Category Archives: News

Canada Imams Launch FastFeed Ramadan Campaign to Combat Hunger

The Canadian Council of Imams CCI is leading the Muslim community in Canada towards Feeding the poor and addressing food insecurity in Canada.

Canadian Imams, in collaboration with over 45 Muslim organizations from coast to coast, are calling on Muslims and all fellow Canadians to support local food banks this March through a new nationwide Ramadan campaign called #FastFeed.

For more details please see:

1. https://canadiancouncilofimams.com/2025/02/26/canadian-imams-launch-fastfeed-ramadan-food-bank-campaign-to-combat-hunger/
2. https://www.give30.ca/

Please help them to feed more this Ramadan.

AN URGENT PLEA FOR HELP FROM PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THE LOCAL AGENCIES THAT SERVE THEM: INCREASE FUNDING AND ADDRESS CHRONIC WAITING LISTS

People living with developmental disabilities and the local agencies that serve them are issuing an
urgent appeal for help directed at all candidates running in the 2025 provincial election. Over
52,000 people in Ontario are currently waiting for critical support and services due to serious
funding shortfalls within the sector, with an estimated 5,000 of them living right here in the Ottawa
region.

Equally distressing for local individuals and developmental service (DS) agencies, is the fear that
even continuing to provide current services is becoming extremely challenging.
“More than 30 local board chairs and senior managers have been meeting to try and find solutions
that don’t include closing residences and canceling programs because we know the people we
serve have nowhere else to go,” said Al Roberts, volunteer board Vice Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton
Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD). “Struggling to keep the doors
open or the lights on leaves no room to bring in new clients or initiate new programs. We are starting
to feel like the system is on the verge of collapse if significant steps aren’t taken.”
Since 1993, Ontario governments have only increased core funding to support agencies by less
than 7% even though the cost of living has soared by over 60% during that same period.

“Imagine living on the same amount of money you earned in 1993,” said volunteer board Chair for
L’Arche Ottawa, John Rietschlin. “Food, transportation, residential maintenance and upgrades, not
to mention staff costs have all increased while funding hasn’t kept pace. All of the board chairs
we’ve met with have said their organization would love to support additional individuals and
families, but everyone agrees we’re at the point we’re not even sure we can keep the people we
currently serve.”

People with developmental disabilities, and the boards of the organizations that support them, are
asking that immediate action be taken to ensure they are not forgotten. They would like all parties
and candidates to provide a proposed solution to address the long waiting lists and funding
shortfalls that have plagued the developmental services sector for decades.

As a group, the local board chairs and senior managers appreciated that a portion of the $310
million outlined in the 2024 budget, provided an approximate 3% increase for DS agency base
budgets. This was a positive step toward supporting the sector. While any additional resources
allocated to the DS Sector is always appreciated, the lack of necessary support places
organizations and staff at risk, and ultimately creates the possibility of fewer, and lower quality,
services and supports for people living with developmental disabilities in Ontario.

“It hasn’t been funded properly,” points out Community Living Ontario CEO Chris Beesley. “You can create a vision and be aspirational but unless you put the resources behind it, it’s meaningless.”
Robert Walsh, CEO of Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS) agrees.
“This chronic underfunding leaves agencies struggling to provide the critical services on which
people with intellectual disabilities and their families depend. The gap forces families to shoulder
more of the burden—financially, emotionally, and physically—just to meet basic needs. Is this the
Ontario we want to live in, where families are left to bridge the growing divide between what’s
needed and what’s funded?”

People with developmental disabilities, and the local agencies that support them, have a message
for voters in the upcoming provincial election.

“Please keep families in mind when casting your vote. Lead with your head and vote with your
heart”.

#WaitingToBelong

-30-

www.waiting2belong.ca
For media inquiries, please contact: Teresa Kruze.
tkruze@rogers.com
416-727-8145
Community Living Ontario and OASIS

In honor of Black History Month, Valoris celebrates the extraordinary contributions of the Black community throughout history. 🙌🏽 🌍

This year, the federal government is focusing on solidarity in its campaign. We invite you to download this drawing, take some time to create it with your children or friends, and share your artwork by posting it in the comments below. Let your creativity shine!

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/pch/images/campaigns/black-history-month/2025/Multi2025-BHM-ColourablePoster-Fr.pdf

RDSPs a ‘no-brainer’ savings tool for people with disabilities, but awareness lacking

This news article discusses the challenges and financial planning strategies of Hannah Remillard, a 23-year-old recent graphic design graduate with autism. Her story highlights the importance of financial tools like the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), a Canadian government-backed program designed to help individuals with disabilities save for the future.

Continue reading:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/business/rdsps-a-no-brainer-savings-tool-for-people-with-disabilities-but-awareness-lacking-1.7162708

📰Turning 18 should be a celebration not a setback for youth with disabilities, report suggests

When Wesley turned 18, instead of celebrating, they felt terrified. After 18 years of being supported by the same healthcare team, everything changed overnight.

“You’re accessing the same general team of professionals. Then with one birthday, one change, almost all of the contacts had to be swapped over to adult care providers,” says Wesley, who is now in their 20s. “All those relationships you’ve built over 18 years are just gone.”

Read the story here

🧡National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Each year, September 30th marks the day for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The day honors the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is an important part of the reconciliation process. To help honor and acknowledge that, we wear orange 🧡

Poster for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

🏆Ottawa poet wins acclaim for verses on caring for daughter with Down syndrome🏆

Nancy Huggett thought she’d lost the chance to become a writer after her daughter, who has Down syndrome, suffered a devastating stroke.

But the 66-year-old Ottawa poet has now become the oldest recipient of the RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award, an annual honour aiming to encourage new writing in short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism and poetry.

Read the news:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-poet-wins-acclaim-for-verses-on-caring-for-daughter-with-down-syndrome-1.7263218

DSOER Management Update

We are happy to inform you that Marie-Josée Samson has accepted the role of Operations Supervisor with DSOER.

Marie-Josee has been an important member of the DSOER team since our launch in 2011. She has worked as a DSOER Service Navigator for several years and as an Assessor prior to then.

We are very happy to have her join our management group!

We also want to take this opportunity to introduce you (or re-introduce you) to our DSOER management group:

  • Director: Christine Gougeon (cgougeon@dsoer.ca) – Overseeing the DSOER program, Main Community Contact, and member of the SCS Senior Leadership Team
  • Clinical Supervisor: Leila Karam (lkaram@dsoer.ca) – Overseeing all Assessor group functions (e.g. Scheduling, Productivity and Quality of DSO application packages, Assessor Training, Certification, etc…)
  • Operations Supervisor: Marie-Josee Samson (MJSamson@dsoer.ca) – Overseeing all Service Navigation group functions (i.e. Intake, Eligibility, Matching and Linking, Housing Navigation, etc…)

We encourage you to connect with DSOER at Admin@dsoer.ca. From there we can triage emails to the appropriate person and DSOER group. Should you want to connect directly with someone from our management group, our emails are listed above.

Together with our team of navigators, scheduler, assessors and matching & linking coordinator, we want to thank you for your continued support and collaboration in providing support to those we serve.