Shane's Bike Workshop
Shane has recently started refurbishing old bicycles that have been left to the side of the road for garbage or donated, with the help of his staff. He wanted to do this as a pastime during the lockdown, and donate the refurbished bikes to people supported by Community Living Essex County. 
New Day Spotlight: Kate Chant
Kate has been part of New Day for many years. She started out attending the monthly meetings and later joined the New Day Working Group and was a part of the Working Group for three years. During that time, Kate also joined the Speaking Out Planning Committee and helped plan the Speaking Out Conference and Retreats. Kate enjoyed helping to plan the mini golf and helping to make the decisions about presentations and speakers.

Kate learned from New Day and Speaking Out how to use her voice to speak up when something is wrong, and they have given her the power to advocate for herself.  

Kate shared the following story with us, about how she advocated for herself. She was at a medical appointment and was told that her parent could not go in with her as her support person.  Kate used her voice to speak up for herself and was able to advocate to have her mother allowed to attend the appointment with her.  

During her time on the committees Kate was challenged to get out of her comfort zone by doing public speaking for various presentations. One of Kate’s favourite memories is presenting the “NO More R Word” presentation at the Break Through Walls Church.    Kate also met one of her role models Luca Patuelli “Lazylegz” at the Speaking Out Conference. Kate likes his motto “No Excuses, No Limits!”.

Kate is a volunteer at Richmond Terrace with the recreation department, as well as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She also participates in Essex County Heroes and Miracle League.

In her spare time Kate likes to spend time with her cats, play video games, and has a collection of music. She has also started to paint and is enjoying her new found hobby.

When COVID-19 is over Kate can’t wait to see her friends and family.  She also can’t wait to be able to go back to the mall again. 
The Unexpected Journey
“Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate, and though I oft have passed them by, a day will come at last when I shall take the hidden paths that run west of the moon, east of the sun.”
Bilbo and Frodo in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Sometimes in life we face unexpected challenges. When we have a family member with a disability, life can certainly be different than what we expected. These unexpected paths our families find themselves on can be wonderful while being different. Initially, it can sometimes be difficult to see how these unexpected paths can be beautiful, but when we do, the journey is often better than we expected.

Tara McCallum of the Happy Soul Project shares her family’s story after the unexpected diagnosis of Down Syndrome for her newborn daughter Pip.

Click on the above video to see Tara telling her story.
Kelly Runnalls,   
Parent Consultant, Ensemble
ensemble@communitylivingessex.org or 519-776-6483, ext. 225  
Free Webinar: Legal Guide to Engaging Support Workers For People With Disabilities
This session will include an introduction to the Legal Guide to Engaging Private Support Workers and will highlight key takeaways from each chapter and the resources that are included in the guide. Learn about important legal issues related to paying support workers, including:

  • funding sources
  • understanding the differences between employees and independent contractors
  • best practices for hiring workers
  • key rules for managing support workers
  • health and safety and human rights issues
  • insurance and taxation considerations
  • special rules related to live-in support workers

Please click the registration link below and join us on Monday, June 21, 2021 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm.
Help Us Win $20K!
Join the Great Canadian Giving Challenge!
The Great Canadian Giving Challenge is a month-long initiative to help drive donations to your favourite non-profit organizations. During the month of June, ALL online donations made via the Canada Helps website will give Community Living Essex County the chance to win $20,000!
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. 

Please complete the survey before the new deadline, Friday, June 11th.
Join Us for Our 60th Annual General Meeting
on June 23rd
Ontario Seeks Input from the
Francophone Community
The province has launched an online survey as part of consultations on French-language services.


Ontarians are invited to take part in a province-wide online consultation that will help improve access to services in French in the province.

The Ontario government wants to engage with Ontarians to identify best approaches and innovative delivery models to promote access to the French-language services that are critical to Francophone communities, including ways to strengthen Ontario’s francophone and bilingual workforce.

The public is invited to take part in the consultation through an online questionnaire available in French and English. on the Ontario government’s Consultations directory.
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.
The Science of Bubbles
Celebrate the start of summer by exploring the wonderful world of bubbles on Wednesday, June 16 at 2 p.m.

Have you ever met a bubbleologist? Get to know Miss T the Bubble Queen as she performs magical and mind-blowing tricks. Find out how bubbles work and why they are always round (hint: it’s science!). But does Miss T have the amazing ability to create a bubble that is not a sphere? There’s only one way to find out!

Plus, use their tried, tested and true bubble recipe to conduct your own bubbly experiments at home. Pop to it!
Make Your Own Rainbow Popsicles
Delicious rainbow banana pudding pops are super simple to make! The best thing about using pudding for the rainbow is that you don't have to wait for each coloured layer to set before adding the next colour. Since the pudding is thick, you can just layer them all at once.

Ingredients
  • 2 - large boxes (5.1 oz) instant pudding mix (light colored)
  • milk
  • food colouring
  • paper cups (5 oz.)
  • popsicle sticks

Directions
  • prepare pudding according to the directions. (you may need to add a little more milk to make the pudding pourable)
  • let pudding stand until it has thickened a bit
  • divide into 5 parts and colour each part with food coloring
  • layer each colour of pudding into small paper cups
  • cover with tin foil and insert popsicle sticks
  • chill in refrigerator for 2 hours, then place in freezer to completely freeze
  • to eat, peel off paper cup paper and enjoy your pudding pop!
  • makes 10 - 12 popsicles
Recipe of the Week
Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas
Pizza night is the best night — especially when everyone gets to build their dream slice.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Weekly Poll Question
Ontario is moving to Step 1 of reopening on Friday, what are you most looking forward to do?
Visiting with family and friends outdoors
Outdoor dining
Non-essential retail
All of the above
Poll Results
Are you planning to attend the Annual General Meeting on June 23rd?
Yes ~ 45.2%
No ~ 45.2%
Have not decided yet ~ 9.7%