Active Lives Canada

01/06/2026

At Active Lives Canada, our Respite Program is a safe haven for children and adults with special needs who do not fit within the traditional system and who may have nowhere else to go during times of crisis or when families simply need a break. When the unexpected happens, such as a serious car accident, a family facing a cancer diagnosis, or a family court matter, there is often no foster placement or appropriate option available that can meet complex and individual needs. Our respite house exists for these moments, offering a stable, compassionate, and understanding environment where safety, dignity, and care come first. Families can take comfort knowing their loved one is supported in a place built on trust, respect, and genuine human connection when it matters most.

To learn more, email us at respite@activelivescanada.ca.

01/03/2026

We are launching our Camp Registration and camp website the week of January 5th 2026. And safety has been a big talk with our camp committee and staff.

For children and adults with autism, complex needs, and seizures, water safety and water quality matter. Lifeguards and trained staff notice what others might miss and act immediately.

At Active Lives Canada Get Up and Move Summer Camp, lifeguards at beaches and pools, water checks, certified swimming pools, and strict safety standards are non-negotiable. That’s how we keep summer safe, positive, and fun.

We can’t wait for the summer to begin.

12/26/2025

Active Lives Get Up and Move Camp Song

🎶Get on the bus, we’re on our way,
Active Lives starts the day
Strap in tight, here we go,
So much fun, so much to know

🎶Get up and move, don’t sit still,
Every day’s a brand new thrill
Laugh it out, try something new,
Camp adventures wait for you

🎶 Grab a paddle, feel the flow,
Canoes and kayaks, here we go
Residential camps, lakes and trees,
Working together with so much ease

🎶 Hear them roar, see them play,
Toronto Zoo, what a day
Learning lots and smiling wide,
Curiosity along for the ride

🎶 Hats on tight, crowd goes loud,
Blue Jays game, feeling proud
Cheer it on, clap along,
Camp days feeling big and strong

🎶 Ontario Place, spin and splash,
Sunshine days go by so fast
Wind in hair, smiles so bright,
Everything just feels right

🎶 Sharks swim past, turtles too,
Ripley’s Aquarium, ocean blue
Wonder, questions, eyes so wide,
Discovery on every side

🎶 Jump up high, bounce around,
Trampoline park, off the ground
Up and down, laugh some more,
Energy we can’t ignore

🎶 Wands and robes, magic day,
Harry Potter fun at play
Imagination takes its turn,
So many things we get to learn

🎶 So get on board, come along,
Active Lives is where we belong
Get up, move, sing it loud,
Camp adventures, feeling proud

🎶 Active Lives — Get Up and Move!
Every day brings something new 🎶

Our camp registration launches January 5th 2026!

To find out more email us at info@activelivescanada.ca

12/25/2025

🎉❄️ Happy Holidays from Active Lives Canada ❄️🎉

We are so excited to share that we are getting ready to announce our brand new Get Up & Move Camp for children and adults with neurological and physical disabilities. Over the past months, our board & office team has been working behind the scenes to create an inclusive, active, and engaging camp experience that builds on what families already love, while bringing new ideas to life.

📅 Launching our registration on January 5, our new website will go live and will feature our new camp and updated programming designed to keep participants moving, connected, and having fun, all while following Camping Association Guidelines to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

“We prioritize safety and fun, with certified lifeguards for waterfront activities, proper water testing, and thoughtful supervision throughout the summer. Each day is carefully planned rather than spontaneously put together, ensuring consistency, safety, and high-quality programming. Our staff, who will complete vigourous training during our camp training week, are prepared to create a safe, inclusive, and unforgettable camp experience.”

This is a camp experience built around energy, inclusion, and unforgettable memories for participants and families alike.

📩 If you would like our Camp PDF before January 5, please reach out to us at info@activelivescanada.ca. We would be happy to share more details and help you determine if this program is the right fit.

Stay tuned. Big excitement is coming, and we cannot wait to share it with you.

11/15/2025

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/active-lives-after-school-dufferin/

Active Lives Canada supports adult persons with developmental differences: Clinical Services • Day Program • Respite & Recreation Programs

11/06/2025

The last six years of our ten-year journey have been the most meaningful, challenging, and inspiring chapter yet. We navigated Covid by launching a Ministry-of-Health approved 1:1 Covid support program when our community needed it most. We opened a new campus in Shelburne, created a Respite Program, and kept a much-loved camp alive by bringing it into our family. We built a third campus and designed a tiered system to support individuals who often face the highest barriers. We partnered with service clubs, businesses, and agencies that believe in belonging. We rolled up our sleeves, volunteered, and stayed present in the heart of our towns — on buses, at events, and everywhere community thrives.

