Council Newsletter – Oct 2023 to March 2024

A group picture of some of the CLO Council Members at the Day of the Legislature 2023. 
From left to right: Dzidra Halar, Niko Pupella, Nicole Flynn, Judy Noonan, Farrah Sattaur, Amber Taylor, Robert Smith, and Hudson Yarrow.

Election Results: The Council of CLO 2023-2024  

Advocacy Work 

  • Our Council members participated in two presentations during the Speaking Out 2023 “Expanding Possibilities” Conference at the UNIFOR Family Education Centre in Port Elgin.  
  • On Saturday, October 21, 2023, four Council members – Nicole Flynn, Robert Smith, Farrah Sattaur, and Amber Taylor – facilitated a presentation on the topic of “What it Means to be a Self-Advocate”. In total, there were 60 participants.  
  • On Sunday, October 22, 2023, three Council members – Niko Pupella, Judy Noonan, and Stella Curtis – facilitated a presentation on the topic of “Intentional About Community (Poverty and Housing).” In total, there were 60 participants who attended the session.  
  • On January 17th, 2024, Stella Curtis (captured below) co-facilitated a “Truths of Institutionalization” presentation with Board Member, Nicole Canzoneri. They delivered this presentation to 30 staff members at Community Living North Bay.  
  • Judy met with Mike Schreiner, the MPP for Guelph, Ontario to discuss the #5ToSurvive Campaign and the Council’s advocacy work.
  • On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Dzidra Halar and Sean Travis delivered an inspiring presentation at the Inclusion Symposium’s “Wine and Cheese” event in Toronto, Ontario. They discussed the importance of delivering quality support through the eyes of people with lived experience. 
  • On Thursday, March 21, 2024, three Council members – Niko Pupella, Judy Noonan, and Robert Smith – accompanied by James Taylor, the Council appointee to the Board of CLO, facilitated a powerful workshop on the topic “Aging in Place” at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. There were 35 nursing students in attendance.  
  • Council wrote a greeting letter to Minister Kamal Khera, welcoming her to office 
  • Council wrote a letter to Minister Michael Parsa to inform him about the #5ToSurvive Campaign. 
1. Mike Schreiner and Judy Noonan | 2. James Taylor, Niko Pupella, Robert Smith and Judy Noonan during “Aging in Place” workshop | 3. Stella Curtis presenting on “Truths of Institutionalization”

Social Media Highlights 

  • Council member, Dzidra Halar, was featured here in a Black History post on the CLO Instagram. 
  • Council President, Nicole Flynn, was featured here in a Pink Shirt Day post on the CLO Instagram.  
  • Council was featured in a post for International Women’s Day on March 8th. You can view the post here. 
  • In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, the Council President, Nicole Flynn, was highlighted in post to challenge stereotypes about the down syndrome/intellectual disability. You can view the post here. 

#5ToSurvive Campaign: Council Media Coverage