Community Living Toronto

09/19/2025

That is a wrap on and yesterday was a meaningful final day! 📝

We started with a presentation on Journey to Belonging by Amy Olmstead, Director, Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, and continued with a joint session from CLO’s Chris Beesley and Teresa Cruze on the incredible impact of the campaign and what is next.

We closed the day with an impactful EDI session featuring Dr. Claudine Cousins, Alison McLean, Lisa Foster, and our very own Lee Smith, Senior Manager of AR/EDI at Community Living Toronto. The conversation encouraged us to reflect on how agencies and organizations can build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples, organizations, and communities to advance reconciliation.

A special shout out to all the exhibitors and in particular to our MyJobMatch.ca, The Social Brew, Café & Market Place, and MyCommunityHub.ca for hosting fantastic booths and showcasing the services we offer!

Thank you to Community Living Ontario and everyone involved in making this year’s conference such a success. We are already looking forward to 2026! 💙💚

09/19/2025

Join us for Community Living Toronto's 77th Annual General Meeting on September 23, 2025. In-person seats are limited - register today!

Cannot attend in-person? Register for our Microsoft Teams session or join our Instagram and Facebook live streams on the day of the event. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. so please give yourself enough time to get to the venue or to log-in to Microsoft Teams, Facebook, or Instagram. We look forward to having you there!

👉 Follow the link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-living-torontos-77th-annual-general-meeting-agm-tickets-1542348940199?aff=oddtdtcreator

❗️ Voting is in-person only. In order to vote, please join us in-person or send your proxy.

09/18/2025

📢 Congratulations! The Relax, Recharge, Renew program in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, Reena, Safehaven and Community Living Toronto has just been awarded the Skift IDEA Award for People & Community Changemakers.

👉 Follow the link to learn more:

From bold design to brilliant ideas - meet the 2025 Skift IDEA Award winners, travel’s most coveted award.

09/18/2025

Yesterday at , we were proud to see our own Esther Tuohy, Senior Program Manager Supported Living, Kit Leung, Senior Manager, Real Estate and Insurance, Jenna Martinuzzi, member of CLTO Influencers, and Colleen Broadhurst, Jenna’s mom lead insightful conversations on the impact of . During the session, we explored Community Living Toronto’s shift from traditional group homes to vertical communities using Birchmount Green and Mirvish Village as examples. 🏠

We also got to attend the session hosted in collaboration with CLTO Influencers Erica and Lorraine as well as Judy and Dzidra of Community Living Ontario. 💙💚 Focusing on Inclusive Meetings, they used the Listen, Include, Respect Guidelines to share insights into organizing meetings that are more accessible and inclusive for everyone. 💬

We are inspired by the ideas and thrilled for another day of learning, connecting, and advocating for change. Let us keep the momentum going! 💡

09/17/2025

It's day 2 at ! We kicked things off with a heartfelt Thanksgiving opening setting a reflective tone for another impactful day. This was followed by a plenary session with Natalia Hicks from Inclusion Canada who shared powerful insights on inclusive housing, income security, and strategic litigation — plus an announcement of Barrier Free Canada.

💡 Another highlight was a session with Paul Fleming from People Minded Business and Brandon Pooran of PooranLaw Professional Corporation. Together, we explored the concept of Fee for Service emphasizing choice, autonomy, and how to calculate real costs to support person-centered planning. 📝

We also got to attend the session led by Sherri Kroll, Middlesex Community Living that showcased a successful social innovation project to create a community where everyone belongs. From the power of unity to the importance of inclusion, the session was a reminder of why it’s important to create spaces where everyone belongs.

The energy and collaboration here are inspiring! Stay tuned to see what the rest of the Day 2 brings. 💙💚

Community Living Ontario

09/16/2025

Community Living Toronto is proud to be attending Community Living Ontario’s Annual General Meeting, marking the start of the Inspiring Possibilities Conference 2025! 🙌

This conference is a key moment for our sector that brings together leaders, advocates, and changemakers. Throughout the next couple of days, we will be exploring the topics of housing, digital transformation, inclusive employment, and many more! 💬

We are thrilled to kick things off tomorrow with keynote speaker Madison Tevlin, Canadian actress and broadcaster - stay tuned for highlights from Day 1! 💙💚

CLTO Influencers

09/16/2025

Don’t miss “Disability Rights, and Wrongs! The David Lepodcast” - a new podcast series with David Lepofsky, chair of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance and member of Community Living Toronto's Patron's Council. Each episode explores practical ways to advance accessibility and equality, with inspiring stories and insights from experts. 💬

The first episode is now available for download, and it is expected that a new episode will drop every three weeks.

👉 Follow the link to learn more and listen:

Announcing a Brand New Podcast on How to Advocate for People with Disabilities – Subscribe for “Disability Rights, and Wrongs – the David Lepodcast” Wherever You get Your Podcasts! Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All Peo...

09/16/2025

09/16/2025

What an incredible day at the Family Fun Fair. 🥳 On Saturday, September 13, 2025, we got together to kick off our annual United Way fundraising campaign with an unforgettable celebration in support of a more inclusive community! ❤️ 🤍

From games, dancing, live music, and BBQ to many rounds of bingo, the day was packed with fun for the whole community. Special thanks to DJ Raptor Marc for keeping the energy high all day long! 🎶🍔🎯

This year, the event was more than just fun – it was also a heartfelt farewell to Lawson, as we prepare for its thrilling transformation in partnership with Tridel. 🏗️✨

Shoutout to our amazing volunteers and donors. Your hard work made this event possible! And a special thank you to MPP David Smith for taking the time to join us.

United Way Greater Toronto

09/15/2025

“Belonging is a necessity of a good life. The responsibility doesn’t just lie on the person who hopes to belong, it lies on all of us to create a society in which people feel that belonging”

In the first episode of Community Chats Season 3, Vassy Kapelos, political journalist and Community Living Toronto’s Patron’s Council member, reflects on her dream of building a career in political journalism. She shares insights on the importance of accountability in governance, the quiet responsibility on those who can question power, her long standing connection with Community Living Toronto and much more. 💬

👉 Listen/Watch now as Brad Saunders, CEO of Community Living Toronto and Vassy talk about advocacy, accountability, and the kind of society we all have a role in shaping: https://communitychats.buzzsprout.com/2380081/episodes/17845742-accountability-starts-with-us

09/12/2025

📢 Adults (18+) with developmental disabilities are invited to participate in a research study about Trauma-Informed Care aimed at at improving support for people with lived experiences. Find more details about eligibility and participation in the flyer. 📄

As a thank-you for meeting with the research team, participants will receive a $10 Tim Hortons Gift Card. ☕️

📧 Interested in being part of the research? Contact Leah Jeffery at ljeffery@bethesdaservices.com or call 905-932-0936.

09/11/2025

🍂 September is here, and that means we've got you covered with a list of celebrations and days of observance for this month. Don't forget to add them to your calendar. 📅