Happy Holidays. The past few months have marked for Community Living Trent Highlands additional challenges in adapting, being creative and maintaining hope. The holiday season, however you celebrate and acknowledge it, is about family, reflection and the closing of a year to the welcoming of a fresh new one.

Part of my holiday reflection is on the biblical nativity story. In that story inn keepers are doing a booming business and must turn paying customers away because they simply have no room. The busy season definitely feels exactly this way, as we have no room for extra engagements, another gift to purchase or another piece of pie... well maybe there is always room for another piece of pie.

Is there room? It would seem to me that this question is part of all our stories this season and beyond. Is there room in our lives for what is important? Is there room for making goals, taking action, seeking justice or helping another person? Is there room for everyone at the table, in the community and in our perspectives?

CLTH has been challenged by COVID, but nestled in that great challenge we have reflected in several different ways about inclusion, acceptance, diversity and what it means to welcome someone. Many global events have reinforced the need to look carefully at attitudes, practices and what we stay silent about or allow to happen. We have looked at our practices as an employer, an agency offering support and weaving dreams - and we have had to reflect on the areas in which we may have leaned toward having no room at the inn.

Have we listened to the voices of lived experience or just created space for them to speak? Have we let people express themselves in ways of their own choosing or have we only said words of diversity and inclusion? Do our actions proclaim that there is room for all at the inn, after its complete sanitization and cellophane wrapping of the remote, of course? We have faced off with these important questions and worked to improve our measures of welcome and inclusion.

The holidays are a time for family, food and making merry. In the shadow of all things pandemic we will strive to do just that in every corner of support in our three communities - working to ensure that people can celebrate, do what is important to them and connect with those whom they love.

As an agency, we have much to be merry about: We have expanded our services in partnership with Shared Dreams. We have enhanced our training and health safety efforts. We have taken a leadership role in the form of Ministry of Community, Children & Social Services Infection Prevention & Control Champion (IPAC). We have responded the ever-changing demands of COVID, and endured and found moments of calm in the chaos. We have embraced a reflective practice for continuous quality improvement, and we have set goals to keep reaching for something better. We have designed a mentor program, modified and expanded our recruitment practices, and increased our impact in several service areas. The board of directors has worked hard in setting housing goals as well as key areas for strategic advocacy.

The developmental sector is in transformation, and our goals are lofty. We are committed to a bright new year, reaching greater heights of diverse inclusion and welcoming all. Our inn is open for business, all are welcome and we will make room.

Take the time you need to be with those you love. Best wishes for the holiday season and a bright and happy new year.

Sincerely, Teresa Jordan, Executive Director