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The 47th Ruthven Apple Festival is Happening
This Weekend!
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Join us for the 47th Annual Ruthven Apple Festival this weekend!
The Ruthven Apple Festival returns to Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens this weekend for two days of fall fun, local vendors, entertainment, food, and activities for the whole family.
📅Dates: September 26th & 27th | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍Location: Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Ruthven
Here’s what you can look forward to:
🍏 Farmers Market: Fresh-picked apples and a fantastic array of locally grown produce.
🎶 Live Entertainment: Enjoy vibrant performances by local artists all weekend long.
🎨 Over 125 Craft Vendors: Shop unique handmade creations and support local artisans.
🍔 Food Vendors: Indulge in delicious treats and tasty eats from a variety of food vendors.
🏃♀️➡️ Kidz Zone: Face painting, crafts, games, vendors, performers and entrepreneur showcase!
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But that’s not all! Since its inception, the Ruthven Apple Festival has proudly raised over $1 million to support Community Living Essex County. Your participation helps us purchase and maintain wheelchair-accessible vehicles that provide essential transportation for people receiving supports, ensuring they can access appointments, volunteer opportunities, and community events.
Gather your family and friends for a weekend filled with fall fun. See you at the festival!
*Note: Only working service animals are permitted at the Ruthven Apple Festival. Please leave your pets at home!
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Earlier this month, Arthur enjoyed a getaway to Toronto, spending two nights at a beautiful hotel and a day at Canada’s Wonderland. He watched the roller coasters, stunt shows, and divers, while also trying some great food and visiting two arcades. It was a busy trip with plenty to see and do. | An Afternoon of Exploration | A couple of weeks ago, Ben spent the afternoon at Point Pelee, taking in the nice weather and exploring the park. He especially enjoyed spending some time at the Visitor Centre, where he had some fun with the displays. | Last week, Cassie enjoyed a nice morning visit to Thiessen’s Apple Orchard. She spent some time looking at the pumpkins and walking around the orchard, and had a snack from the Snack Shack. Cassie liked seeing the animals and had fun playing Connect Four on the oversized outdoor game. | | Catching the Last Rays of Summer | | Zoe made the most of the last days of summer during her time at Children’s Respite a couple of weeks ago. She spent time outside soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the warm weather before the start of a new season. | Kent recently celebrated his 75th birthday surrounded by a few of his closest friends. The celebration included a very special surprise when Elvis, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, made an appearance and sang to Kent! To top it all off, Elvis even gave Kent his favourite scarf. It was a special day filled with music, laughter, and plenty of birthday memories for Kent and his friends. Happy Birthday, Kent! | |
Stay Connected with Virtual Supports! | |
Looking for fun and engaging ways to connect, learn, and spend time with others from the comfort of home? Virtual Supports offer opportunities to participate in activities, explore new interests, build connections, develop skills, and stay engaged.
Whether you’re looking to meet new people, connect with friends, try something new, or take part in activities you enjoy, there’s something for everyone.
Flexible registration options are available, including pay-as-you-go registration for individual sessions, as well as bundles and memberships that offer added flexibility and value when registering for multiple sessions.
To purchase a bundle or membership, simply log into MyCommunityHub, complete your purchase, and you’ll receive a code by email within 3–5 business days. Enter your code when registering for sessions to apply your bundle or membership to the session fee.
Need help? Click the button below for helpful links and registration instructions, including step-by-step guidance and video tutorials.
| | An Update from Career Compass | | |
Ryan is celebrating an incredible 12 years of helping keep the Town of Leamington safe! Since 2014, Ryan has been out there rain or shine, sleet or snow, making sure kids get to school safely. There have even been a few days where he’s had to dodge some hail along the way!
No matter the weather, the traffic, or the occasional tough day, Ryan always shows up with a smile and is ready for a friendly chat.
Huge congratulations Ryan! Thanks for everything you do, and keep up the amazing work!
| | Sign Up Today for the Jingle Bell Run, Walk, & Wheel | | |
Join us on Sunday, November 8th, at Ken Knapp Ford in Essex for our 32nd annual Jingle Bell Run, Walk & Wheel!
