CLO AR 2016 V4 - Community Living Ontario · 2 2015-2016 Annual Report 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Who We Are, Who We Represent 4 CEO and President’s Message 7 Community Development 11

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Annual Report20152016

A NEW DAY

2 2015-2016 Annual Report www.communitylivingontario.ca 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Who We Are, Who We Represent 4

CEO and President’s Message 7

Community Development 11

Social Policy and Advocacy 20

Membership 28

Communications, Marketing and Fund Development 29

Financial Summary 2015-2016 34

Acknowledgements 38

Contact Information 39

Representatives of the Council of Community Living Ontario, a strong advisory body to Community Living Ontario’s Board of Directors. Top row, left to right: Rhonda Orr, Brad Campbell, Jordan Pretchuck, James Taylor, Craig Harrison and Peter Maresse. Bottom row, left to right: Lynn Ingram, Jackie Watts, Angele Jodouin, Stella Curtis and Yvonne Spicer. Absent from the photo: Brandon Bain and Nikki Jones.

4 2015-2016 Annual Report

Who We Are, Who We Represent

F ounded in 1953, Community Living Ontario is a non-profi t, provincial confederation that advocates for people who have an intellectual disability to

be fully included in all aspects of community life.

Community Living Ontario is proud to serve and advocate on behalf of more than 12,000 members across the province. There are over 100 local Community Living associations that make up Community Living Ontario’s membership.

www.communitylivingontario.ca 5

Community Living Ontario is a family-based association assisting people who have an intellectual disability and their families to lead the way in advancing inclusion in their own lives and in their communities. As a province-wide confederation, rooted in a strong network of individuals, families, friends, member organizations and community partners, it will be guided by, adhere to and strive to achieve its goal and vision in all its actions.

Mission

Community Living Ontario envisions a society where people who have an intellectual disability belong, have equal rights, respect and acceptance, a sense of self-worth and opportunities for growth. The gifts, uniqueness and innate value of each individual are celebrated, supported and acknowledged as essential to the completeness of the whole community.

Our goal is for people who have an intellectual disability to live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community and have the opportunity to participate eff ectively.

Vision

Goal

2016 Shine a Light on Community Living CampaignWelland Bridge 13, WellandPhoto courtesy of Anthony Gallaccio.


Message from the CEO and President It is an exciting time to be a part of the Community Living movement. As we take a look back on the activities that took place over the past year and assess where we are currently, there are many examples that indicate a ground shift is occurring as a result of communities coming together to aff ect positive change in the lives of people who have an intellectual disability and their families in Ontario.

The creation of opportunities for families to stimulate, explore, discuss and otherwise engage with one another in developing the best life possible for their loved ones who have an intellectual disability has seen a renewed sense of urgency, not only from Community Living Ontario, but from its other stakeholders as well. The Family Engagement Core Planning Committee, consisting of family members who have a long history with the Community Living movement, actively collaborates with Community Living Ontario’s Board of Directors to re-engage with families around the province. In addition to the Family Leadership Series and several Family Engagement Projects, the Family Engagement Core Planning Committee, families, member associations and others are coming together to purse avenues to better support and facilitate family engagement.

The speed, or lack thereof, at which progress occurs can be daunting. Community Living Ontario’s membership passed a resolution more than 30 years ago to work with government and other stakeholders to explore alternatives to sheltered workshops for people who have an intellectual disability. In 1994, the Ministry of Community and Social Services struck a working group to see how best to encourage supported employment in this province, with the goal of people achieving self-suffi ciency and real pay for real work.

Last November, a series of articles written by the Toronto Star’s Moira Welsh explored the often marginal wages paid to people who have an intellectual disability, which brought the issue of sheltered workshops back to the forefront. It was Ms. Welsh’s examination of the impact of sheltered employment that lead to a promise from Minister Helena Jaczek to no longer permit new admissions and a commitment from her ministry to phase out sheltered workshops in favour of employment and community participation for people who have an intellectual disability.

Minister of Community and Social Services, Dr. Helena Jaczek, and Justin Marr, a representative of Community Living Welland Pelham, pose for a picture during Community Living Day at the Legislature on May 12, 2016. Photo courtesy of Louis Thomas.

Jenny Raspberry-Martin, Infant and Child Development Coordinator with Community Living Kincardine and District, Miranda and Logan Graham visited students at Huron Heights Public School in Kincardine to talk about inclusion and to let them know that we are all more alike than diff erent. Photo courtesy of Beth French.


The release of the Ontario Ombudsman’s report Nowhere to Turn in August of 2016 has the potential to create positive change as to how services and supports are provided to adults who have an intellectual disability that fi nd themselves in crisis situations.

