MeaningfulLife features stories of accomplishments people have achieved and the Personal Outcome Measures related to these achievements. Personal Outcome Measures are the foundation of everything Empower Simcoe does to support people.
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Empower Simcoe Honours Inclusion Excellence
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Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2021-2022 Empower Simcoe Inclusion Awards. Presented annually to educators and students who foster an inclusive school environment, the Empower Simcoe Inclusion Award recognizes those who promote an understanding of exceptionalities, and show compassion and respect for students of all abilities so that they might become contributing members of the school community, and the community as a whole. “These educators and students truly represent the values of inclusion, equity and excellence," says Claudine Cousins, Empower Simcoe CEO. “Their commitment to inclusion in education makes them most-deserving recipients of the 2022 Empower Simcoe Inclusion Excellence award.”
Top picture: with her Maple Grove Public School class, Special Education Resource teacher Rachel Vieira.
Middle picture (left to right) Holy Trinity Catholic High School students Claudia Capicotto and Abigail Roman, Viktor Zajkowski from St. Joan of Arc, St. Antoine Daniel School Education Assistant Kathy Robitaille, St. Joan of Arc teacher Christina Borelli, and St. Bernard's Catholic School Principal Leah Smith.
Bottom picture: Chris Samis, Simcoe County District School Board Superintendent of Special Achievement and Special Education, and Empower Simcoe's Jamie Hall, present Special Education Consultants Heather Barker and Hailey Mills Knapp with their 2021-2022 Empower Simcoe Inclusion Excellence Awards.
(Absent from photos - Holy Trinity Catholic High School student Gracie Viveiros and St. Peter's Catholic High School Education Assistant Kerri Reaume)
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A Spectacular Day of Golf for Empower Simcoe
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What a way to kick off the beginning of summer. Presented by RBC Dominion Securities Wealth Management, the Empower Simcoe Foundation's 26th Annual Golf Tournament on June 16th at Braestone Club raised over $41,000 for Empower Simcoe’s Lakeshore Ridge Capital Campaign! Lakeshore Ridge, Empower Simcoe’s newest supported living home is scheduled to open later this summer, and will bring the highest level of professional support and care for people with multiple and complex needs. Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, golfers, community partners and volunteers for making a lasting, lifetime contribution that will empower people of all abilities to lead a meaningful and inclusive life.
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With a fantastic score of 8 under, the Top Foursome prize went to The Roch Langevin foursome comprised of Roch Langevin, Craig Jewitt, Thomas Heming and Josh Marinelli. Congratulations!
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A special thank you to Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke for challenging each and every one of our golfers on the Beat the Mayor Hole. Thank you, Mayor Clarke for being such a great sport and for supporting our tournament.
In addition, our online Empower Simcoe Summer Fun Silent Auction was also a great success raising close to $3000.00. If you were a successful bidder on any of the featured items, thank you for your support through the auction as well.
Until next year's tournament, enjoy the rest of your summer. Our heartfelt gratitude for making the 26th Annual Empower Simcoe Foundation Golf Tournament such a great success.
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2021-2022 Gift of the Heart Nominations
Close Soon
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Clockwise top left, the 2020-21 Gift of the Heart recipients: Milestones Barrie (Community Partner); Karl Cadera (Volunteer); Adam Mannella (Employee); Dillon Pilger (Self-Advocate); Susan Ross (Family); Marion Cooper (Community Partner), and Natasha Brown (Employee).
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Just a few more weeks before nominations close for the Empower Simcoe 2021-2022 Gift of the Heart Awards.
Do you know an Empower Simcoe employee, volunteer, family member, self-advocate or community group, deserving of recognition for their contributions towards improving the lives of people and families supported by Empower Simcoe? Now it’s easier than ever to submit your nomination. Find the Gift of the Heart Award nomination form on-line here from Empower Simcoe's website.
Presented at this year’s Empower Simcoe Annual General Meeting on September 7th, the Gift of the Heart Awards recognize individuals and organizations who give selflessly of their time and energy to improve the quality of life for people of all abilities.
