What happened in December? 

Building Inclusive Spaces Together 

On December 2^nd, 2025, Community Living Ontario’s (CLO) youth and community engagement coordinator, Leshona Lennard, facilitated a ‘Building Inclusive and Accessible Spaces’ workshop at Sir Winston Church Secondary Schools. The workshop was attended by 13 students in the Non-profit and Education Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program.  

This workshop is part of Re:Action4Inclusion’s (R4I) Youth Leadership Workshop series, which is for youth aged 14-29, with and without disabilities. Our workshops cover the following topics: ‘Building Inclusive and Accessible Spaces’ and ‘How to Be a Good Leader‘. Through these sessions, youth will learn about the importance of accessibility and accommodations, how to identify barriers to inclusion in everyday spaces, and how to lead change in their schools. 

To view our workshop descriptions or to book a workshop, please visit our website under ‘Youth Leadership Workshops‘.   

We’ve Got What It Takes! 

On December 19^th, 2025, youth leaders from St. Catharines Collegiate hosted ‘Potential Within: We’ve Got What It Takes’ school-wide event. The event was funded by CLO and R4I’s Community Action Project grant initiative, that provided them with $2,500 to implement this initiative. The youth leaders, supported by their teacher, designed and facilitated 10 inclusive workshops during the school day for their student body. The event brought together students with and without disabilities from different grades and cultures to collaborate and participate in activities together throughout the day.  

The ‘Real Talk’ Podcast 

R4I’s ‘Real Talk’ podcast released three new episodes between December 2025 to February 2026. From employment to inclusive education, our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) members covering all the topics that matter to YOUth! Check out our latest episodes on our YouTube playlist and subscribe to CLO’s YouTube channel for new uploads every month! 

What happened in January?

‘Youth Leadership Workshop’ Series Continues in 2026 

We started off 2026 strong with our first Youth Leadership Workshop of the year held on January 13^th, 2026 at March of Dimes Mississauga. Since then, we’ve delivered four more workshops for: 

• North Hastings Community Integration Association’s Youth Leadership Retreat (presented by Moira Robertson, YAC member, on January 17^th, 2026) 

• Almaguin Highlands Community Living (presented by Leshona Lennard, Youth Coordinator, on January 30^th, 2026) 

• Pelham Mayor’s Youth Advisory Collective (presented by Moira Robertson, YAC member, on February 7^th, 2026) 

• Welland Centennial Secondary School (presented by Leshona Lennard, Youth Coordinator, on February 26^th, 2026) 

In total, these workshops have impacted 95 youth to become inclusion leaders and changemakers in their schools and communities and we aren’t stopping there! R4I offers workshops for students, youth groups, and even staff/adult allies. To book a session, you can visit our website or email Leshona at llennard@communitylivingontario.ca for more information. We look forward to inspiring more youth this year through our educational workshops! 

Applications Are Open: Youth Art Showcase and Pop-Up Shop 

R4I’s Youth Art Showcase and Pop-Up Shop is happening on Sunday, May 17^th, 2026, at the Ajax Convention Centre (550 Beck Crescent, Ajax, ON L1Z 1C9) from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. The purpose of the event is to provide a platform for youth ages 14–29 with developmental disabilities to showcase their artwork and creative expressions. The event will feature: 

• An exhibition of youth artworks 

• A pop-up shop for small businesses run by people with disabilities or disability-positive organizations to sell their goods/services  

• Opportunities for networking and entrepreneurship  

We are looking for artists ages 14-29 to create original artwork in line with the theme, ‘Connections that Count’. Your artwork should highlight the connections in your life that matter most. This could be your family, friends, teams, community, culture – any connection that feels meaningful to you. We accept multiple forms of art, such as music, dance, paintings, sculptures, photography, and so much more! Apply today: bit.ly/Artworks-2026 

We’re also looking for vendors to be part of our pop-up shop! Interested small businesses can apply here: bit.ly/Vendors-2026   

What happened in February? 

Shedding Light on the Truths of Institutionalization 

On February 16^th, 2026, Moira Robertson also presented ‘Truths of Institutionalization’ at the Brampton Caledon Community Living (BCCL) Professional Development Day. More than 30 staff and family members attended. During the session, Moira summarized six learning modules, outlining the history and long-term effects of institutionalization. Participants also took part in a group activity to better understand how institutionalization continues to affect people today.  

The ‘Truths of Institutionalization’ workshop is available for youth, staff, and adult allies. To book a session, fill out this form or email Leshona at llennard@communitylivingontario.ca for more information. 

A Resource for Teachers: Collaboration with Autism Ontario 

On February 18^th, 2026, four YAC members – Alexa, Megan, Moira, and Vignesh – participated in an Autism Ontario focus group. Autism Ontario is seeking to create an impactful toolkit for high school teachers to equip them with the skills to advocate for their students and foster more inclusion in their classrooms. During the focus group, the YAC members shared their experiences from high school and opinions about in-school support. We look forward to seeing the final report from Autism Ontario.