel turned 6, my mom worked hard to have him educated. She took him to an elementary school in East York where she was told that Mel could not attend. She wouldn’t take no for an answer and wouldn’t leave, until the principal agreed. However, he only agreed if she stayed in the class everyday. I’m sure he thought … Read More
PRESS RELEASE: Non-Profit Awards Program Honours Trailblazers Highlighting Inclusivity, Creativity and Ability in Ontario
For Immediate Release//Toronto, Ontario, July 20, 2023 Celebrating the people and organizations making a positive impact on the 100,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families living in Ontario, Community Living Ontario’s (CLO) Inspiring Possibilities Awards are now open for nominations. Winners will have the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony in-person at CLO’s Inspiring Possibilities AGM & Conference, happening in Ottawa September 27-29. The awards will be presented by CBC personality and keynote speaker Ali Hassan. “Honouring trailblazers through our Inspiring Possibilities … Read More
Celebrating 70 Years of Community Living Part Six: A Place at the Table — Self-Advocacy
by Gord Kyle “We are the Association for the M——- R——-,” a board member exclaimed angrily, referring to the name of Community Living Ontario at the time. “We are not the Association of the M——- R——-.” Some others in the room nodded in confused agreement. It was a bewildering time for Community Living. Not everyone understood or agreed with the … Read More
Celebrating 70 Years of Community Living Part Five: Unraveling the Harm of Institutions
by Gord Kyle Note: In the last article in this series, we looked back at the work done by community living to close the government operated institutions. In this article we will look at the work we continue to do to unravel the harm that institutional systems and thinking have done and continue to do to people who have an … Read More
Recapping Community Living Ontario’s 2023 Day at the Legislature
Photo by Louis Thomas After a four year hiatus, Community Living Ontario (CLO) welcomed the return of our annual Day at the Legislature event on Wednesday, May 10th. This event presented an opportunity for CLO and our member organizations to meet with elected officials in the spirit of connection and collaboration. We would first like to sincerely thank the Honourable … Read More
Celebrating 70 Years of Community Living Part Four: Closing the Institutions
by Gord Kyle For most people, highway 400 was a marvel. Travellers remembered all too well what it had been like before it was built, crawling their way out of Toronto to cottage country through the endless towns and villages along the winding stretches of Yonge Street. But 400 changed that. As the first controlled highway in the province, it … Read More
PRESS RELEASE: COMMUNITY LIVING MONTH HIGHLIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS AND INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TORONTO, ON, April 27, 2023 — This May, Community Living Ontario (CLO) leads the celebration for “Community Living Month.” An annual, province-wide awareness campaign, Community Living Month promotes authentic inclusion for the more than 100,000 people in Ontario who have an intellectual disability and their families. People with an intellectual disability (which includes diagnoses such as Autism, … Read More
Celebrating Seventy Years of Community Living Part Three: Ensuring Real Work for Real Pay
by Gord Kyle By 1980, workers at the ARC industries in Carleton Place had waited as long as they were willing to wait. Their calls for better pay had not been listened to and action was needed. Sixteen workers walked out to press their demands, holding a much-publicized two-day strike. For many employers, the demands would have been granted without … Read More
Quick Overview of 2023 Provincial Budget Commitments
The 2023 provincial budget, released yesterday, includes the following commitments that have relevance for people who have intellectual disabilities, their families, and developmental service organizations: In addition to these new funding amounts, the provincial budget includes a promise that will be important to track: Community Living Ontario will continue to monitor these and other programs that affect our sector, and … Read More
Food for Thought: Taking a Look at KPMG’s Role in Developmental Services in Ontario
It recently came to light that the federal government has paid more than $66 million to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company since 2016, with $33.5 million paid in 2021-22 alone. While this is notable, it isn’t necessarily surprising: firms like McKinsey, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ernst and Young have played a significant role in federal and provincial policy-making for many … Read More