Nominations will be accepted until July 15th, 2022 in the Employee, Volunteer, Self-Advocate, Family, and Community Partner categories. Good luck!
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Camp Cake Nailed It Winner!
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Just like the Netflix Nailed It series, there's great fun to be had by participating in Empower Simcoe's monthly Nailed It Challenges. Congratulations to Caleb, Alex and Paul (pictured above) from Empower Simcoe's Community Support Services program in Orillia; the winners of June's Camp Cake challenge. Going to summer camp never tasted this good. This cake Nailed It!
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Innovative Volunteers at O'Brien House
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On June 6th, summer students from Innovation Automation Inc. participated in their company's Day of Caring by assisting with landscaping and cleaning projects at Empower Simcoe's O'Brien House. Garden beds received new mulch, siding, soffits and fascia were power washed, and O'Brien House's many windows were spotlessly cleaned by this diligent team of 14 students (pictured above).
Thank you Innovative Automation! We're grateful for this act of caring for the people we support at O'Brien House.
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Outstanding Volunteer Helps His Community
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Perry Skilliter was recently recognized by the Barrie Food Bank for his outstanding volunteer commitment to assist those in need in our community. For 22 years, Perry's volunteerism has been critical to the success of the Barrie Food Bank. By helping collect food, sorting through donations, and stocking shelves, Perry's exceptional dedication has helped the Barrie Food Bank move towards its vision of "A Community Where No One is Hungry."
Congratulations Perry on this tremendous volunteer milestone with the Barrie Food Bank! Empower Simcoe is proud of your commitment to give back to your community and help others in need.
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Volunteers are the heart of Empower Simcoe and play a vital role ensuring we support people of all ages and abilities to realize their full potential and to enhance their quality of life. Volunteers are a valued part of our team and play a significant role in all areas of our agency. Please consider sharing your skills and energy with us today. We’re always looking for hard-working, compassionate individuals. Complete our online Empower Simcoe volunteer application today.
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Community Gardens Growing More than just Vegetables
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Empower Simcoe Community Participation Support Workers Sandra Urbshott and Brittany Boyd, with the assistance of Kaitlynn Jones and Emily Graham (pictured above), tend to Empower Simcoe's community garden plot at Batteaux Park in Barrie. Empower Simcoe's Community Support Services Program lovingly maintains this garden, as well as gardens at Lampman Lane and Shear Park. Its harvest is even donated back to those in need at Empower Simcoe and to local food banks.
Read more here.
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Celebrating our Infant and Child Development Professionals
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June 18th was Infant and Child Development Day, a day to celebrate Infant and Child Development professionals across Ontario. The hardworking Simcoe County Infant and Child Development team at Empower Simcoe celebrated ICD day 2022 with a visit to the accessible playground at Shear Park, Barrie.
Through team work and meaningful collaboration with key Early Intervention partners in the community, the Simcoe County Infant and Child Development team connects families and children to various professional services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech/language services, social work services, and behavioral intervention.
Thank you to this innovative team for the unique ways they provide family-centred services that make such a difference in the lives of families and children across Simcoe County.
(Pictured l-r: Dianne McLean, Laura McArthur, Jeanette Hamilton, Jocelyn Konidela, Leah Desormeaux, Adrienne Volgmann, and Pam VanGreene. Absent: Corrie Patton and Michele Kapteyn.)
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Empower Simcoe's Believe In Yourself
Self-Advocates
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On June 28th, the Empower Simcoe Believe In Yourself Committee had its first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. Believe in Yourself Committee members (pictured above) Sharlene Fountain, Jen Paterson, Allison Bobbette and Melissa Swales strategized on goals for the Committee and how best to continue the Committee's mission of providing a voice for people receiving support from Empower Simcoe, as well as providing a forum in which to discuss concerns and to share opinions about rights issues.