The report detailed incidents of people being abandoned or inappropriately placed in hospitals, jails, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities and who were sometimes subjected to abuse. Among Paul Dubé’s 60 recommendations is a requirement that the Ministry of Community and Social Services report back to the Offi ce of the Ombudsman every six months on the progress and implementation of the recommendations. The Ministry has accepted all the recommendations and is committed to implementing them. Community Living Ontario is consulting with member associations and other stakeholders to determine how best to prevent future crisis from occurring and how to create greater opportunities for people to connect with their communities to avoid similar circumstances, where possible. By highlighting people in crisis, the Ombudsman’s report confi rms the need to prevent situations of crisis from occurring in the future.

Community Living Ontario took an active support role in the work of the Canadian Association for Community Living and other partner organizations in ensuring that legislation around physician-assisted suicide provided adequate safeguards for vulnerable people. In June of 2016, the Government of Canada passed legislation describing the legal framework under which medical practitioners can assist a person to die, and Community Living Ontario continues to monitor the work of the Ontario government as it lays out provisions for areas of the legislation that will fall under its jurisdiction.

Discussions are underway across the country on a new National Housing Strategy and planned accessibility legislation. Community Living Ontario and its stakeholders look forward to providing our perspectives on these two initiatives so that there is greater equality and more opportunity for all Canadians to participate in their communities.

We, as a community, must now come together to support people in pursuing employment and to explore other valued roles of their choosing.

Unfortunately, sometimes it is only after tragedy strikes that we fi nd ways to make our communities safer and more welcoming. The inquests into the deaths of Guy Mitchell and Jamie Hawley forced us to reexamine how the lack of appropriate supports and safeguards failed these men. We were grateful that the Ministry of Community and Social Services invited members of the Council for Community Living Ontario, through its Freedom from Harm work group, to participate in a sector-wide work group charged with developing an action plan around the juries’ recommendations. It is through the will of the Ministry, groups from the Developmental Services sector and the perspectives off ered by members of Council and other self-advocacy groups that our communities will be not only safer, but also more welcoming and participatory.

2016 Shine a Light on Community Living CampaignCN Tower, TorontoPhoto courtesy of Louis Thomas.


These examples and others summarized in this annual report demonstrate what is possible when the greater community comes together, and they hold a lot of promise for what the future holds.

However, there are still many issues left to tackle. Poverty, abuse and the lack of appropriate housing and quality education remain frustrating realities for people who have an intellectual disability and their loved ones. We must remain fi rm and unwavering in our pursuit of what is possible.

Community development enables Community Living Ontario and its many stakeholders to remain engaged with one another. This is achieved through exciting new initiatives, complementing and supporting eff orts of mutual interest and building new partnerships and opportunities for collaboration. The following are highlights of the diff erent areas of our work that have been recently undertaken.

Community Living Ontario, along with our skilled and dedicated staff and Board of Directors, on behalf of our 100 plus member associations and the tens of thousands of people who have an intellectual disability and their families, is and will remain an active participant in discussions and will seek out opportunities to ensure that all persons live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community and have the opportunity to participate eff ectively.

Hélène Morin-Chain PresidentCommunity Living Ontario

Chris BeesleyChief Executive Offi cerCommunity Living Ontario

Community Development

James Taylor, Andreas Prinz, Keith Dee and many others came

together at Queen’s Park on December 3, 2015 to mark the

United Nations’ International Day of Persons with a Disability. Photo

courtesy of Louis Thomas.

2016 Shine a Light on Community Living CampaignTourism London, LondonPhoto courtesy of Anna Tavener.


Over the past six years, Community Living Ontario has been actively bringing families together through the federally-funded Community Inclusion Initiative, which has been vital to learning about family engagement, testing various ways and means of strategically bringing families together at both the provincial and the local levels in partnership with local associations, and developing a core leadership group to guide the work being undertaken.

The Family Engagement Core Planning Committee, consisting of several family members who have a long history with the Community Living movement, provide wise counsel and work collectively with Community Living Ontario and its Board of Directors to actively engage families, both locally and provincially. They provide support to the family engagement strategies that are developed, including the Family Leadership Series and the Family Engagement Projects.

As part of the initiative, Community Living Ontario began the Family Leadership Series. Its purpose was and continues to be to create opportunities for families to stimulate, explore, discuss and otherwise engage in meaningful conversation with each other in developing the best life possible for their family member who has an intellectual disability.

Further to the Family Leadership Series, four Family Engagement Projects were initiated in 2014 in Belleville, Brockville, Thunder Bay and Welland to build or support local capacity of families to be engaged with one another. The projects also aimed to provide families with the support they needed to be better connected, to know how to mentor each other and to provide them with the opportunity to develop a clear vision and strong advocacy skills in each of the communities. The role and impact of local Community Living associations play in supporting and facilitating family engagement work was also explored.

