Agency News

• The website has just been updated to reflect our new name.  Also, the History page has been updated to provide a timeline of important events since the agency began. (Feb. 17/07)
   

• At our AGM a motion was passed to change our name to Community Living Dryden.  The name change will be official as soon as we can complete the necessary paperwork. (Nov. 16/06)
   

• Community Living TV Bingo has restarted for the winter months.  Tune in to Shaw Cable, channel 10 on Mondays at 7:30pm. (Oct. 16/06)
   

• DDACL received recent capital dollars from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to cover some improvements to our workshop.  Two new washrooms will be added to our workshop in addition to a facelift for our Community Connections program. (Mar. 13/06)
   

• The hiring process for a permanent Director of Service (Vocational, SIL) is now complete.  Congratulations to Amy Woolfrey for being the successful applicant. (Mar. 13/06)
   

• We would like to welcome and thank our newest Board member, Bruce Siciliano!  He joined us at our February 28th meeting. (Feb. 28/06)
   

• Community Volunteer Connections is now on the web.  Take a minute and visit their new website.
   

• In an effort to improve communication issues we have created a new job position called Team Coordinator.  There are 8 Team Coordinators in total.  Their primary responsibilities focus on communications between support workers, families, management, and various community professionals.  The Team Coordinators also have a very important role in maintaining quality assurances.

• CLD and CEPU, Local 324-12 have agreed to a new 3-year collective agreement. 
   

• Community Living Dryden TV Bingo runs until the Spring of 2006 on Shaw Cable, Channel 10.  Congratulations to our first winners:
   

  Tom Johanson The Letter "L" Anyway $83.33	Joy Ashton The Letter "L" Anyway $83.33	Helen Huitikka Wee House $250	Norma Landstrom Blackout $1,000

   

• A Fair Wage petition was sent to Howard Hampton's office to be presented to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to address the critical under-funding of staff salaries within the developmental services sector.
   

• The Community Living Ontario North One Regional Meeting (now known as Community Living Sunset Country) was held in Dryden October 21 & 22.   MPP Howard Hampton attended on Friday night to discuss the Fair Wage Issue and other funding concerns.  Thanks to all those who attended this very successful and enlightening meeting (see Media Release and go here to view Power Point presentations from the meeting).

Provincial News

• New funding is the single largest one-year investment in developmental services in Ontario (May 2, 2006)
   
• Thriving Communities: A strategic direction for the Ministry of Community and Social Services (this document provides some clarification on the Ministry's new Transformation Process)
   
• Madeleine Meilleur named as new Minister of Community and Social Services (April 5, 2006)
   
• Budget fails to address looming labour crisis in developmental services (March 23, 2006)
   
• ODSP backlog causing problems (March 15, 2006)
   
• Improvements to Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) announced (February 8, 2006)

• Ontario Divisional Court has ruled that the Province has the legal authority to close three remaining government-operated facilities for adults with a developmental disability (January 26, 2006)
   
• Toronto Star column by Helen Henderson on Community Living's stand in response to the recent government funding announcement (July 23, 2005)