Cheshire Gives Back!

First, a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our Summer Donation Drive with London Cares! Together, we collected nearly 40 pounds of much-needed items to support our community – an incredible show of generosity.

Congratulations to Angela B. the winner of the $50 Tim’s gift card.

This initiative wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s kindness and support. Thank you again for helping us make such a meaningful impact.

Accessibility in London, Ontario, is an ongoing project as the city strives to meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) goal of a fully accessible province by 2025, which has faced challenges and requires cooperation from all levels of government. Key efforts include London Transit 's accessible fleet and a 2020-2025 Accessibility Plan focusing on universal design principles. The city is also developing accessible outdoor spaces and has a guide for accessible parking. 

Transportation

All London Transit Commission buses are 100% low-floor and have ramps. The system also provides pre-board and on-board announcements for visual and audible information and offers free travel for a support person with an approved registrant. https://www.londontransit.ca/

Accessible Parking:

The city offers information and permits for accessible parking, with specific rules for metered street parking and municipal lots. https://london.ca/living-london/parking/accessible-veterans-parking

Parks and Outdoor Spaces:

The city has invested in accessible features in parks, such as Springbank Park, which offers paved pathways and accessible playgrounds. https://www.londontourism.ca/guides/accessible-london-ontario

Examples of Accessible Parks and Features

• Springbank Park: Features paved paths along the Thames River and an accessible playground with adaptive equipment. 
• Sifton Bog ESA: Offers an accessible boardwalk for nature exploration. 
• The Coves ESA: Includes accessible trails. 
• Ann Street Community Garden: An example of a community garden with accessible plots and additional space for gardening. 

Tourism Resources:

Tourism London provides information on accessible attractions, including accessible park features. https://www.londontourism.ca/guides/accessible-london-ontario

Information Technology - October is Cyber Security Month

Our Cybersecurity partner KnowBe4 has planned an exciting month of training content for us to share with our employees, aimed at helping Cheshire build a strong security culture.

This October we will take a closer look at some general cybersecurity precautions, dealing with AI-powered phishing and email scams, how to protect against Ransomware attacks, and why reporting any suspicious communications is so important.

As always, follow these important cybersecurity recommendations:

1. Passwords protect your personal accounts and organizational information so using secure passwords is really important to keep that information safe. Use these tips for securing access to your information:
2. Create long, unique phrases, with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters
3. Use different passwords for every account
4. Always use additional authentication, such as a one-time code
5. Stop, look and think before clicking on a link or opening an attachment
6. Verify the sender is legitimate
7. Confirm with a trusted contact method before opening anything
8. Protect your privacy
9. Be mindful of the information you share on social media platforms, and update your privacy settings to control who has access to your posts

Cheshire is excited to announce our upcoming 4th CARF Accreditation Survey!

We are proud to share that Cheshire will be undergoing our 4th Accreditation Survey with CARF International in January/February 2026. This important milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality services that meet internationally recognized standards.

What is CARF Accreditation?

CARF Accreditation is a voluntary, internationally recognized process that Cheshire has chosen to undertake to ensure our services meet the highest quality standards. It helps us evaluate how we support individuals and identify ways to improve outcomes for those we serve.

How is Accreditation Achieved?

Accreditation involves a commitment to continuous quality improvement and begins with a self-assessment of our programs and practices. We then request a site survey by CARF—a team of expert reviewers who assess how well we meet over 1,500 rigorous standards. If we meet the required standards, we receive CARF accreditation. After the survey, we submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to address any areas for growth and provide annual progress reports throughout the accreditation period.

Why is Cheshire Pursuing Accreditation?

Pursuing CARF Accreditation allows Cheshire to:

• Demonstrate accountability and transparency through a respected third-party review.
• Showcase our exceptional and unique services.
• Ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of our supports exceed global best practices.
• Receive meaningful feedback to help us grow and evolve—for the benefit of the individuals we support, their families, our staff, and community partners.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for this exciting journey!

Are you in a need of a family physician? 

While Ontario is still experiencing a primary care physician shortage this may be of help if you are looking for help.