Inclusive Education

School is typically thought of as being a place where all students are welcomed to learn equally. However, in Ontario, that simply is not the case. Of the 72 boards of education in the province, a handful still operates fully segregated schools for children who have a disability. In a number of other boards in the province, approximately 80 to 85%, students who have a disability continue to be segregated from their peers through self-contained classes where they spend the majority of their day.

Community Living Ontario, ARCH Disability Law Center and Inclusive Education Canada have partnered in an eff ort to aff ect change, support those in advocacy roles and examine the issues, barriers and potential opportunities that exist for students who have an intellectual disability.

A Day On: Eff ective Education Advocacy, a two-part workshop, was held for people who accompany families in their advocacy eff orts within the education context. The feedback was very positive, and with some additional federal funding secured, more workshops are planned for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.

The funding will also enable the partners to conduct a research project to develop online tools and host family workshops, host education workshops for families in more remote areas of the province and engage with member associations to deliver demonstration projects that will embed the work locally.

Family Engagement and Leadership

With a focus on building the capacity of local associations to support families with respect to education issues, the Education Working Group has been focused on improving its local involvement in the Special Education Advisory Committees that exist within each school board. Communication strategies are being developed to provide associations with resources to support this aim. Work group members have also collaborated with the Provincial Executive Directors Group to increase the engagement of associations on issues around education issues.

Education Working Group


In celebration of National Inclusive Education Month, Community Living Ontario invited children and youth aged four to 14 from across the province to participate in the third annual Together, We’re Better Contest, an opportunity to promote and raise awareness about inclusive education.

The intent was to have students think about inclusion and to start conversations about how a diverse class off ers better educational experiences for all students.

The contest was very well received with an overwhelming number of submissions received from across Ontario. Each and every video, story and poem was great in its own way and congratulations to the 2016 winners.

1st place: Kindergarten 2, Janet I. McDougald Public School, Mississauga

Runner up: St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary, Windsor

1st place: Hannah Greig, Grade 6 student,Rideau Heights Public School, Kingston

2nd place: Claire Maloney, Grade 5/6, St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School, Oakville

3rd place: Kindergarten A, Upper Thames Elementary School, Mitchell

Education Working Group cont.

Another area of focus is in response to a resolution passed by delegates at the 2015 Community Living Ontario Annual General Meeting. The resolution called for action in changing the defi nitions of inclusive education used by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (formerly the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) so that they align with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the Ontario Human Rights Code. Community Living Ontario has taken steps to call for this change, including discussions with the Director of the Special Education Policy and Programs Branch and other staff from the Ministry of Education.

Together, We’re Better Contest

Classroom Video Story/Poem

Kindergarten 2 students at Janet I. McDougald Public School in Mississauga were all smiles for the camera after their video was the top choice among videos for the Together, We're Better Contest.


Community Living Ontario’s ongoing investment and support of the Ready, Willing & Able initiative continues to increase the participation of people who have an intellectual disability or who are on the autism spectrum in the labour market, thereby advancing both economic and social inclusion.

The Ready, Willing & Able team’s eff orts to encourage businesses to become inclusive employers continues to grow with 225 employers engaged over the course of 2015-2016 and 98 during the fi rst quarter of 2016-2017. The connections made with employers across Ontario have resulted in the hiring of 102 people, up from 86 in 2014-2015.

The team continues to cultivate relationships in the retail, home improvement, food, hospitality, travel and tourism sectors, along with corporate partners that include Home Depot, Sodexo and Costco, Lowe’s, Whole Foods and Giant Tiger.

It is equally important to note, the collaboration between Ready, Willing & Able and member associations. Together with the corporate community, people who have an intellectual disability or who are on the autism spectrum are being recruited and trained to undertake meaningful work in a variety of positions in towns and cities across Ontario.

Employment: Ready, Willing & Able

Led by the Youth Advisory Council, community stakeholders and members of Community Living Ontario’s Community Development team, Re:Action4Inclusion continues to develop leadership opportunities, resources and tools to assist youth to build communities that embrace diversity, equality and respect for their peers who have an intellectual disability. Young people that participate in Re:Action4Inclusion’s annual conference often become student leaders and change makers in their respective schools and communities. Leaving the conference inspired and with a sense of purpose, some participants choose to turn their ideas and discussions into action through Change Projects. Last year, there were youth-led initiatives in Flesherton, Kemptville and Toronto, as well as projects in Bancroft, Brockville, Huntsville, Listowel, Thunder Bay, Welland and Wingham starting in 2016.

