Celebrating Canada Day & the Start of Summer!
Canada Day was last week and summer is in full swing! Check out these photos of people from across Essex County celebrating and enjoying the warm, sunny weather!
New Day Spotlight: Bethany Vukov
This month’s New Day Spotlight is Bethany Vukov. Bethany lives in LaSalle with her family. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bethany volunteered at a daycare four days a week. She enjoyed helping out and being able to play with the children. Bethany is hoping to get back to volunteering once she is able to return to the daycare.

Bethany enjoys baking, and her favourite thing to bake is chocolate chip cookies. Bethany also enjoys playing basketball and walking her dog Angel.  She is very active in her church and enjoys going to her Youth Group.

Bethany is proud that she took a city bus all by herself.

Bethany joined New Day in 2020 when they started holding virtual meetings. She joined New Day to learn and meet new people.  Bethany has been a welcomed addition to the self advocate group and brings her positivity to each meeting.

Since joining New Day, Bethany has learned about making choices for her life. She has also learned to talk about herself, tell people what she thinks and what she likes to do. Bethany has also made new friends and has fun at the meetings.

When asked what she would tell someone about New Day, she said that New Day teaches a lot of important information about themselves and their community. They will learn how to speak up for themselves and make their own choices about their life, how to spend their money, how to make friends, where they live, and even how to get a job. And…..they will have FUN!!
Planning
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of “The Little Prince”
Families are resilient, they make plans to ensure their family member with a disability has their best life with the right supports and resources. This can be a challenge.

P4P Planning Network has developed a planning resource, Safe and Secure for families, to plan with their family members to safeguard their future.
Kelly Runnalls,   
Parent Consultant, Ensemble
ensemble@communitylivingessex.org or 519-776-6483, ext. 225  
Virtual Supports - Science Sessions
This summer Community Living Essex County is excited to be joining forces with Scientists in Schools to provide virtual science sessions to participants every Thursday.

Some of the topics participants will be exploring over the next several weeks are Sticky Science, Up and Down and All Around, Mixing It Up along with many others.

For each session participants will receive a supply kit that allows them to participate and be engaged in the science experiment or activity that week.

Each session is $10 and you can register on MyCommunityHub.
Powerful Tools For Caregivers
Workshop Series
Ontario Launches Online Renewal Tools 
The Ontario government has launched a new online renewal tool for Accessible Parking Permits, providing a simpler, faster, and more accessible service for permit holders. Ontarians can now choose to renew a permanent Accessible Parking Permit, apply for a traveler’s permit or motorcycle decal and request a change of address all by visiting Ontario.ca/RenewAPP. Companies and not-for-profit organizations that transport individuals with accessibility needs on a not-for-profit basis can also use this online option to apply, renew or request changes to permits.

The Ontario government is making life easier for Ontario Photo Card holders by providing the option for card renewals online, no longer requiring in-person renewals at a ServiceOntario centre.

The Ontario Photo Card provides Ontarians who do not have a driver’s licence with access to their government-issued identification, making it easier for them to do things such as open a bank account, receive a ballot when voting, and perform any other activities that require official identification.
Amherstburg Open Air Weekends
Amherstburg Open Air Weekends are back in 2021! 

Enjoy Open Air Weekends by strolling through the award winning King’s Navy Yard Park along the shoreline of the Detroit River. Take the time to explore a variety retail shops or grab a bite to eat at an outdoor patio or café. You may choose to take advantage of carry out service at any Amherstburg restaurant and enjoy it outside in the King’s Navy Yard Park in the Take-Out Court.

Every Friday evening (4pm-11pm), Saturday evening (4pm-11pm) and all day Sunday. Please be respectful of social distancing while you take in the sights and sounds of Amherstburg!

Downtown Amherstburg Dalhousie St.
Order Your Tickets Today!
Early Bird Draw is July 30th!
With only 4,000 tickets available, be sure to order your raffle tickets before we sell out. Raffle tickets are $25 each or three tickets for $60. Ticket sales have officially begun and will continue until Labour Day, September 6th. 
 
The 60 for 60 Anniversary Raffle has an outstanding line-up of prizes including a Grand Prize of $10,000 cash, sixty $60 dollar gift cards from a variety of local restaurants, retailers and services from across Essex County and a Travel Gift Package valued at $1,400. There is also an EARLY BIRD draw for a 60 inch television with Netflix that will be held on Friday, July 30th.
 
The remaining draws will be held on Thursday, September 9th, the night of our 60th Anniversary virtual celebrations!
We Want to Hear From You!
How Are You Staying Well and Keeping Positive During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Whether it’s a new hobby, healthy habit or a positive change to your daily routine, we want to hear about it! Let us know in the box below. These submissions will be featured in the weekly internal video updates sent out to employees by our Executive Director, Karen Bolger and may be included in upcoming editions of the Possibilities newsletter.
Binge Worthy TV
Virgin River
Searching for a fresh start, a nurse practitioner moves from LA to a remote northern Californian town and is surprised by what and who she finds. Three seasons are now streaming on Netflix.
Recipe of the Week
The Best DIY Foil Packet Dinners
Cooking an entire dinner in a simple foil packet is every cook’s dream. Everyone can choose their own ingredients, you can cook in the oven or on the grill, and there’s minimal clean-up afterward when making these foil packet dinners. 
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Weekly Poll Question
What is your favourite summer sound?
Crickets chirping
Waves crashing
Thunderstorms
Cicadas humming
Bonfire crackling
Poll Results
What do you look most forward to doing on Canada Day?

BBQ or picnic ~ 4%
Getting together with friends and family ~ 28%
Fireworks ~ 8%
Staying at home and relaxing ~ 60%