Community Living Toronto

04/15/2026

✨ On April 13, our Leadership Team came together for a day of connection, collaboration, and thinking about the future.

United with our shared purpose, we had meaningful discussions on key strategic projects, received updates on upcoming campaigns, and heard about important developments in our government relations work. 💡

Beyond the updates, we strengthened our bonds as a team through a special Community Unplugged session, featuring CLTO Staff Members Jonathan, Pina, and Vishwas, hosted by our CEO, Brad Saunders. These moments of storytelling and reflection continue to bring us closer and remind us of the impact behind the work we do every day. 🙌

We also shared some joyful moments together, including a karaoke icebreaker, thanks to Courtney who brought energy and fun to the day with her guitar and great voice. 🎤

Driven by our commitment to put the people we support first, we’re building momentum and moving our mission forward. Every conversation that day reflected our dedication to families, inclusive communities, and building a society where everyone belongs. 💙💚

04/09/2026

Join us in supporting Art For Goodness’ Sake – Charity Art Show and Sale on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Explore over 500 works of fine art from 31 talented artists, all in support of local charities.

📍 Where: 85 The Kingsway, Toronto
🕙 When: 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.
🎟️ Cost: $10 in advance | $15 at the door
🎁👉 Door prize: “Pine Ridge Autumn Colours” by John Werlich (valued at $1,300)

Visit kingswaylambtonartshow.ca to learn more!

Kingsway-Lambton Art Show & Sale

04/07/2026

On this National Caregiver Day, we are proud to see our CEO, Brad Saunders contributing to an important conversation at the National Caregiver Day Symposium.

💬 As part of the panel discussion, Brad along with moderator James Janeiro (Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence) and panelists Susan Bisaillon (Safehaven) and Amanda MacKenzie (March of Dimes) explored the barriers many caregivers face, while emphasizing the need for more inclusive, accessible approaches that evolve alongside people’s needs across the lifespan.

Thanks to the organizers for bringing people together for such an important conversation and creating space to share ideas, learn from one another, and push this work forward. 💙💚

The Azrieli Foundation, Canadian Home Care Association

04/07/2026

As we celebrate , join The The Ontario Caregiver Organization for a special Zoom workshop honouring caregivers and sharing practical ways to build connection and support.

👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebrate-national-caregiver-day-tickets-1984629903466?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&fbclid=IwY2xjawQ6HopleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGd2hlWG84TXZBUWREcmNTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvYjs9AvbBRl8g4tlg4KUuEhJPE7xUdXj-1P4_qlL_BFydXzPhIhL1tf5OW3_aem_7cejkd8Ignv2uzHIjZ6iTw

Whether you’re caring for a parent, a child, a friend, a spouse, or a neighbour – you deserve to be celebrated for all that you do.

April 7 is National Caregiver Day and we’re hosting a special event in honour of caregivers, like you, and the invaluable contributions you make to our communities and healthcare system every day – even when it’s hard, isolating, and relentless.

Featuring a fireside chat with the winner of our 2026 Janet Beed Impact Award – a caregiver using their experience to improve systems - and a presentation from GenWell with low-barrier connection strategies that fit your life & will support you along your journey 💜

Can’t wait to see you there 👉 https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebrate-national-caregiver-day-tickets-1984629903466?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

04/02/2026

Community Living Toronto offices and Community Participation Supports (CPS) locations will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, and Monday, April 6, 2026. We will re-open at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Happy Good Friday and Easter Sunday to those celebrating! ☀️

04/02/2026

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the autism community. April is also recognized as World Autism Awareness Month to increase awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of people with autism in our communities.

💬 Today, we are proud to share a message from the Hon. Mike Lake, a longstanding advocate for the autism community, whose words remind us why this work matters.

“World Autism Awareness Day reminds us of the incredible value and potential of every person. When we support people in fostering and contributing their own unique skills and abilities, they are better able to live full, meaningful lives, and we all benefit. Organizations like Community Living Toronto continue to champion that vision every day, and they deserve our strong support and heartfelt appreciation.”

Today, and every day, we remain committed to building a future where inclusion, opportunity, and belonging become a reality for all. 💙💚

🎙️ Curious to learn more? Last year on our Community Chats podcast, we explored autism and inclusion with Marg Spoelstra, CEO of Autism Ontario. It’s a thoughtful and informative conversation you won’t want to miss.