On the highlights of the meeting was the unveiling of Sharlene's latest diamond art project. These inspiring words on canvas perfectly capture what the Believe In Yourself Committee is all about. Well done Sharlene!
Learn more about Empower Simcoe's Believe In Yourself Committee by visiting their webpage here.
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Stay in Touch with the Empower Simcoe App
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The Empower Simcoe App is mobile friendly, easy-to-use and designed to further connect our employees, volunteers and the people and families we support at Empower Simcoe. You can register for events, receive program notifications and the most up to date Empower Simcoe news, as well as quick access to Empower Simcoe social media. Staff can also access an employee portal to check email.
For iPhone users go to the app store, and/or for android users, go to the google play store. Enter Empower Simcoe, and look for the Empower Simcoe logo to download this free app. It's that easy. Get your Empower Simcoe app now!
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Gals That Give Invest in Respitality
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Allyson Dublack (left) from Gals That Give presents $10,000.00 to Empower Simcoe Respitality Specialist April McKenzie.
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Congratulations to the Empower Simcoe Respitality Program on receiving this recent gift of $10,000.00 from Gals That Give.
This generous Gals That Give donation will be used to provide a break for Caregivers and families who are caring for a loved one with an intellectual disability. Empower Simcoe Respitality assists Caregivers to experience a well-deserved break in a welcoming and comfortable environment through overnight stays at Hotels and Resorts, dinners out, memberships, and attractions in their community; experiences that allow for added quality of life. This service is provided, free of charge, through the generous donations of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry, area businesses, and generous community partners like Gals That Give.
Thank you Gals That Give for investing in Caregiver Resiliency that allows families to thrive!
Find more information about the Empower Simcoe Respitality Program here.
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July's Community Support Services
Virtual Activities
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See what fun and engaging virtual activities are scheduled this month for the people we support at Empower Simcoe's Community Support Services Barrie and Orillia. Download your July calendars here. |
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game
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Bill Synnott waited for this trip to Rogers Centre for a very long time. Bill’s always wanted to see his beloved Toronto Blue Jays in person, and on June 19th, wearing a mint condition 1992 World Series Jays sweatshirt, his dream came true. Making sure to soak up every sight and sound of the ball park, Bill marvelled at the CN Tower that towers over Rogers Centre, and took great joy in celebrating with the crowd on each Jays’ hit, and the fireworks for every Jays’ homerun. And what a game to witness. From prime field level seats on the third base line, Bill cheered on his Jays to a thrilling 10-9 come from behind victory over the visiting New York Yankees. For Bill, this was a special night with memories that will last forever.
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Empower Simcoe is excited to be participating in the provincial campaign to drive recruitment in the developmental services sector!
This is YOUR Opportunity to build a strong, inclusive community. This is your opportunity to build a brighter future for all.
Do you want to be a change maker in your community in a career that matters? You can! Visit our Empower Simcoe Careers page to learn more about an exciting career in the developmental service sector. |
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Disability Benefit Bill in Limbo as Parliament Breaks for Summer
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The federal Liberal government did not call their disability benefit legislation for debate before the House of Commons broke for summer, despite promised action since 2020 and recent pleas from organizations across the country.
In a recent letter, over 75 groups that represent Canadians with disabilities called on the government to hold a second reading before the House rises for the summer recess. Now, debate of the bill and moving its process forward will be pushed until Parliament resumes in September.
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough reintroduced the bill in early June, but without any new details about who will qualify, how much they would get or when the money will start flowing.
Read more here.
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Government of Canada Invests in Disability-Inclusive Early Learning and Child Care
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Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough recently joined with Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, to announce $12.5 million in funding support for 225 regulated and/or licensed early learning and child care centres across Canada through the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) small projects component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF).
Agreements reached with every province and territory to create a Canada-wide $10-a-day Early Learning and Child Care system will ensure every child, including children with disabilities, Indigenous children, and official language minorities, have access to affordable, high quality child care.
Read more here.
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