Welcome to the latest edition of the

Family & Friends Newsletter!

Dear Families and Friends,

As summer comes to a close, CLASS is pleased to share some of the wonderful moments, accomplishments and milestones from across its community.

This edition celebrates the power of opportunity and connection. From Kim Bos's advocacy and the opening of Margaretta Park to meaningful employment through the KEGO partnership, these stories highlight what can happen when people's voices, abilities and contributions are recognized.

There is also plenty to celebrate across CLASS, including the success of the annual golf tournament, highlights from the Annual General Meeting, and the release of the 2025–2026 Annual Report. You'll find photos from summer outings and activities, upcoming program information, and an update on CLASS's ongoing FOCUS Accreditation journey.

Thank you to families, staff, volunteers and community partners for the many ways they contribute to an inclusive community where everyone is valued and has opportunities to thrive.

Enjoy this edition, and please continue sharing your stories and photos for future newsletters!

Warm regards,

The CLASS Team

Golf Tournament Success!

A Record Day on the Course!

The 31st Annual CLASS Charity Golf Tournament, held on June 19 at Lebovic Golf Club, was a record-breaking success!

Thanks to the generosity of golfers, sponsors, donors, volunteers and community partners, the sold-out tournament welcomed 132 golfers and raised more than $88,000. CLASS extends its sincere appreciation to Lead Sponsor New Phase Staffing Inc., along with everyone who helped make the event possible. Visit the CLASS website for the full list of supporters.

The day was filled with beautiful weather, friendly competition, great food and a wonderful sense of community. Funds raised will help CLASS enhance programs, experiences and opportunities for people to pursue their goals, build meaningful connections and participate fully in community life.

Looking Ahead

Following the success of this year's tournament, we're excited to announce that CLASS will host two golf events in 2027! Registration and pricing will be available early 2027.

📅 Friday, June 11, 2027 – 32nd Annual CLASS Charity Golf Tournament

📅 Friday, September 10, 2027 – NEW! CLASS Fall Charity Golf Classic

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's tournament such an incredible success. Together, we're building a more inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Experiences like this highlight the importance of inclusion, connection, and participation — values that guide our work and are central to our

FOCUS Accreditation journey.

CLASS AGM – An Evening of Reflection, Recognition, and Advocacy

Photo above: Marc Ronan, James and Peggy Feehley, and Craig Butler.

The CLASS community gathered on September 15 for its Annual General Meeting, an evening to reflect on the past year, recognize important contributions and celebrate the people who continue to shape CLASS.

A particularly meaningful part of the evening was dedicated to remembering former Board member Colleen Butler, who passed away earlier this year. With Colleen's family in attendance, Board member Marc Ronan shared heartfelt memories and stories, with others adding their own reflections throughout the evening.

An Ontario Volunteer Service Award recognizing Colleen's dedicated service to CLASS was accepted on behalf of her husband, Craig. It was a special acknowledgement of the time, care and commitment she gave to the organization over the years.

CLASS also recognized Dr. Matt Myatt, who served on the Board of Directors from September 2016 to July 2025. Matt's many years of service were recently honoured with an Ontario Volunteer Service Award at a ceremony in Barrie. CLASS extends its sincere thanks to Matt for his dedication and contributions.

Another highlight of the evening was hearing from Avery, who spoke about advocacy at CLASS and the importance of having a voice, being heard, and helping create positive change.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening a meaningful celebration of community, service and advocacy.

Photos: Dr, Matt Myatt at the Volunteer service awards night. Avery and her dog Luma at the CLASS AGM.

The 2025–2026 CLASS Annual Report is here!

CLASS is pleased to share its Annual Report. This year’s report celebrates the people, moments and milestones that made the past year meaningful — from new opportunities and community connections to partnerships, innovation and continued growth across CLASS.

Most importantly, it shares the stories of people making choices, building skills, contributing and being part of their communities.

We invite you to take a look back at the year and celebrate with us!

Read the 2025–2026 CLASS Annual Report: Annual Report

Celebrating Kim's Advocacy and a

More Accessible Community!

Kim's years of advocacy, dedication and commitment to accessibility were celebrated with the official opening of Margaretta Park in Innisfil.

As a member of the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee, Kim worked alongside fellow committee members and community partners to champion a vision for a park where people of different abilities can play, participate and enjoy the space together.

The result is Innisfil's first enhanced wheelchair-accessible playground, designed to remove barriers and create more opportunities for everyone to belong.

Kim's involvement demonstrates the difference people can make when their voices and lived experiences are included in the decisions that shape their communities.

CLASS congratulates Kim and everyone who helped make Margaretta Park a reality. What a wonderful accomplishment and a lasting contribution to the community!

Read more about Kim and Margaretta Park here. 

Kim's advocacy demonstrates the importance of having a voice and being included in decisions that affect our communities. These principles of self-determination, inclusion and accessibility are central to CLASS's FOCUS Accreditation journey.

