| May 11, 2016


In recognition of Community Living Month and this year's Shine a Light on Community Living campaign, Toronto's CN tower was lit up last night, May 11, in the blue and green Community Living colours. Today (May 12) delegations from Community Living (CL) associations from Toronto and around Ontario are converging on Queen's Park to talk to politicians about inclusiveness for people with intellectual disabilities at all levels of Ontario society.

“Member associations from across Ontario will also be participating in the Shine a Light on Community Living campaign, by having their buildings illuminated in blue and green and encouraging partners in their respective communities to do the same. When homes, businesses and municipal buildings brightly display the Community Living colours on May 11, a powerful message of inclusion will shine throughout the province,” said Chris Beesly, the executive director of CL-Ontario in announcing the campaign last month.

Banners marking the event went up earlier this month at the offices of CL-North Frontenac in Sharbot Lake. A delegation of six, including employees and some of the people who receive services from the agency are participating in the day at the legislature in Toronto.

Dean Walsh, executive director of CL-North Frontenac, said the Shine the Light Campaign is important for his agency.

“Community Living is more than our name; it is the concept of all of us, the entire community, living together and supporting each other. We have been holding events, such as our Mother's Day brunch last weekend and our Spaghetti Dinner on May 19 for the entire community to enjoy,” he said. [See ad on page 16 and Northern Happenings for details]

One service that CL-North Frontenac supports that exemplifies that relationship is the Treasure Trunk store in Sharbot Lake.

“We provide administrative and financial support for the Treasure Trunk, and the volunteers do the rest. They raise money for the entire community as well,” said Walsh.

While the Treasure Trunk provides work placements for people served by Community Living, it also has its own, independent profile in the larger community.

This is a special year for Community-Living North Frontenac, its 40th anniversary.

“We can truly say that the organisation has stayed true to its goal of providing individuals opportunities for empowerment, decision making and quality of life,” said Walsh.

Other events scheduled for Community Living Month include a baseball game at the Sharbot Lake ball field between CL-Napanee and CL-North Frontenac on May 27. The month ends on May 31 with the annual Back Yard Barbeque at the Community Living office.

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