This festive event supports Community Living Essex County and offers a variety of options: a 2km or 5km walk/run, and a Little Elf Run for kids 6 and under.
You can join individually or as part of a team, and festive attire is encouraged!
Entry Fees:
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Adults: $40 (Early bird $35 – register by October 8!)
- Ages 7–13: $25 (Early bird $20 – register by October 8!)
- Little Elf Run (ages 6 and under): FREE (starts at 9:45 am)
After October 8, fees increase to $40 for adults and $25 for kids 13 and under—so don’t miss out!
A special thank you to Ken Knapp Ford in Essex for their ongoing support of this inclusive community fundraising event!
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A Learning Journey
Upcoming In-Person Learning Opportunities
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Join us for upcoming A Learning Journey sessions designed for people receiving supports. These in-person sessions will focus on municipal elections, giving participants an opportunity to learn how local elections work, understand the voting process, ask questions, and practise taking part in an election. Two sessions will be offered, featuring Elections Coordinators from the Town of Essex and the Municipality of Leamington. See the flyers below for details.
To register, please contact Lisa Wallace, Manager, Quality Assurance, at 519-776-6483 ext. 419 or by email at lisaw@communitylivingessex.org.
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Municipal Elections Information Session (Essex)
Join Kelly Walters, Elections Coordinator with the Town of Essex, for an informative session about municipal elections. Participants will learn how municipal elections work, what to expect when voting, and how to cast a ballot. The session will also include a hands-on mock election, giving participants the opportunity to practise the voting process in a realistic setup.
Thursday, September 24th | 11:00 a.m.
Community Living Essex County (Boardroom A)
372 Talbot St. N., Essex
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Municipal Elections Information Session (Leamington)
Join Sharon Suitor, Elections Specialist with the Municipality of Leamington, for an informative session about municipal elections. Participants will learn how municipal elections work, what to expect when casting their ballot, how to participate in the voting process, and the important role local elections play in the community. Participants are also encouraged to bring their questions about the election process and get answers directly from an Elections Specialist.
Friday, September 25th | 10:00 a.m.
Southshore
245 Talbot St. W., Leamington
| | Amherstburg Candidates to Take the Stage | The Amherstburg Municipal Election 2026 Candidate Forum offers residents a chance to hear from local candidates and ask questions. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Essex County Council forum is on September 29th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., followed by the Town Council forum on September 30th from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Both take place at Columbian Community Hall, 190 Richmond St., Amherstburg. Questions must be submitted by September 20th at 5:00 p.m. to donnahibbert740@gmail.com. | Community Living Ontario Inclusion Campaign | How inclusive are the spaces, workplaces, and communities around us? Take a few minutes to think about inclusion, test your knowledge, and make a commitment to helping create communities where everyone can participate and belong. Take the quiz and pledge by clicking the button below. | Disability and Chill: ODSP, Advocacy, and Community-Building | Attend Disability and Chill on September 28th at the Optimist Community Centre in Windsor. This welcoming and educational event will include information about ODSP benefits and advocacy, a disability justice panel discussion, art making, opportunities to connect with others, and information about local resources and supports. The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be a great opportunity to learn, share ideas, meet new people, and build connections in the community. | |
Windsor-Essex Family Network Presents:
Beyond Barriers
| Beyond Barriers is a new TV series created, hosted, and filmed by 20 youth with disabilities from Windsor-Essex. Through conversations with community guests and youth roundtable discussions, the series challenges myths about disability, promotes inclusion and accessibility, and highlights the talents, humour, interests, and goals of people with disabilities. The series airs Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. on YourTV Windsor/Leamington, Cogeco Cable Channel 700 and Cogeco EPICO Channel 100. Click the button below to learn more, meet the team, explore the episodes, and go behind the scenes. | Upcoming DSO Virtual Event | Join this free virtual session, Technology to Support Independence, on Thursday, October 1st, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This informative webinar will explore assistive technologies that can help promote independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities while supporting person-centred housing and support plans. Topics include smart home technology, activity trackers and wearable GPS devices, and smartphone apps for daily routines. The session offers practical ideas for families looking to support greater independence and confidence in everyday living. Click the button below to register. | P4P Free Information Session | The Partners 4 Planning Network is offering a free online webcast, Thriving in My Community, on Tuesday, September 29th, at 7:00 p.m. The session will feature personal stories about building meaningful lives through employment, education, relationships, and community involvement, while sharing practical ideas for finding opportunities to connect and contribute. A live Q&A will follow the webcast, which will also be recorded and available for one month. Click the button below to register. | |
