June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day | |
For many years, Indigenous groups have celebrated their culture and heritage around June 21, which is the longest day of the year, during the summer solstice. In 1996, National Aboriginal Day (now called National Indigenous Peoples Day) was officially recognized by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc. On June 21, 2017, the Prime Minister announced the new name for this day. Across the country, there are events that highlight the diverse cultural expressions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Click the link below for an interactive map showcasing activities near you. | |
Gerald, Derek and Shane took a daytrip to St. Jacobs last Thursday. The enjoyed the picture-perfect weather while they took their time walking around the market and seeing everything the vendors had to offer. | |
Exploring different Carrousels has become a tradition for Kevin and Clayton. This year's choice was the Canadian Carrousel Village in Walkerville. They spent Saturday afternoon enjoying live music and savoring delicious food, all of which originated right here in our beautiful country. | |
Last week, Paul Denis and Paul Lassaline, visited the Chatham Casino on a day trip. They spent some time trying their hand at various games before enjoying lunch at the casino. | |
Paul has been eager to explore new activities this summer, and recently decided to make the most of the beautiful weather by practicing his swing at the Silver Tee Driving Range. He can’t wait to return and continue improving his golf game! | |
Strawberry Fields Forever | |
Tony and Art enjoyed strawberry picking at Meleg’s Lakeview and Orchard Mill last week! Together, they make a batch of delicious homemade strawberry jam. | |
63rd Annual General Meeting | |
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Community Living Essex County held their 63rd Annual General Meeting Tuesday, June 18th with 125 people in attendance. This year the AGM returned to a very welcomed in-person event at the Ciociaro Club.
The business portion of the AGM included the election and induction of the Board of Directors for 2024/25. This year all six elected to the Board were current Board members standing for re-election. Our Board members are valuable volunteers with a vast and varied skill set which serves the agency extremely well. Information about the Board is found on our website.
BDO completed the agency’s audited financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2024. Following approval of the Board, these were then also approved by the membership at the AGM with thanks to BDO for the efficient handling of this audit.
This was the second year for the following line up of awards. Advocacy and community feature strongly and we are very proud one award is being offered in collaboration with New Day and another in collaboration with Ensemble. Below are the exceptional recipients of the awards given at the 63rd Annual General Meeting. Each one inspires and leads by example worthy of our praise and applause.
- Beth Renaud: Advocacy Champion Award
- Marlene McLellan: Outstanding Achievement Award
- Cassie Armstrong: Community Leadership Award
- Sarah Julius: Inspiring Possibilities Youth Award
- Onyx Fitness Solutions: Community Ambassador Award
- Karen Pickle: Families for Inclusion Award
- Annalisa Pacitti: The Jeremy Hart Memorial Bursary
- Pendo Omar: The Kevin McMullan Memorial Award
Click here for the Year in Review video with photos capturing events taking place back in person again. While we pivoted quickly and creatively when needed to virtual, it is wonderful to have the emphasis back on in person events instead. The Employee Milestones slide show can be viewed by clicking here.
The Annual Report is on our website is found at this link.
We are looking forward to the coming year with optimism and continue to envision a community that celebrates inclusion and inspires possibilities. Our commitment is to support people with an intellectual disability to achieve their goals and dreams, empowering them to flourish as full citizens who are valued in their community. Thank you for helping us. We are all making a difference.
See you in June, 2025 for our 64th Annual General Meeting.
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Community connections are our “ lifeline”. They provide us with opportunities that will enhance our daily lives. We make connections through church, school, hobbies, travel, and any number of other sources, including VOLUNTEERING.
Community Living Essex County provides families with a unique opportunity to connect. Where? At ENSEMBLE— your source for finding resources that will provide you with valuable information. Social media is a resource provided by Ensemble. It not only highlights current issues, it also provides you with a chance to interact with other families on a social level. CLEC’s weekly newsletter also features news from Ensemble.
Ensemble is a committee of volunteer families who strive to address the complexities of lives that include family members with intellectual disabilities. Working together, strategies can be shared and solutions created.
In order to continue evolving, the Ensemble Advisory Committee is reaching out to Essex County families - moms, dads and siblings.
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Please consider joining Ensemble’s Advisory Committee. We are looking for **2** new committee members. We meet every 6 weeks for approximately
1 1/2 hours at the Essex Centre.
To be considered as a committee member, please send an email to:
Mgodard@ensembleunderstands.com. Briefly outline your family situation, previous volunteer experience, and how you feel you can provide valuable input to the committee.
All emails will be confidential and everyone will be contacted upon the receipt of email.
FAMILY VOICES ARE CRITICAL
Best regards,
Marilyn-Ensemble Family Consultant and the Advisory Committee
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Career Compass: Youth in Action | |
Career Compass' Youth in Action program is making waves this summer, with Zuki already showcasing her skills at Raymont's Berries. She's been busy maintaining the berry plants, ensuring they're well-tended and hydrated amidst the heat. Kudos to Zuki for her stellar efforts! | |
Join Us for Our Charity Golf Classic | |
Registration is now open for our 32nd Annual Charity Golf Classic! Join us on Thursday, July 11 at Sutton Creek Golf Course. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, hotdog lunch and dinner! All proceeds from the Community Living Essex County Charity Golf Classic are directed towards supports and services available to more than 700 people with an intellectual disability and their families throughout Essex County. Click the button below to register. | |
Tickets On Sale for Sip 'N Shop Mixer! | |
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Don’t miss your chance to attend the 3rd Annual Sip ’N Shop Mixer that kicks off the annual Essex Fun Fest on Thursday July 4th, 2024, at the Essex Arena Fairgrounds. Join us starting at 7pm for a fun night of music, food, wine, and raffles with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Community Living Essex County.
