Wishing everyone a happy and bright New Year! May it be filled with joy, togetherness, and moments that inspire us all. Let's welcome the upcoming year with open arms, embracing new possibilities and working together to achieve our shared goals. Happy New Year! | |
Laurie and Andrea added a touch of enchantment to their day with a trip to Lakeshore Cinemas, immersing themselves in the wonderful world of Disney's Wish movie. It was the perfect blend of smiles, popcorn, and the magic of Disney on the big screen. A lovely reminder that a touch of Disney can turn an ordinary day into something extraordinary. | |
Matthew recently celebrated turning 26 years old with a can of his beloved blue Pepsi, and of course, the star of his birthday show – his favourite blue icing. Cheers to a sweet celebration Matthew! | |
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Families that include individuals with intellectual disabilities may have other children. These brothers and sisters form a complete family unit. As siblings, they need to be given pertinent information about disabilities and ongoing support to ensure their long-term wellbeing. We need to find ways to include siblings in supports and services offered to their brothers and sisters with disabilities.
Siblings Canada, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE), has been established to serve as a source of relevant knowledge, learning, support and resources for siblings of those with intellectual disabilities and the organizations like Community Living Essex County supporting them. Siblings Canada provides free resources including links for virtual events, a sibling peer mentorship program and a sibling learning hub which includes topics such as financial security, mental health and communicating with family.
Ensemble, as the voice of families, continues to expand their reach. We too want to assist siblings. How can we provide better support to your adult children who are siblings of brothers and sisters with intellectual disabilities?
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Please take a moment to let us know what supports you would like Ensemble to explore. | |
Ring in the New Year with Our Holly Jolly Jackpot Raffle! Get Your Tickets Today! | |
Celebrate the New Year with a chance to win BIG in our Holly Jolly Jackpot! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to secure your tickets for our exclusive draw! The proceeds help Community Living Essex County provide accessible transportation to children, youth and adults to be active and engaged in their community! | |
Tickets are $25 each or 3 for $60. | | |
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Check out the
fabulous prizes!
- 2nd Prize: $2,000 in gift cards
- 3rd Prize: 70” Samsung TV
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There are ONLY 1,500 tickets available, so act fast! Tickets are now available to order online at www.communitylivingessex.org/events/hollyjollyraffle/
The main raffle draw will be held on Friday, January 19th. Your ticket isn't just a chance to win big; it's a ticket to make a difference in the lives of others. Let the joyous countdown to the Holly Jolly Jackpot begin!
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Thank you to our sponsor!
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An Update from Career Compass | |
Kristen was in the holiday spirit and delivered the most delightful Christmas arrangement to her Employment Specialist, Richelle, as a heartfelt thank you! She put her creative magic to work and crafted this beautiful arrangement herself. | |
Join Us and Become an E-Bingo Volunteer! | |
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Community Living Essex County is looking for volunteers for our e-bingo volunteer shifts at Breakaway Gaming Centre in Windsor. The proceeds raised from e-bingo helps Community Living Essex County to purchase fuel and maintain vehicles for people with an intellectual disability that we support to get to and from work, volunteer opportunities and participate in leisure activities throughout Essex County. Check out our video to learn more and then email tony@communitylivingessex.org to sign up!
Volunteers receive a $25 gas card to cover transportation costs!
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We Are Hiring and We Need Your Help! | |
Career Compass Employer Referral Program | |
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Inadequate funding is threatening Developmental Services and the people who rely on them. Join us in calling on the Government of Ontario to provide an immediate 5% increase to base funding, including Passport and Special Services at Home! #5ToSurvive
You can also amplify our request by participating in the following ways. Community Living Ontario has created template letters to MPPs in both English and French that you can download and modify. Click the links below to download. If possible, please connect with your MPP tell them about how the lack of core funding is impacting you and/or the people you support. Our members have collectively reached out to over 50 MPPs (and counting). Let's keep going until every MPP in Ontario has heard our demands!