Tourism Windsor Essex County Pelee Island
Halloween Event Guide
| Get ready to embrace the Halloween spirit across Windsor, Essex County, and Pelee Island! From haunted houses and spooky trails to pumpkin patches and family-friendly festivals, this guide is your go-to list for all things Halloween. Use it to plan weekend adventures, discover hidden gems, or check off must-see events as you explore the region this season. Click the button below to view the guide. | Downtown Harrow is coming alive for an evening of shopping, entertainment, food, and community at Open Streets Harrow on Friday, September 25th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors can explore more than 30 vendors while enjoying live music, a magician, food trucks, coffee, and more throughout downtown Harrow. Click the button below to learn more. | |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra Presents:
From Paris to Madrid | The Windsor Symphony Orchestra opens its new season with From Paris to Madrid on Saturday, September 26th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 27th at 2:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre. The concert celebrates French and Spanish music, bringing together elegant classical sounds, lively rhythms, and jazz inspired influences. Tickets range from $15 to $73, with Curtain Call Conversations following each performance. Click the button below to purchase event tickets. | Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour 2026 | The Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour returns Saturday, September 26th, bringing cyclists together to enjoy the trails and support cycling infrastructure in the region. Starting and ending at Mettawas Park in Kingsville, the tour offers five routes ranging from 15K to 102K, including road and off-road Greenway options for different experience levels. All routes include a locally sourced lunch. Click the button below to learn more and register. | Truth and Reconciliation Gathering | Join the community for a truth and reconciliation gathering on Saturday, September 26th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at King’s Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg. The event will include Indigenous arts and craft vendors, teachings, stories, drumming, dancing, storytelling, and children’s activities. Visitors can also enjoy free samples of corn soup and fry bread at the Park House Museum while learning from Elders and community speakers. Everyone is welcome. Click the button below to learn more. | | These Chicken Tzatziki Bowls are packed with fresh flavours and plenty of delicious toppings for a meal that feels a little extra special. The roasted chicken is served with crisp lettuce, avocado cucumber salad, peperoncini, feta, creamy tzatziki, and ginger tahini, with pita and fries on the side. With so many fresh and flavourful ingredients in every bowl, this Greek inspired dinner is sure to be a hit at the table. Click the button below for the recipe. | | September Spark: Refresh, Reset, Reimagine | | As September comes to a close, take some time to look at your daily routine and think about what is working well for you. This could be a good opportunity to make a few simple changes, such as setting aside time for exercise, planning meals, organizing your week, or making time to connect with friends and family. Small changes can make everyday routines feel more manageable and enjoyable. Take a moment to reflect on the month, recognize what you have accomplished, and think about what you would like to carry with you into the weeks ahead. | | Fall Split Wood Bead Wreath | | Add a handmade touch to your fall décor with this simple Fall Split Wood Bead Wreath. Using a wreath form, split wood beads, and a mix of faux fall flowers, leaves, and other seasonal accents, this project comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s an easy craft for any skill level and a great way to welcome autumn with a unique decoration for your home. Click the button below for the step-by-step process. | |
| How are you planning to spend your weekend? | | | | |
Last issue's poll results:
What all activity sounds like the Most Fun?
Going apple picking – 28%
None of these! Bring back the summer! – 23%
Visiting a fall farmer's market – 18%
Taking a quiet nature walk – 13%
Visiting a haunted house – 13%
Enjoying a hayride – 3%
Making your way through a corn maze – 3%
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