The spirited conversations that take place in various communities focus on social injustice and the systemic exclusion that youth who have an intellectual disability continue to experience. Yet, through the collective eff ort of young people and their adult allies, they demonstrate successful models of inclusion and members of their schools and communities have taken notice. Some of the projects include school assemblies and workshops, the creation of videos and the use of social media, which challenge and shift the thinking of their peers in a way that people are now speaking about authentic inclusion, the power of language and the need to be on guard against exclusionary practices in their school.

Re:Action4Inclusion

Tim Stainton, Professor and Director at UBC’s School of Social Work and the Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship, shared his views and experiences on the importance of individualized and direct funding at Community Living Ontario’s second annual Social Policy Forum on February 12, 2016.


Student Links

Student Links continues to grow and have success at initiating the development of social roles for students who are transitioning out of high school. Coordinators work in collaboration with students, family members, community members and support organizations to identify local experts in a particular fi eld that is of interest to the student. Those experts, in turn, support students to learn more about a particular role. Employment and volunteer opportunities are explored, along with education and training opportunities, and memberships in interest-based clubs, associations, co-ops, councils, political and civic action groups.

In 2015-2016, Student Links coordinators have engaged with 98 schools from 26 boards in 11 regions of the province and matched 268 students with mentors that are assisting them to pursue areas of interest, such a minute-taking, car restoration, horticulture and culinary arts.

Commence

As part of its engagement eff orts, Student Links hosted its annual Commence conference in March of 2016. Approximately 150 people, including teachers, families, students and staff from support organizations, learned the importance of listening to and watching for a student’s unique set of skills, gifts and passions before seeking out employment opportunities and other contributory roles in the community. The conference also highlighted the value of freely given relationships and their interconnectedness with attaining rich roles and a good life.

Representatives from Community Living

Atikokan travelled the furthest to participate in the 2016 edition of Day with the Jays on May 28.

Classic car enthusiasts and Student Links

participants David Cox and John Scheulderman

take a break from restoring a 1931 Ford

Model A Coupe.


The Law Commission of Ontario released an interim report in late 2015 on recommendations for law reform in the area of legal capacity and decision-making. Community Living Ontario has been represented for the past three years on the Law Commission Advisory Group that assisted with the development of the report. Our primary objective has been to push for the implementation of a legal framework for supported decision-making consistent with the provisions of Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We are disappointed that the recommendations of the interim report do not go nearly as far as is needed and would not result in legal reform consistent with the Convention.

Working with the Coalition for Alternatives to Guardianship (comprised of the Canadian Association for Community Living, People First of Ontario and People First of Canada), a detailed brief was submitted outlining the key issues of concern with the report. Our response was supported by two legal opinions from lawyers who are experts in international disability law. These legal opinions confi rm our position that the approach that the Law Commission is proposing with respect to recognition of legal capacity is in contravention of international and domestic law.

We continued to work with the Law Commission and provided advice on its fi nal report with an eye to addressing concerns with the interim report. That advisory process wrapped up in June of 2016 and a fi nal report from the Law Commission is expected in early 2017. It is hoped that the shortcomings of the interim report will be addressed, and Community Living Ontario and the Coalition for Alternatives to Guardianship are prepared to respond once the report is made public.

Community Living Ontario began a policy review early in 2015 looking at what would be needed to make direct funding that is currently available in Ontario as eff ective as possible at helping people build a life in community. We produced a discussion paper on individualized funding reform that was used to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Community and Social Services, member associations and allies.

In February, Community Living Ontario hosted its annual Social Policy Forum, which focused on individualized and direct funding policy. Two international experts on the issue, Tim Stainton from the University of British Columbia and Michael Kendrick, a disability consultant from the United States, discussed policy frameworks used across Canada and internationally. Following the policy forum, work began on a new policy document based on what was learned over the past year. The new document will be ready in the fall of 2016 and will provide a recommended policy reform agenda aimed at making the use of individualized and direct funding provided by government as eff ective as possible. In particular, the document will explore how this policy area aligns with other support mechanisms to create a coherent and comprehensive system of supports.

Social Policy and Advocacy Legal Capacity Law Reform

Individualized Funding

Gurvir, Nav and Sara Singh are three sisters who share a passion for community activism and the belief that the power of language can have a positive eff ect around us.


In June of 2016, the Government of Canada passed legislation describing the legal framework under which medical practitioners can assist a person to die. The Canadian Association for Community Living, with the support of Community Living Ontario and other partners, worked hard to ensure that the legislation provided adequate safeguards for vulnerable persons, including people who have an intellectual disability; it was successful in infl uencing key provisions of the legislation. Community Living Ontario is monitoring the work of the Ontario government as it lays out provisions to guide aspects of legislation that fall under provincial jurisdiction. The Province is aiming for January of 2017 for the implementation of these provincial policy provisions.

Community Living Ontario and Community Living Toronto hosted the annual Day at the Legislature in May, which provided an opportunity for Community Living members to gather at Queen’s Park to meet with MPPs and to celebrate the work we do together.