👉 Listen here: https://communitychats.buzzsprout.com/2380081/episodes/17073677-support-over-cure-understanding-autism

04/01/2026

🌻 April 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. 📅

03/27/2026

Community Living Toronto welcomes the new investments in the Government of Ontario’s 2026–2027 Budget that support the developmental services sector, including $407M over three years to help community organizations manage rising costs and continue delivering essential supports.

“This investment is truly historic for our sector. This is the third major commitment from the Ford Government since 2018, representing significant progress and will bring much-needed stability to a sector that has faced long-standing challenges. This momentum will translate into stronger supports, enabling children, adults, and families across Toronto to participate fully in community life, access meaningful activities, and deepen their sense of belonging,” said Brad Saunders, CEO of Community Living Toronto.

On behalf of the people and families we support, CLTO extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa and their staff for their continued leadership and support for the sector. We remain committed to working with the Government to build on these investments and continue supporting Ontario’s commitment to a more caring and inclusive province.

👉 Community Living Toronto’s full response: https://cltoronto.ca/new-investment-strengthens-stability-for-developmental-services-sector/
👉 2026-2027 Ontario Budget:https://budget.ontario.ca/2026/pdf/2026-ontario-budget-en.pdf

03/26/2026

It’s Day 2 at OADD Conference, and we’re wrapping up with more great insights and conversations. 💙💚

🔍 Reflecting back on Day 1, sessions like “Breaking Free from Harmful Labels” reminded us that language matters. It can open doors or quietly close them. We were also challenged to rethink change in “Becoming a Champion of Change,” recognizing that growth in the DS sector means adapting to constant social, economic, and system shifts. ✨

💡 Today’s sessions continued to build on that momentum. “Golden Girls Meet Geek: Smart Home Living and the Power of Connection” showcased how technology and collaboration can support independence, safety, and dignity at home. Through a powerful real-life example, we saw how smart home tools, remote supports, and strong partnerships can create moments of connection while easing caregiver demands. 🏠

🤝 In “Pushing the Boundaries of Collaboration,” we explored how stronger partnerships across health and developmental services can lead to better outcomes by keeping people at the centre.

As we wrap up, we’re leaving with new ideas and meaningful connections. Thank you to everyone who made this experience so impactful. We’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations beyond the conference. See you next year! 👋

03/26/2026

It’s Day 1 at OADD Conference and we keep the momentum going with more sessions focused on big ideas and real-world impact.

🏠 Hosted by our friends at Reena “Unlocking Government Partnerships to Power Housing Solutions for People with Developmental Disabilities” focused on tackling Ontario’s housing challenges through stronger cross-government collaboration. The session highlighted how coordinated advocacy, strategic relationships, and alignment with policy priorities can help move housing ideas from concept to reality. ✨

💬 Reena also led a session on Community Participation Supports, where we explored how programs are evolving to be more flexible and person-centered. From reducing barriers like transportation and staffing, to introducing Program Facilitators and using therapeutic recreation assessments, the emphasis was on building supports that reflect each person’s interests, goals, and everyday life.

And that’s a wrap on Day 1! More highlights coming your way on Day 2, so stay tuned! 💙💚

03/25/2026

Community Living Toronto is at the 36th Annual OADD (Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities) Conference in Windsor! Over the next couple of days, we’re learning, connecting with sector partners, and bringing back fresh ideas to strengthen our work. 💡

💬 We kicked things off with keynote speaker Michael Kerr, who reminded us that the more challenging our work becomes, the more compassion and humanity we need. Creating a fun, authentic, and emotionally responsive culture is key to unlocking energy, passion, and innovation.

✨ One standout session, Empowering Autonomy: How Direct Funding Transforms Lives and Systems, left us feeling both inspired and grounded. Led by Gigi Aggarwal, it explored how Direct Funding puts real choice into the hands of people with disabilities, shifting decision-making from systems to individuals and supporting true autonomy.

👀 More to come! If you’re here in Windsor, stop by our MyJobMatch.ca and Employment Services booths and say hello 👋

03/25/2026

On March 21, 2026, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day! 💙💚

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who took part, rocked their mismatched socks, and supported the campaign. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment made the day special. 🧦

It’s always inspiring to see our community come together to celebrate people with Down syndrome and champion inclusion. 🙌

Look back at some of the moments and keep the conversations going, because inclusion doesn’t end with just one day! 📸✨

World Down Syndrome Day