A limited number of tickets are available for $35 each. They can be purchased at the front desk at our office in Essex, located at 372 Talbot St. N, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm. Ticket price includes admission to event, souvenir wine tumbler for the first 500 patrons, Essex BIA tote bag, three wine samplings, one glass of wine, one personal charcuterie bowl, live entertainment, and chances to win some great prizes!
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Canada Disability Benefit Petition | |
A new petition is asking the federal government to make several improvements to the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). The petition calls for the benefit to be better funded, free of barriers and claw backs, and more. It argues that the proposed CDB outlined in Budget 2024 is not what the disability community called for and falls short of the government's promises and the disability community's needs. The petition was initiated by Chantal Huinink, who was born with a physical disability in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a motivational speaker, author, and social justice advocate. Click the link below to learn more and to sign the petition. | |
2024 Windsor-Essex Vital Signs Survey | Each year the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation (WECF) releases the Vital Signs survey to learn what’s important to the residents of our community. The information is used by government and service providers across sectors to focus efforts on what people believe is important. Please take a few moments to complete this year’s Vital Signs Survey and encourage the people we support to do so as well. Please click the link below to start the survey. Your input will contribute to shaping a better community for all. | |
Career Compass Employer Referral Program | |
Upcoming DSO Virtual Presentation | |
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) is hosting a free virtual presentation on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) on June 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This informative session will address common questions about ODSP, covering topics such as benefits, asset limits, employment, and disputing decisions. If you’re interested, you can register by clicking the button below | |
The world of work can be an important and meaningful way to build a good life. If you have a loved one with a disability who has employment-focused goals, then this webcast is for you! Join to discuss strategies that can support jobseekers who are preparing, or currently searching for job opportunities. This session will also touch on different ways people can continue to expand on their employment goals even if already employed. The webcast will take place on June 26th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Click the button below to register. | |
Microboards Ontario: Family Connection Night | |
Microboards Ontario will be hosting a Family Connection Night webinar on July 3 at 6:30 p.m. This session will focus on getting started with a microboard. A microboard has one purpose: to support a person with a disability in living their best life by assisting them in making decisions and empowering them to express their goals. These sessions fill up quickly, so register today using the link below! | |
Carrousel of the Nations: Week Two | |
Week two of the Carrousel of the Nations will begin this weekend. The Carrousel of Nations is in its 49th year and continues to grow in attendance, celebrating diversity and inclusion. This week, the festival will take place on Friday, June 21st to Sunday, June 23rd. As the only ethnic and multicultural festival in the area, Carrousel offers residents and visitors the chance to experience a wide array of cultures and traditions they might otherwise never encounter. Click the link below for the full event schedule. | |
Kingsville-Essex Highland Games | |
Immerse yourself in the Kingsville-Essex Highland Games this weekend. This celebration of Scottish and Celtic heritage includes Pipes & Drums, Highland Dancing, Heavy Events, Tug of War, Clan Village, Sheep Herding, Haggis Hurl, a 5K Kilt Run/Walk, and various vendors. The event runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village in Kingsville. Click the link below to learn more. | |
Indigenous Short Film Festival | |
Tecumseh Community & Recreation Services will be hosting an Indigenous Short Film Festival on National Indigenous Peoples Day! This festival will allow people to learn about Indigenous culture through film! The event will take place on Friday June 21, from 6:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. at École Secondaire Catholique l’Essor. Admission is free for everyone! The evening will begin with short films that are appropriate for all ages. Short films for more mature audiences (16 years+) are to follow. Click the link below to visit the event website. | |
Windsor Public Library: Free Outdoor Movie Night | |
Join Windsor Public Library for a free all ages outdoor movie night at Forest Glade Optimist Park. The movie shown will be the Disney/Pixar animated movie, ‘Elemental’. Family-friendly activities start at 7:00p.m. and the movie begins at sundown (approximately 9:15p.m.). Concessions will be made available for purchase by the Forest Glade Optimist Club. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. All children must be accompanied by an adult. | |
Join Unifor Local 444 on Saturday, June 22nd at the LaSalle Event Centre for Cars for a Cause. The event will feature over 40 exotic cars displayed in ‘The Dream Hangar’ at the Event Centre. Additionally, the show extends outdoors to ‘The Waterfront,’ where you’ll find some of the best community cars. Vendors will also showcase some incredible shop cars. The event supports Oneday Dreams, an organization that fulfills end-of-life dreams for Canadian adults with terminal illnesses. Click the link below to learn more. | |
The Ford Fireworks is one of the very best fireworks shows in North America. The event takes place on Monday, June 24th, with the fireworks set to begin at 9:55 p.m. As always, the show is free and open to the public with amazing views from the Windsor waterfront. Click the link below to learn more. | |
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There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfectly golden, thick, caramelized piece of French toast on a lazy weekend. Except, perhaps, having it in bed while still wearing your pajamas! This recipe is easy to make, takes only minutes, and the best part is that it works even better with day-old bread. Click the link below for the recipe.
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Crafting this welcoming and unique wreath will transport you to a vacation mindset! While this project falls into the intermediate level, the extra effort pays off in the end. | |
| If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose? | | | |
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Which of these is your biggest fear?
Clowns - 0%
Heights - 35.3%
Small Spaces - 13.7%
Spiders - 13.7%
Large Crowds - 5.9%
Flying - 3.9%
Other - 19.6%
Nothing scares me - 7.8%
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