This year more than 200 Community Living supporters and MPPs joined together for a lunch reception. During our meetings with MPPs, members discussed a number of issues that are of concern to people who have an intellectual disability and their families.

Administrative Justice Support Network

AJSN continues to build its network of mentors to support people who need assistance in taking part in tribunals and other administrative justice instruments. Building on the momentum of its annual retreat held in October of 2015, the network concentrated this year on increasing the support to mentors across the province and enhancing capacity to sustain the initiative moving forward.

Our work on AJSN is currently entering a new phase. At present, partners are being sought in communities around the province who are interested in partnering with AJSN to build the capacity in their community for the mentorship of people facing tribunals and other administrative justice processes. In the coming year, we will build contacts with Community Living associations, family networks and others and prepare orientation and training materials to help these groups to play contributing roles in the work of the Network.

Physician-assisted Suicide

Day at the Legislature

The Honourable Dave Levac, Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly (center), meets with participants of Community Living Day at the Legislature on May 12, 2016.


Home Care Supports

Community Living Ontario, in collaboration with the Canadian Association for Community Living and People First of Ontario, has been working with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to strengthen the provisions for home care. Following our discussions, the Ministry issued a memorandum to service providers in the province reminding them of recent increases in allowable nursing visits a person can receive. The memorandum also spelled out the responsibility of home care providers to explore every support possible to prevent a person from being institutionalized in cases where their maximum allowable home support has been reached. Further, the Ministry agreed to strike a working group of community partners, including Community Living Ontario, to meet over the coming year to provide advice on how best to structure home care to address the needs of people who have an intellectual disability with the aim of keeping people in their home and avoiding unnecessary institutionalization.

Our discussions with the Ministry are aligned with and intended to support the eff orts of Audrey Cole and her son Ian and their complaint before the Human Rights Tribunal. It related to the provision of home care and the potential risk of institutionalization that Ian, and many others, face as a result of short comings in current policy and practice. In August of 2016, Mrs. Cole and the Ontario government entered into an agreement that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care would recommend that service providers be given the discretion to exceed all caps on nursing services for people with complex care needs. A Ministry work group will begin in the fall of 2016.

Inquest into the Death of Jamie Hawley

When Jamie Hawley died while in the care of his brother in 2008, Community Living Ontario called for a coroner’s inquest into his death, which took place in December of 2015 in Brockville. Community Living Ontario prepared a written brief outlining recommendations aimed at avoiding such a tragedy in the future, and we were called to provide witness at the inquest to present our recommendations. Representatives from Community Living Kingston and District, who supported Jamie before he moved in with his brother, also provided witness. The inquest concluded with the jury making 17 recommendations aimed at protecting people who have an intellectual disability from harm and abuse.

Gord Kyle, Hélène Morin-Chain, Randy Pettapiece M.P.P. Perth-Wellington and Chris Beesley pose for a photo following a discussion on issues of importance to Community Living Ontario and its membership.


Ombudsman’s Report: Nowhere to Turn

In 2012, the provincial Ombudsman began an investigation into the provision of supports and services to adults who have an intellectual disability and their families. The Offi ce of the Ontario Ombudsman investigated more than 1,300 complaints and conducted more than 200 interviews as part of the investigation. On August 24, 2016, the long-awaited report was fi nally made public. The report called Nowhere to Turn detailed incidents of people being abandoned or inappropriately placed in hospitals, jails, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities and who were sometimes subjected to abuse.

Among Paul Dubé's 60 recommendations, which the Ministry has accepted and committed to implementing, was a requirement that the Ministry formally recognize its role in directly assisting with crisis cases and to bring in measures to prevent people from being returned to abusive situations or being placed inappropriately, along with greater inter-ministerial cooperation. Another key recommendation of the report is that the Ministry of Community and Social Services report back to the Offi ce of the Ombudsman every six months on the progress and implementation of the recommendations until adequate steps have been taken to address them. Community Living Ontario is currently preparing a response to the report and will be advocating for continuing reform as called for in the report.

Minister Jaczek visits Community Living Ontario

After 18 years at 240 Duncan Mill Road in Toronto, Community Living Ontario packed up in November of 2015 and moved to a nearby offi ce building at 1 Valleybrook Drive. The move was also an opportunity for Community Living Ontario to extend an invitation to Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services, to tour the space in late January.

Accompanied by Assistant Deputy Minister Karen Chan and Senior Policy Advisor Jonathan Bradshaw, Minister Jaczek also met with staff before sitting down for an hour-long discussion on various topics, including Community Living Ontario’s budget submission to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Board Treasurer Patrick Grist, Council Chair James Taylor and Peter Sproul, Chair of the Provincial Executive Directors’ Group and Executive Director of Community Living Kingston and District, joined Chief Executive Offi cer Chris Beesley as part of the discussion.

