December 2020
Image of holiday cookies surrounded by pine tree branches, candy canes, ornaments, and other holiday trinkets. Text reads "Inclusion Matters - News from Inclusion Canada."
Three circles in different colours and icons - red with a heart, yellow with a dollar sign, blue with an apartment building.
Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada host 11th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion

On December 3, Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada hosted the 11th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion, in collaboration with the Office for Disability Issues. This year's theme was "Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities in COVID 19: Challenges, Opportunities & the Road Ahead." 

We would like to express our gratitude to our keynote speakers, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough and Neil Belanger, Executive Director of BCANDS. We're also grateful to the numerous self-advocates, family members, policy makers, researchers, and community advocates who made our first virtual Policy Forum a collaborative space for learning and reflection.

Welcome & congratulations to our new Board Members!
On December 6 2020, Inclusion Canada hosted its 63rd Annual General Meeting. We would like to extend our congratulations and a warm welcome to our newly elected board members! We look forward to your guidance, expertise, and commitment to the movement for inclusion as we work to build an inclusive Canada for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Yellow circle with black text and a small Canadian flag. Text in the circle reads #WhyUs?
#WhyUs by Project Value

In response to the existential threat posed by Bill C-7 to people with disabilities in Canada, the #WhyUs campaign unites the voices of self-advocates, policy experts, and concerned members of the disability community to question why persons with disabilities are specifically targeted by the Federal government in expanding access to medical assistance in dying.

Inclusion Canada in Action
  • Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) is pleased to welcome BMO Financial Group as the first financial institution to become an RWA national employer partner.

  • Despite the significant impact of COVID-19, RWA continues to successfully facilitate employment outcomes for persons with disabilities with an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder, with 97 new employment outcomes achieved between June-September 2020.

  • Inclusion Canada staff attended the virtual 13th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from Dec 1-4th.

  • Inclusion Canada Board of Directors, staff, and national Federation member leadership met virtually on December 6 for our 63rd Annual General Meeting, where Inclusion Canada launched its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan and presented its 2019-2020 Annual Report/Year in Review.

  • Inclusion Canada Executive Vice President Krista Carr has been appointed Chair of the Ministerial Disability Advisory Group (MDAG), the renewal of the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group (CDAG). MDAG's mandate is to provide advice to the Minister on promoting disability inclusion and the implementation of Government of Canada programs and initiatives related to the Minster of disability's mandate.
Picture of front cover of Strategic Plan. Image of 3 people working on a computer - person in the middle has a disability. Text reads "Strategic Plan - 2021-2024
Inclusion Canada launches 2021-2024 Strategic Plan

We are excited to share with you our new Strategic Plan for 2021-2024! After an extensive consultation and engagement process, the plan outlines our renewed values, mission, beliefs and areas of strategic priority work to build a Canada in which people with an intellectual disability and their families are valued equally and participate fully in all aspects of society.

Image of 2 friends walking downtown - the girl on the right has a disability. Text on image reads "Annual Report 2019-2020"
Our Year in Review

Our recently released 2019-2020 Annual Report details progress made across our strategic priority areas over the last year, including in legal capacity, inclusive education, employment, safe & inclusive communities, and more. We invite you to review the report and celebrate with us our work in building an inclusive Canada for people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Welcome Jeff Ferguson to the Inclusion
Canada Team
Effective January 4, 2021, Tara Levandier, Inclusion Canada Director of Policy & Program Operations, is on maternity leave. Our warm congratulations to Tara & her family!

Inclusion Canada welcomes Jeff Ferguson to the role of Director of Policy & Program Operations as Tara's replacement for the duration of her leave. Jeff comes to Inclusion Canada having worked in various senior executive roles in the provincial government in New Brunswick and more recently with the federal government in Ottawa.
Image of Jeff smiling at camera in an office.
Upcoming Dates & Events
12pm Dec 23rd - Jan 4 - Inclusion Canada Offices Closed

Our work to strengthen families, defend rights, and transform communities would not be possible without your financial support. If these stories resonate with you, please consider making a donation. Thank you.