Community Living Ontario today issued a media release warning about the impact Bill 148 will have on families and developmental services providers like Brampton Caledon Community Living. If the Province fails to fund the costs associated with their legislation, service providers and families will be profoundly and adversely impacted. Read CLO’s media release here.
BCCL’s Clare Clout and Andy Willemsen Receiving Inclusion Award from Reach for the Rainbow’s Kathleen Stewart and Oksana Romanov.
On November 11, 2017 Brampton Caledon Community Living was recognized by Reach for the Rainbow at its Crystal Ball event. Reach for the Rainbow is a non-profit organization that promotes the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities through overnight, day and community recreation programs throughout Ontario. BCCL’s Clare Clout, Service Coordinator, and Andy Willemsen, Community Supports Manager, accepted the award on behalf of Brampton Caledon Community Living.
http://www.reachfortherainbow.ca/community-partners/community-support
Brampton Caledon Community Living Rejoins Community Living
Encouraged by positive changes at Community Living Ontario, including new leadership and the re-emergence of advocacy as fundamental to its role as a provincial organization that speaks for individuals with an intellectual disability and their families, the board of directors of Brampton Caledon Community Living recently adopted a motion to rejoin Community Living Ontario.
“At a time when more individuals and families are waiting for services than receiving services and more and more families are falling into crisis each day, a strong provincial voice is needed”, said Kathy Bell, BCCL President,
We are delighted to have BCCL back as a member, said Chris Beesley, Executive Director of Community Living Ontario. BCCL is known for its integrity, high quality supports and strong support to families. Their membership will strengthen our efforts”.
BCCL’s Executive Director, Jim Triantafilou, said that there needs to be renewed efforts to organize and coordinate actions across Ontario to address the serious issues raised by the Ontario Ombudsman in his report, Nowhere to Turn. Community Living Ontario is uniquely positioned to influence decision-makers and advocate on behalf of families. Triantafilou said that in recent months associations have become increasingly vocal about being ignored and the impact chronic underfunding has had on the sector and on families. He said that impending legislation known as Bill 148 will undermine the ability of associations to sustain current levels of support to individuals and their families. “We need to be more effective and organized in our advocacy efforts if things are to change”, said Triantafilou.