New Day Spotlight: Meet Brianne Taggart
Brianne has been an advocate for many years and feels that this is a skill that is very important to learn and utilize. She has always been passionate about standing up for herself. She feels that people must have a say in what happens in their lives and that everyone’s opinion matters. 
 
Becoming a member of New Day Leaders of Today in 2017 proved to be very rewarding for Brianne. She felt like she was part of a group that could make a difference. As a member, she is able to promote advocacy, be involved and give back to the community, educate others about important topics, and meet people from various parts of the world.
 
When Brianne is not working with New Day, she has many commitments to other committees. She educates new employees of Community Living Essex County through her work with KARE (Keeping a Respectful Environment), she is a member of the Ruthven Apple Festival steering committee, the Speaking Out Conference planning committee, the Abode Clubhouse Committee, and the Art Society of Kingsville. Brianne feels that being an active member of different committees has allowed her to improve her ability to work as team member, increase her brainstorming skills, use her voice, meet deadlines and increase her self esteem. 
 
Brianne feels it is important to “give back” by volunteering. She takes photos for the Kingsville Folk Festival. She is also proud to volunteer at Augustine Villas. She writes an article for the Villas monthly newsletter. She has also assisted with an important role of cleaning and sanitization at the Villas during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Brianne shares her love of art, her positive attitude and laughter with other residents of the Augustine Villas.
 
Brianne worked hard to create Brianne’s Art Creations & Photography. She sells paintings and teaches paint classes and photography. She feels fortunate to be able to share her creativity with others. 
 
Although Brianne’s life is very busy, she finds time to take long walks, listen to the birds, and spend time with family and friends.
How has Brianne been staying busy and positive during the COVID-19 pandemic? 
"I enjoy painting and I have started to love photography too. I find it very inspiring to take a beautiful photo. It is helping me cope through the pandemic."
Community Living Essex County
Celebrates 60th Anniversary
This year marks Community Living Essex County’s 60th anniversary. Plans are now well under way for several celebratory events that will be kicked off at the upcoming virtual Annual General Meeting on June 23rd.
 
The summer long celebration will include a 60th Anniversary Lottery Raffle that will soon be launched, serving as both a fundraiser and as a public awareness opportunity to draw attention to the 60th Anniversary celebrations. Ticket sales will begin online in June with an early bird draw in July. The Grand Prize lottery draws will be held in September to coincide with a virtual 60th Anniversary Celebration.

A Time Capsule burial ceremony will be live streamed in August for everyone to join in on. We will be collecting a variety of items to be buried in the capsule reflecting our agency’s past, where we are today – and future predictions!

Our virtual Celebration Event will highlight people who have played a major role with the agency, share an over the decades highlight video and congratulatory video reel from various stakeholders.
 
Look for more details of all the planned events to be announced shortly. 
Learning and Growing
“Once you stop learning, you start dying.”
                                                         Albert Einstein
A small seed can eventually become a mighty oak. Like the tree, humans are continually learning as they move through life, stretching and adapting to challenges along the way. 

COVID-19 has challenged us to learn and adapt to the many new changes for ourselves and our loved ones. 

Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities (H-CARDD) has a new podcast series this year that addresses a variety of issues affecting families and their loved ones with disabilities. This new podcast series is linked below.
Kelly Runnalls,   
Parent Consultant, Ensemble
ensemble@communitylivingessex.org or 519-776-6483, ext. 225  
Satisfaction Survey Deadline Extended to June 11!
As part of our commitment to continue to provide the absolute best quality supports and services to people with intellectual disabilities, we invite you to tell us what you think.

Your feedback matters. Given the challenges we’ve faced together this past year due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for us to hear from you.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Annual Satisfaction Survey. The anonymous survey should take under 10 minutes to complete. 
Spotlight on Transformation
Community Living Essex County offers a wide variety of programs and supports. All of these programs are able to tell stories of transformation, both big and small.

One of the lesser-known programs that we offer, however, has some of the most transformative stories to share: Enhanced Specialized Services (ESS).