Minister Jaczek provided an update on developments related to provincially-funded sheltered workshops. She acknowledged that people possess a broad spectrum of abilities and there cannot be a one-size-fi ts-all solution to transitioning people from sheltered workshops.

James Taylor brought forward concerns related to ODSP Income Support and how issues around poverty aff ect many people who have an intellectual disability.

Minister of Community and Social Services,

Dr. Helena Jaczek, met with staff at Community

Living Ontario and dignitaries in January

of 2016.


Community Living Ontario continues to have a strong relationship with its member associations in all parts of the province. We welcome opportunities extended to us to attend annual general meetings, anniversary celebrations, special events and board meetings, as these activities and events enable Community Living Ontario to maintain a good understanding of the local issues that are important to our membership. Another aspect of Community Living Ontario’s work includes a support role with the Provincial Executive Directors’ Coordinating Committee (PEDCC), through monthly teleconferences and participation in Regional Executive Directors’ Meetings throughout the province.

Priorities for the PEDCC continue to be the access mechanism for Developmental Services Ontario and the need to develop further emphasis on collaboration with support organizations, as well as concerns around the improper placement of people who have an intellectual disability in long-term care and mental health facilities. People unnecessarily placed in such facilities may have complex needs and are often diffi cult to support through existing resources and require funding not presently available.

Membership

The 62nd edition of Community Living Ontario’s Annual Conference and AGM that took place in Hamilton in September of 2015 was attended by well over 400 people and the feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. More than 20 workshops were presented by self-advocacy groups, member associations, educators, Ministry offi cials and family groups from across the province, who provided their experience and insights on building more inclusive communities. In developing the conference, we wanted to ensure that workshops refl ected a broad range of perspectives on the roles that we all play in accomplishing that goal.

2015 ConferenceLiving the Vision

New Member

The Board of Directors for Community Living Ontario was pleased to share earlier this year that Community Living Mississauga had returned to the confederation. The active and engaged relationships we have with associations such as Community Living Mississauga reinforces our dedication to promoting our shared vision of an inclusive society where people belong, have equal rights and opportunities for personal growth.

The direction, implementation and success of Community Living Ontario’s key communications strategies are due in large part to the investments made by our member associations. The Communications Committee and its work groups are comprised of representatives from approximately 20 member associations, as well as Community Living Ontario’s staff and members of the Board of Directors. Together, there is a commitment to executing the Communications Committee’s work plan, in order to promote the Community Living movement in Ontario and the many possibilities that exist for people who have an intellectual disability and their families.

Communications, Marketing and Fund Development


The Awareness Work Group played an important role in provincial activities related to Community Living Month in May of 2016. Through their eff orts, our collective voice in advocating for the full participation, inclusion and citizenship of all people who have an intellectual disability and their families was clearly demonstrated.

In collaboration with the Government Relations Committee and Community Living Toronto, the Awareness Work Group assisted with the marketing of Community Living Day at the Legislature. Greater overall awareness of the event resulted in the largest gathering ever with approximately organizations represented.

The Awareness Work Group provided direction on the Shine a Light on Community Living campaign, in conjunction with the illumination of the CN Tower on May 11th, 2016. In addition to Canada’s most iconic structure being illuminated in green and blue, member associations were encouraged to host similar lightings in their communities. While there were many examples of campaign participation in every corner of the province, Community Living London received the support of the City of London, organizations and business, and more than a dozen prominent buildings and landmarks were lit in the Community Living colours. Not to be outdone, Community Living Fort Erie secured the illumination of the Peace Bridge crossing between Fort Erie and Buff alo, New York, taking the Shine a Light campaign international.

Members of the Awareness Work Group have also been working diligently on the development and rollout of a year-long awareness campaign with a planned launch for the fall of 2016. It has been nearly 15 years since a similar initiative has been undertaken.

Awareness Work Group

Online Store Work Group

The Online Store Work Group spearheaded an eff ort to off er branded materials to member associations across the province. The initial off erings that were made available in the spring of 2016 included Community Living fl ags, baseball caps, pens and branded apparel. There were a number of orders placed across the province. As such, Community Living Ontario is preparing to host a permanent online store in the fall of 2016, so that the Community Living brand is featured prominently in communities across Ontario. Moving forward, the online store will provide member associations with the ability to download digital assets, such as letterhead, brochures and thank you cards.

Training Work Group

Recognizing the needs of member associations in communicating eff ectively with their key stakeholders and the geographic challenges in accessing quality training, the Training Work Group has engaged with Mohawk College Enterprise and Fanshawe College Corporate Training Solutions to develop tailored training. Mohawk College is poised to off er day-long, intensive workshops on media relations and crisis communications in southwestern and central Ontario. Fanshawe College will provide seven modules related to communications and public relations that will be off ered online. Both forms of training will be available in the fall of 2016.

