Category Archive

by Gord Kyle Merely surviving 70 years as an association of likeminded people is an accomplishment and one that we should collectively celebrate. But, of course, if all we had to say about the history of our association was that we are still on our feet, what would be the point? After all, the parents that gathered in the basement … Read More

by Gord Kyle When the community living movement began in the late 1940s, it was an association of parents united in the cause of finding strategies, tools, and services that would provide their sons and daughters the opportunity to live with and near family and take part in community life. These families organized into community groups and, in 1953, the … Read More

by Gord Kyle Note: The following article relies heavily on written materials and presentations by Audrey Cole. It was well known that Audrey Cole always kept an ear to the ground about things that might have an impact on her son Ian. Knowing this, it was not uncommon for people to send her information they thought she would find interesting. … Read More

by Gord Kyle When Harvey McQuarrie died suddenly in December 1964, the movement was shocked. Harvey had been the provincial association’s president for only a few short months. He had taken the position with such high hopes of making a real change. They were exciting times. The association was in the process of helping the Canadian association raise funds for … Read More

by Gord Kyle The opening phrase in Community Living Ontario’s goal statement is “that all people live in a state of dignity.” The inclusion of the concept of dignity as the foundational phrase in the goal of the association indicates its centrality in all the work that we do. Of course, recognition of the value of ensuring dignity is not … Read More

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

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

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

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

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