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Community Living Ontario's Together We're Better Contest | |
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Get ready for the 2024 Together We're Better Contest! February marks Inclusive Education Month, and students in grades 1 to 12 across Ontario, are encouraged to participate. Form a team of at least two people and submit a creative media entry (video, song, photo collage, story, TikTok, etc.) showcasing how your school actively supports the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities. Check out resources for inclusive education at inclusiveeducation.ca and get inspiration from last year's winners by clicking HERE.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 16th at 11:59 pm. Don't miss the chance to win Best Buy gift cards: 1st place - $1000, 2nd place - $500, 3rd place - $250. If you have any questions, email contest@communitylivingontario.ca. Let's celebrate inclusion together!
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Windsor-Essex Acute Care Hospital Survey | |
Share your thoughts on what additional services you'd like at the new Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital! Windsor Regional Hospital and the J.C. Williams group are creating a strategy for ancillary services like food, pharmacy, gift shops, and personal services. They want input from the community, staff, professionals, and volunteers. Take the Ancillary Services Survey on the project website to help shape the patient, visitor, and staff experience. | |
This will be the final weekend to explore the holiday light displays across Windsor-Essex County before they dim. Check the links below for details and seize this last opportunity to enjoy creative winter wonders in your community. Don't miss the enchanting lights before they disappear for the season! | |
Festive Museum Scavenger Hunts | |
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Embark on double the adventure with scavenger hunts at two local museums. Start at the Chimczuk Museum on 401 Riverside Dr. W, Windsor, where, until January 7th, you can explore galleries, uncover Jack Frost's friends, and decode a secret word for a chance to win a prize. Admission is $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors/students, and $17 for families, granting access to both permanent and temporary galleries, as well as the Hands-on History Room. Continue the festive fun at the François Baby House located at 254 Pitt Street West, Windsor. Their FREE scavenger hunt, running until January 7th, invites you to spot Santa and hidden mini-figures within the exhibits.
Click the link below to discover more about these holiday-themed museum activities.
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City of Windsor Free Skate | |
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Skate into the New Year with FREE skating offered by the City of Windsor.
Skating locations and dates:
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Adie Knox Arena on Sundays from 4:10 pm - 6 pm starting January 7th.
- Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex on Saturdays from 4:25 pm - 6:15 pm and on Sundays from 1:25 pm - 3:15 pm.
- Forest Glade Arena on Fridays from 7:55 pm - 9:45 pm.
- WFCU Centre on Saturdays from 4:50 pm - 6:40 pm.
Lace up your skates for a festive and free winter activity. Check the link provided for any closure updates that may impact individual dates.
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Monarch Cafe Series - Songs and Stories in the Round | |
Delight in an evening of musical brilliance at The Bank Theatre on Friday, January 5th, starting at 7:00 pm with doors opening at 6:30 pm. The Monarch Cafe Series, featuring artist-in-residence Justin Latam, offers an enchanting experience reminiscent of the Nashville Bluebird Cafe style. Admission is $15, and this series runs from November to May on the first Friday of each month. The Bank Theatre is located at 10 Erie St. South in Leamington. | |
In the Top Gun sequel, Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell mentors a group of young pilots, including Rooster, the son of his late friend Goose, for a crucial mission to destroy an enemy site. Navigating personal demons and the dynamics of the hotshot team, Maverick prepares for the high-stakes task. Now streaming on Netflix. | |
In this week's Throwback Thursday feature, we're rolling back the years to a joyous moment with four familiar faces – Tim, Seth, Dino, and Chris – all gathered for a fun-filled evening of bowling. The photo captures their infectious smiles as they enjoy each other's company and the camaraderie of the game. Stay tuned for more glimpses into the cherished moments of our past! | |
This Greek potato recipe delivers a perfect blend of flavours, creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Ideal as a delectable side dish or a standalone delight. | |
Laughter is the Best Medicine | |
| We're four days into 2024. Have you broken your resolution? | | | |
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The first Christmas cookie you eat from the tray is in shape of a:
Star ~ 33%
Tree ~ 42%
Santa ~ 26%
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