Safeguards for Physician-assisted Suicide

Community Living Ontario worked alongside the Canadian Association for Community Living and its other provincial and territorial counterparts in communicating the need to develop safeguards for vulnerable people in relation to physician-assisted suicide. A news release outlining the key issues and Community Living Ontario’s position was issued to our membership, the media and other stakeholders. In addition, representatives from the Community Living movement were provided with key talking points as they attended provincial consultations on physician-assisted suicide in January of 2016. Meetings were held in March with Members of Parliament to make them aware of the need for safeguards in drafting new legislation.


Website Community Living Ontario unveiled its new website during the winter of 2016, which is more streamlined and compliant with current AODA and web accessibility requirements. People, families and member associations are encouraged to view the new layout and features at www.communitylivingontario.ca.

Fund Development The Fund Development Committee continues to meet regularly and has taken that time to develop plans for the work to be accomplished over the coming year, including the development of Terms of Reference, along with policies on donation acceptance and donor recognition.

Holiday and Spring Direct Mail Campaigns Community Living Ontario’s annual holiday and spring campaigns grossed more than $16,000. We wish to thank our donors for making an investment in changing the way people who have an intellectual disability are able to participate eff ectively in their community.

Inspiring Possibilities Estate Planning Guide Over the past year, Community Living Ontario worked with PooranLaw Professional Corporation on the development of a new Wills and Estate planning guide. The document covers a wide range of disability-related topics and is intended for people and their families when meeting with legal and fi nancial professionals. Community Living Ontario wishes to thank the Law Foundation of Ontario for partially funding the document and PooranLaw Professional Corporation for donating a portion of their time in the development of the guide. The Inspiring Possibilities Estate Planning Guide can be downloaded for free by visiting www.PlanInspiringPossibilities.ca.

Council of Community Living Ontario and Self-Advocacy

As part of its eff orts in building capacity as a strong advisory body to Community Living Ontario’s Board of Directors, the Council continues to network and participate in discussions to bring about positive change for people who have an intellectual disability.

In addition to raising concerns around poverty and substandard housing with Minister Helena Jaczek, James Taylor met with Members of Parliament in the London area to discuss the importance of having safeguards for vulnerable people as part of legislation related to physician-assisted suicide. He was also asked to provide remarks as part of the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Queen’s Park on December 3rd, 2016.

The Freedom from Harm Committee, a sub-committee of the Council, has been active in revising its Terms of Reference and developing a work plan with a focus on encouraging safe communities and ensuring people are free from harm. Yvonne Spicer, a member of Freedom from Harm, was invited to participate in consultations with the Ministry of Community and Social Services around the Guy Mitchell and Jamie Hawley inquests. The Council and the Freedom from Harm Committee are hopeful that the Ministry’s response to these two tragedies will lead to a positive change for people who have an intellectual disability.

It is also worth noting that the Council of Community Living Ontario celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016, a truly signifi cant milestone that speaks to the importance of ensuring the voices of people who have an intellectual disability are clearly heard across the province.

Update Friday and Social Media Community Living Ontario’s weekly e-newsletter Update Friday continues to deliver a mix of stories related to the successes of people who have an intellectual disability and their families, the contributions of our member associations and the activities within the Developmental Services sector. Every week, Update Friday is shared between 2,000 and 3,000 times by people who have an intellectual disability, their families, staff and board representatives from member associations, as well as government offi cials and other stakeholders. Our presence on Twitter and Facebook continues to grow on a daily basis, with 5,200 and 3,600 followers respectively.


Financial Summary Community Living Ontario ended the fi scal year 2015-2016 with a small defi ciency. Costs associated with the offi ce's relocation and an increase in fi xed assets value accounted for the loss, which is not signifi cant in this year of transition. Community Living Ontario continues to maintain a solid fi nancial position with cash and investments totalling $1.2 million.

Financial DataWhere the Money Came From

How We Put the Money to Work

1%

6% 14%

17%62%

Activities$219,738

Community Development$2,281,208

Communications and Marketing$149,401

Governance$149,069

Social Policy and Advocacy$133,944

Corporate Services$428,953

Membership Support$302,660

Fundraising/Donations$56,461

100%$3,455,638

65%

12%

9% 2%

4%

4%

4%

Membership Assessments$487,766

Other$34,842

Program Grants$2,133,711

Fundraising/Donations$579,581


March 31 2016 2015AssetsCurrent

Cash $ 150,711 $ 293,417

Short-term investments 1,057,879 1,035,053

Accounts receivable 81,086 130,269

Prepaid expenses 33,210 466,356

1,322,886 1,925,095

Capital assets 174,935 31,170

$ 1,497,821 $ 1,956,265

Liabilities and Net Assets

CurrentAccounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 343,494 $ 275,118