Active Lives Canada is more than a safe haven for adults with exceptionalities. We are builders of belonging. We are neighbours, helpers, and teammates in a community that grows stronger together. Here’s to ten years, to resilience, to purpose, and to every person who walks through our doors or cheers us on from afar.

11/05/2025

At Active Lives Canada, our Tier 3 adults with special needs are proving every day that learning independent living skills is not only possible, it is powerful. Through hands-on cooking lessons and theory-based learning with our instructor, Jen Stephens, participants plan ingredients, practise kitchen safety, prepare real meals, and enjoy the pride that comes from doing it themselves. This program builds confidence, communication, healthy habits, and skills that support greater independence in daily life. Like and share to celebrate their dedication and growth.

11/01/2025

Community grows where hearts come together. Yesterday, Shelburne Legion Branch 220 presented Active Lives Canada with a generous cheque to help expand our programs for adults with diverse abilities. Their support is more than funding. It is a powerful reminder that our participants are seen, valued, and embraced by their community. Acts of kindness like this strengthen families, build opportunities, and help create a future where every person is included and celebrated.

We are also grateful for meaningful conversations about volunteer opportunities within Shelburne Township, allowing our participants to build confidence, purpose, and pride as they give back and take part in community life. Thank you, Shelburne Legion Branch 220, for believing in our mission and walking beside us as we continue to grow. Together, we are building a caring community where everyone belongs. ❤️🇨🇦

10/01/2025

Mornings at Shelburne Campus are changing lives.

At the beginning of September, a new vision for mornings at Active Lives Canada’s Shelburne Campus came to life. Working alongside clinicians, our team designed a program that builds independence, communication, and confidence, thanks to the generous support of the Shelburne Rotary Club.

Each day now begins with participants logging into their own tablets and computers, building skills step by step. Typing programs are laying the foundation for journals that will one day hold their own stories. Interactive word searches are making recognition skills fun and engaging. Gab sessions give participants the chance to use augmentative communication to share feelings and connect with one another.

What started as an idea is now a living, growing part of each morning in Shelburne. It proves that with the right support, anything is possible. This program has only just begun, and the possibilities ahead are endless.

Special thanks to Emilia Newport, whose vision and collaboration with clinicians helped bring these ideas to life.

09/28/2025

A heartfelt thank you to Meridian Credit Union and FM101 Orangeville for your support in helping us host our Barbeque Fundraiser.

We were so thrilled to see the community show up in full force and rally behind Active Lives Canada. Your enthusiasm, donations, and presence made the day truly special.

Because of you, we’re one step closer to creating more opportunities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities throughout Dufferin County. Together we can do great things.

Thank you for believing in us and being part of this journey.

09/14/2025

At Active Lives Canada, we believe every adult & child deserves the opportunity to belong, connect, and grow. Our Day Program, Respite Program, and Zachary’s Camp are built on the values of inclusion, independence, and community. Families trust us because we do not just offer activities, we provide experiences that build friendships, confidence, and lasting skills. Whether it is the comfort of a safe respite stay, the excitement of an outdoor camp adventure, or the everyday joy of learning and social engagement in our day program, we create spaces where every participant is valued and celebrated for who they are.

We are not about segregation, we believe that everyone deserves to be part of the journey, no matter their abilities. If a program includes travel, then the van is accessible. If the program is about going places, then the destinations are chosen so everyone can enjoy them together. We do not hand-pick who we want, we welcome and prepare to embrace everybody. Families who visit us see that our commitment is more than words, it is a culture of acceptance, belonging, and community. Visit us today at www.activelivescanada.ca or connect with us at e.newport@activelivescanada.ca to learn more and see why Active Lives Canada is the place where every adult truly belongs.

Active Lives Canada

09/04/2025

What if communication actually mattered?
What if we could change behaviours simply by teaching words like “I’m hungry” or “Can I have an apple?”
What would happen if we buckled down and focused on building these skills — every single day?

Stay tuned… because we’re about to show you.

www.activelivescanada.ca