December 2025

Strategic Plan 2026-2029

Our Board has recently approved our 2026-29 Strategic Plan.

This plan guides our work and is based on our core values and beliefs as well as the priority areas that we have identified for the upcoming years. The plan outlines the way we work, our tools for change, and our work to transform communities & systems.

We are excited for these upcoming years and invite you to read through our Strategic Plan. In the new year we'll be sharing specific goals and initiatives for the upcoming years.

👉 View the Strategic Plan here >

Highlights from the 16th Annual National Policy Forum on Inclusion

On November 5th, 12th, and 19th, 2025, Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada hosted the 16th annual national policy forum on inclusion. This year’s theme was What’s holding us back? The future of inclusive education in Canada.

Over the 3-day series, we explored what gets in the way of the right to inclusive education in Canada and highlighted examples of how we can overcome these barriers together. We also created an information sheet with links to resources that were mentioned during the event. 

Check out highlights from the event & access the information sheet here >

Five Federal Priorities for Inclusion

We have released our top five priorities for inclusion. This priorities document is a result of extensive consultations with our federation of 13 provincial/territorial organizations and 300 local associations across the country. We are urging all political parties to commit to actionable steps to realize these important priorities to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

We will be monitoring these priorities in the upcoming Parliamentary cycle and will share updates on socials. Stay tuned!

View the document here:

EN >

FR >

Outgoing and New Board Members

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing board members who have completed their terms. Each of them provided outstanding, dedicated service and valuable contributions to Inclusion Canada over the years. We look forward to their continued involvement within our movement. 

Our outgoing board members include Dennis Gill, Ben Russo, Dianne Cormier Northrup, Audra Latschislaw, Marcel St. Jean, Richard Johnson, Monica Braat, and Carmel French.

At the same time, we want to welcome our new members, many of whom are still familiar faces within the inclusion movement. These members include Delaney Beaton, Jennie Chanda, Joey Mackey, Alexandra Page, Lynn Pigage, Tina Trigg, and Amandah Woods.

We look forward to working with all of you over the course of your mandates.

Save the Date: April 23, 2026

Something big is coming. Please mark this date in your calendar and stay up-to-date with our social & email for announcements on the event. Registration to open soon!

2025 DWC Conference

Our CEO Krista Carr appeared at the Disability and Work in Canada (DWC) Conference in Ottawa, alongside Brian Foster and Sinthea Chowdhury from the Ready Willing & Able team.

Our staff spoke on AI & Inclusive Hiring: Exploring the Opportunity and Risks.

RWA Assistant National Director Frank Fagan also spoke about inclusive employment accountability: hiring matters!

Inclusion Canada in Action

• Inclusion Canada posthumously honoured our long time distinguished member Lorraine Silliphant with the President's Award. The award was presented by our President Moira Wilson to Lorraine’s granddaughter Erin MacQuarrie who accepted the award on behalf of Lorraine and her family. Lorraine dedicated her life to advancing the full inclusion and human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in New Brunswick and across Canada. 

• On International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), Inclusion Canada along with our three partners (CCRW, DAWN Canada, IDC/BCANDS) held a special celebration in Ottawa. We were joined by members of the community, Senators, MPs, government officials, and other disability organizations. We celebrated the progress made but were also reminded about the hard work that still lies ahead.

Our Federation - Provincial/Territorial Member Updates

Did you know Inclusion Canada has a federation of 13 provincial/territorial and over 300 local member associations across Canada? In this section, you'll learn more about their work to advance inclusion across the country!

• Inclusion Alberta expressed their deep dismay at the passing of Bill 12, which changes the AISH program and introduces the ADAP - effectively cutting benefits and pushing people with disabilities in Alberta deeper into poverty. Read more in their press release.