Deferred revenue 109,849 590,611

453,343 865,729

Net assetsOperating 551,967 717,468

Invested in capital assets 174,935 31,170

Designated funds 317,576 341,898

1,044,478 1,090,536

$ 1,497,821 $ 1,956,265

Statement of Financial Position Statement of Operations

For the year ended March 31

Revenue 2016 2015Ministry of Community and Social Services $ 1,580,061 $ 1,638,770Federal grants 553,650 470,948Membership fees 496,714 493,137Registration fees 193,378 186,041Donations 579,581 528,517Foundation grants - 38,000Investment income 25,894 21,532Other revenue 26,360 3,278

$ 3,455,638 $ 3,380,223Expenses

Amortization $ 22,321 $ 10,203Bad debt 8,948 5,376Bank charges 5,645 2,955Disbursements for external partners 100,943 50,000Employee benefi ts 264,894 208,786Events catering 65,003 71,957Insurance 6,911 6,009Loss on disposal of capital assets 4,414 -Offi ce and general 315,579 346,854Professional fees 47,795 45,077Program expenses 270,793 235,468Purchased services 557,757 614,629Rent 130,110 94,450Staff training 15,714 9,953Telephone 43,424 46,424Travel 145,835 143,086Wages 1,471,288 1,317,786

$ 3,477,374 $ 3,209,013Excess (defi ciency) of revenue over expenses before the undernoted (21,736) 171,210Designated fund - net revenue (defi ciency) (24,322) (5,094)Excess (defi ciency) of revenue over expenses for the year $ (46,058) $ 166,116


Acknowledgements Community Living Ontario Board of Directors, 2015-2016

The Anne Staff ord “Light Up the Future Bursary” Recipients

The Council of Community Living Ontario, 2015-2016

Hélène Morin-Chain, President, Director-at-Large Roy O’Leary, Past President Jim McNamara, Vice President, Director-at-Large Patrick Grist, Treasurer, Director-at-Large Theresa Somerton, Director-at-Large Salwa Khouzam, Director-at-Large Jill Teeple, Director-at-Large Betty Stone, Director-at-Large Ralph Savage, Director-at-Large Sara Binder Singh, Director-at-Large Dan Wagner, Director-at-Large Mazahair Dhirani, Director-at-Large Luciano Contini, Director-at-Large Patricia Morris, PEDG Appointed Director-at-Large Claude Sauvé, Council Appointed Director-at-Large Chris Beesley, Secretary

Kelly Courtner, Prince Edward County Emily Burke Gaff ney, Dundas Tracy Pfrimmer, Simcoe Jordon Schmidt, Hamilton

Jin Kwankim, Toronto Issham Mujib, Toronto Kiara Lee Aguirre, Toronto Barb Peyton, Oshawa

James Taylor, ChairYvonne Spicer, Past ChairBrandon Bain Brad Campbell Stella Curtis Craig Harrison Peter Maresse Lynn Ingram Nikki Jones Rhonda Orr Jordan Pretchuck Jackie Watts Angele Jodouin

Community Living Ontario – 2016 Award Recipients

Overall Newsletter awardCommunity Living Toronto

James Montgomerie Honour Award Dan Tonello

James Montgomerie Community Award Recounting Huronia

CACL Inclusive Education Award Dr. Gordon Porter

Honourary Life Membership Award Gord Ferguson

Lifetime Achievement Award Beth French

Orville Endicott Social Justice Award Felipe Montoya

Media Award Moira Welsh, Toronto Star

Social Media Award Community Living Parry Sound

1 Valleybrook Drive, Suite 201Toronto, ON M3B 2S7Telephone: (416) 447-4348Toll-free: (Ontario) 1-800-278-8025 Fax: (416) 447-8974

www.communitylivingontario.ca

@CLOntario

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Be Part of Our Vision of Inspiring PossibilitiesWhen our donors partner with Community Living Ontario’s Board of Directors, Council, staff and member associations, they make meaningful gains in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Individuals may donate to Community Living Ontario online through our website at www.communitylivingontario.ca. Donations or planned gifts can also be arranged by contacting Heather Evans, Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Fund Development at (416) 447-4348, ext. 229.Charitable Registration No. 119248524RR0001

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StopGap Founder Luke Anderson (right) with Danny Steeves,

volunteer and accessibility advocate. StopGap is a national initiative that raises awareness about barriers in

our built environment.

Documents

CLO AR 2016 V4 - Community Living Ontario · 2 2015-2016 Annual Report 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Who We Are, Who We Represent 4 CEO and President’s Message 7 Community Development 11