ESS is a short-term intensive clinical support program developed for individuals who are experiencing significant challenging behaviours or mental health concerns.

The employees who support this program receive special training and work closely with a clinical team from Regional Support Associates (RSA). RSA serves as the access mechanism for the ESS program, working to gather preliminary information and assess the urgency for assistance.

There are three main types of support in the ESS program model: In-Home, Safe Space, and Treatment.

Over the years, including throughout the challenges of the pandemic, the people supported by the ESS program have experienced dramatic changes in their lives. The clinical team develops Behaviour Support Plans and protocols that help the staff offer consistency and stability. Over time they build trust and a foundation for exponential growth.

Some of the transformations are as monumental as shifting over time from hospitalization to living independently. Other people have been supported to successfully transition back to their family homes. Some people return to their original agency support team, but with new tools that assist them to develop connections both at home and in the community.

In every case, the ESS team works diligently with RSA, families, partner agencies, and other clinical support providers to ensure the person is set up for success. Even throughout the struggles of the past year, the people supported in the ESS program have stories of transformation and triumph to share.
Our 60th Annual General Meeting is June 23 - Become a Member Today!
Membership Benefits Include:

  • Voting rights
  • Invitation to virtual AGM
  • Electronic Communications
  • Closer Look mailer
  • Annual report
  • I'm All INclusion window cling (corporate members)
  • I'm All Inclusion accessory (individual members)
  • Membership card

Do you believe in inclusion? Join us today!
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.
COVID-19: Stay Informed
Have a question about COVID-19? Call 211 or visit wechu.org

Have a vaccine-related question? wechu.org

Need to book a vaccine appointment?

Have a health-related question or concern?
Call Telehealth toll-free at 1-866-797-0000

Have questions about COVID-19 symptoms or
the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines?
Contact your health care provider.

Are you feeling sick?
Stay home. Cancel and rebook your vaccine appointment at

Update from Canada’s Minister of Seniors
A message from Canada’s Minister of Seniors, Deb Schulte:

"Seniors across Canada tell me they are worried about their financial security and outliving their savings. Some older seniors share how their lives and needs have changed as they have aged—and so has their financial situation. In Budget 2021 we took action to help relieve these stresses."
 
To help strengthen Canadians’ financial security later in life the Minister of Seniors proposes to: 
  1. Issue a one-time $500 payment in August 2021 directly to seniors who are aged 75 and older as of June 2022.
  2. Permanently increase the Old Age Security (OAS) pension by 10 per cent for seniors aged 75 and older in July 2022, providing $766 over the first year to pensioners receiving the full benefit.
Beginner Bird ID Class - Spring Edition!
Free Online Event
Struggling to identify sparrows? Frustrated with finches? Are there flashes of yellow going through your yard that you wish you could name? Join in on a beginner bird identification class focusing on the most common species that you are likely to see at your feeders this time of year and how you can tell them apart. This talk will include common western and eastern species! 

Saturday, May 29 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Must See Movies
The Upside
In need of a caregiver, a wealthy man with quadriplegia hires the last person anyone expects: an ex-con with no experience. Based on a true story. Now streaming on Netflix.
Recipe of the Week
Strawberry Pretzel Pie
This Strawberry Pretzel Pie has a salty pretzel crust that balances the sweet cheesecake filling and delicious fresh strawberry gelatin topping perfectly! 
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Weekly Poll Question
cucumber-facial-lady.jpg
What is the hardest thing that you had to give up during the COVID-19 lockdown?
Night out on the town
Chef-cooked food and gossip
Housekeeping services
Beauty parlors and salons
In-person shopping
All of the above
Poll Results
Which is the worst haircut you have ever had?
Crop ~ 11.5%
Buzz Cut ~ 7.7%
Bowl Cut ~ 15.4%
Bangs ~ 23.1%
Mohawk ~ 0%
Other ~ 30.8%
I have never had a bad haircut! ~ 11.5%