Community Living Huntsville: Inspiring Possibilities since 1962 |
It’s time to celebrate – and we want you to join us!
Community Living Month, an annual provincewide campaign to recognize the accomplishments of the Community Living Movement, kicks off in May. We have a calendar full of activities and events for the community to enjoy, and you can learn more about them in the newsletter below.
This year’s theme is Inspiring Possibilities. It celebrates inspiring possibilities for the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities, and their families, as respected, value, and contributing members of their communities, rather than limiting them.
Community Living Huntsville has been dedicated to inspiring possibilities for children, and later adults, in North Muskoka since 1962. Sixty years of advocacy and action on inclusion toward a stronger community where everyone can live with dignity is certainly a milestone worthy of celebration, too.
But that celebration doesn’t belong to Community Living Huntsville alone. It also belongs to the community. It was community members who took grassroots-action six decades ago to establish what would become Community Living Huntsville. And community members have remained committed to the continued promotion and evolution of disability rights, self-determination, and inclusion alongside us.
And so we want everyone to celebrate with us in 2022. Community Living Month is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the value of inclusion, to celebrate how far we have come, and to consider what we can do, as individuals and as a community, to inspire the possibilities that still lie ahead. We hope you will join us.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Willett
Executive Director
Community Living Huntsville
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Community Living Month 2022 Events |
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Celebrate Community Living Month with Us in May! |
Want to join in Community Living Month celebrations in North Muskoka? You're in luck! We have several activities and events planned, and we would love for you to join us:
Community Living Blue and Green Day in North Muskoka
On Friday, May 6, show your support for community inclusion by snapping a selfie while wearing Community Living's signature colours, and then either email your photo to socialmedia@clhuntsville.ca, or tag @clhuntsville and use the hashtags #CLHuntsville #CLInspiringPossibilities when you post it on social media.
Shine a Light on Community Living in Huntsville
Enjoy a self-guided tour of outdoor blue and green light installations at Huntsville Civic Square, 37 Main Street East, and Community Living Huntsville, 99 West Road, on Friday, May 6, starting at dusk, in celebration of Community Living Month! We are pleased to partner with the Downtown Huntsville BIA, Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and Town of Huntsville for this event.
Community Living Flag Raising at Huntsville Town Hall
Everyone is invited! The Town of Huntsville raises the Community Living flag outside Town Hall, 37 Main Street East, in honour of Community Living Month and Community Living Huntsville’s 60th anniversary on Monday, May 9, at 11:30 AM. Come for speakers, refreshments, and community!
Community Living Month Best Decorated Window Contest
Take a stroll along Downtown Huntsville’s Main Street starting May 6 to view participating Downtown Huntsville BIA members’ blue and green window displays in honour of Community Living Month and Community Living Huntsville’s 60th anniversary. A volunteer committee will choose a winner on May 19 based on creativity and use of colour. We are pleased to partner with the Downtown Huntsville BIA for this event.
But wait, there's more! Visit our events page at clhuntsville.ca for a full list of events and the latest event details.
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Update - Rev Up Independence |
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Photo: Glen Slater (left) and Jamie Arnold are among the many people and staff praising Community Living Huntsville's new accessible van. (Community Living Huntsville photo) |
Community helps Rev Up Independence as new van arrives! |
A new van is helping rev up independence in North Muskoka.
Thanks to the community’s incredible support and generosity, our Rev Up Independence Donation Drive, launched in August 2021, raised more than $60,000 toward the successful purchase of a professionally modified, all-season, wheelchair-accessible vehicle that arrived in March. The van is already providing people we support, who live with developmental disabilities across North Muskoka, with reliable, discreet, and vital transportation to essential appointments and services, volunteer roles, recreational activities, social engagements, community events, and more.
“I like it,” smiled Glen Slater, who is one of several people who has made use of the new vehicle. "It's a nice van."
Jamie Arnold, a Direct Support Professional with Community Living Huntsville’s Community Participation team, called the new van a wonderful addition.
“It allows people we support to engage in the community in a more inclusive way than with past vehicles,” said Jamie. “The new van also has a removable front seat, allowing Glen to sit up front while he jams out to the radio.”
Jennifer Jerrett, Community Engagement Specialist for Community Living Huntsville, thanked everyone for rallying for access to this inclusive transportation.
“Our community really put the fundraising pedal to the metal for inclusion,” said Jennifer. “The new van is already providing vital access and connection for people to live, work, and play in unique and purposeful ways in their community. We cannot thank you enough.”
We are grateful to the many individual and corporate donors, some who wished to remain anonymous, that helped make the purchase of the van possible. Some of the donors include:
- Tall Trees
- Rotary Club of Huntsville Satellite Club
- A1 Race Parts
- Men of Grandview Foundation
- Autosave Collision
- Stephenson District Lions Club
- Norway Point Community Church
- Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage
- Brothers of the Blade
- Jelnar Limited
- MBRP Performance Exhaust
- Pipefusion Services Inc.
The new vehicle replaced a cumbersome and persnickety van that had reached the end of its road.
“Everyone is well aware of how crucial access to reliable and appropriate transportation is in our area, if people need and want to connect with their community,” said Jennifer. “We look forward to the new van serving people for years to come.”
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Calling all volunteers! Sign up as an event chair today |
Do you want to support inclusion for people with developmental disabilities in North Muskoka? Do you have event management skills? Then we need you!
Community Living Huntsville is preparing for its 2022 event season – and we are in search of volunteer event chairs to help organize these signature fundraisers:
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Artists for Inclusion in June
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Golf Fore Inclusion in September
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Autumn Brunch and Silent Auction in October
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Huntsville's Got Talent in November
Help make a difference in your community by volunteering as an event chair or committee member for one or more of the events above. If interested, we invite you to complete the Volunteer Application Form on our website to start the conversation today!
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Upcoming Fundraising Events |
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Tom & Winnie: Art, Mystery and Tragedy |
Join us for Tom & Winnie: Art, Mystery and Tragedy, a special event with renowned author and speaker Roy MacGregor, at Algonquin Theatre, 37 Main Street East, Huntsville, on Tuesday, July 19, at 8:00 PM.
Why does a man who died over a century ago and painted relatively little still have such a grip on the imagination? MacGregor re-examines the mysteries of Canadian artist Tom Thomson's life, loves, and violent death in this non-fiction up-close and personal presentation.
Tickets are $35 plus tax and available at algonquintheatre.ca. Proceeds support Community Living Huntsville.
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Fundraising Events in 2022 |
June 14 – Artists for Inclusion
July 19 - Tom & Winnie: Art, Mystery and Tragedy
September 14 – Golf Fore Inclusion
October 2 – Autumn Brunch
November 17 – Huntsville’s Got Talent
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Community Living Huntsville must raise more than $150,000 annually through private donations, special fundraising events, and grants to sustain our programs.
Make a contribution that counts.
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