Storytelling - Fostering Personal Journeys

Photo: Jason, Tyler, Hanna, Sarah, Daniella, and Nicholas.

What does meaningful employment look like? For 21 people at CLASS, it means being part of a team, developing skills and earning a paycheque through a partnership with KEGO!

KEGO is a company that supplies saline solution. Through former CLASS Board member Cindy Brent, KEGO has partnered with CLASS to provide meaningful employment opportunities for people receiving supports and services from CLASS.

As part of this partnership, the team applies English-language instructions to small vials of saline, carefully preparing and labelling each vial according to KEGO's requirements.

CLASS currently has 21 people employed through the program, working two days a week, four hours each day. This provides opportunities to gain valuable work experience, develop new skills, contribute to a real business and take pride in being part of a workplace.

Beyond earning a paycheque, the partnership gives people the opportunity to work together, build confidence and see the direct impact of their contributions.

CLASS is grateful to KEGO and Cindy for helping create this opportunity and recognizing the skills and abilities people bring to the workplace.

Read more stories like these on the CLASS Website here.

Meaningful employment provides opportunities to build skills, gain confidence, earn a paycheque and contribute to the community. Partnerships like KEGO reflect the person-centred approach at the heart of our FOCUS Accreditation journey.

moments from the CLASS community

From theatre outings and summer adventures to creative activities, new experiences and time spent with friends, there have been plenty of memorable moments across CLASS!

Here's a look at some of the people, places and activities that made this summer special.

Visit the CLASS website gallery  to see even more photos.

Did You Know? Discover More About CLASS!

Have you seen CLASS's Did You Know? campaign on social media?

Through a series of short, informative posts, CLASS is sharing interesting facts about its programs, services and the many ways people are building skills, pursuing their goals and contributing to the community.

From inclusive employment and social innovation to community partnerships and everyday opportunities, the campaign offers families, friends and community members a chance to learn more about CLASS and the impact of its work across South Simcoe.

Follow CLASS on Facebook and Instagram to discover something new, and feel free to like, comment and share the posts to help spread the word about CLASS and the importance of building a community where everyone belongs!

Take a peek below. View more weekly on the CLASS social media platforms. Facebook.

Staying FOCUSed...

The Accreditation Journey

As CLASS continues its FOCUS Accreditation journey, the organization is looking beyond policies, procedures and standards to focus on what matters most: the everyday experiences, rights, choices and opportunities of the people receiving its supports and services.

Accreditation provides an opportunity to reflect on how CLASS listens to people, supports their decisions and creates opportunities for independence, confidence, belonging, contribution and meaningful relationships.

An important part of this work is taking a rights-based approach. When restrictions are necessary, CLASS considers the least restrictive options and continues to review whether those restrictions are still needed, keeping each person's voice, rights, choices and goals at the centre.

Many of these person-centred practices are already happening across CLASS every day. Accreditation provides an opportunity to build on this work, learn from people's experiences and strengthen consistency across programs and services.

Families and friends are important partners in this journey. Their perspectives, experiences and feedback help CLASS understand what is working well and where improvements can be made.

CLASS looks forward to sharing more about its accreditation journey in future newsletters.

Accreditation is about more than meeting standards. It’s about strengthening a culture where every person’s voice, rights, choices, and opportunities are valued — every day.

CLASS & community info/EVENTS

Monthly Passport Bingo & Pizza Night Returns

The Passport Bingo & Pizza Night returned on September 24th and will now run every 3rd Thursday of the month until December. We’re looking forward to another fun evening of games, food, prizes, and time together.

Pizza Dinner

Bingo Games (10 games per evening)

Great Prizes

The evening is covered through Passport funding for Passport participants.

If you would like to attend, please be sure to register each month and reserve your spot using the link here.

Sign-up for the session here

If you have questions, need help registering, or would like more information about using Passport funding, please contact:

Wendy Robinson

Passport Coordinator

Inviting all local Alliston & District businesses

Join the Alliston & District Chamber of Commerce for the next Networking & Learn, hosted and sponsored by Community Living Association for South Simcoe.

This is a high-energy, in-person evening designed to help local business owners and professionals connect with new faces, strengthen relationships, and leave with practical ideas you can apply right away. Expect a welcoming room, great conversations, and the kind of community vibe that makes doing business in South Simcoe special.

Whether you’re new to the Chamber or a regular, come ready to meet potential partners, swap referrals, and learn something usefulall while supporting an organization that makes a real impact in our community.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Community Living Association for South Simcoe

Address: 125 Dufferin St S, Alliston, ON L9R 1E9

Sponsor: Community Living Association for South Simcoe



Spots are limited, reserve yours and bring your business cards.

RSVP / Tickets:

RSVP

Alliston & District Chamber of Commerce

Community Living Association for South Simcoe

Vision:

An inclusive community where everyone is valued, diversity is a

strength and all live with dignity.



Mission:

We foster personal journeys — as a provider of innovative programs and

services, a credible voice for change and a trusted facilitator of success.

CLASS is a proud member of: