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 Respitality on Rogers TV
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Thank you to INFO Simcoe on Rogers TV Barrie for shining the spotlight on Empower Simcoe's Respitality Program, and generous hospitality partners like Fern Resort. Click on the video link above and learn how Empower Simcoe Respitality is investing in caregiver resiliency to strengthen the family unit.
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Ontario Hydro Energizing Life for
Empower Simcoe Respitality
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On February 22nd, Hydro One announced 24 Indigenous communities, charitable organizations and municipalities will each receive a grant of $25,000 from the Energizing Life Community Fund, which supports initiatives that promote physical, psychological and emotional safety across Ontario.
Empower Simcoe’s Respitality Program is privileged to be selected as a 2022 Energizing Life Community Fund recipient for recognizing the need for Caregivers to receive true respite, and the importance that rest and rejuvenation plays in their mental and physical wellbeing. Empower Simcoe Respitality believes investing in the Caregiver bolsters resilience and allows the entire family the opportunity to thrive.
Learn more about the 2022 Hydro One Energizing Life Community Fund here, or visit our Empower Simcoe Respitality website page for more information.
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How One Area Landlord Can Change
the Lives of Many
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Pictured (l-r): Empower Simcoe Housing Access Workers Mora Roden and Lynn Duncan, Danielle Arsenault from Lakeview Realty, Lakeview Realty Owner Mike Preston and newly housed shelter user Roy Eakley.
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With a big smile on his face and the keys to an affordable rental unit in hand, Roy Eakley of Orillia has found a place he can call home, thanks to the support of Empower Simcoe’s Landlord Partnership Program and collaborative community partners like Lakeview Realty in Orillia.
“Lakeview Realty has always allocated affordable rental units to those in need.
Empower Simcoe’s Landlord Partnership Program, and its incentives have been a tremendous help in alleviating the effects of the pandemic and the housing shortages gripping our community,” says Lakeview Realty owner Mike Preston. “Landlords working with this program will make positive contributions in getting families and vulnerable individuals into homes. I believe that there is an abundance of private market rental units that could be made available and affordable, and this program is helping to close the gap for those who are homeless.” Now, thanks to Mike and his team at Lakeview Realty, six individuals and their families, including Roy, have found housing.
In partnership with the County of Simcoe, Empower Simcoe’s new Landlord Partnership Program called The Journey Home is a campaign to increase housing stock to recover from the Motel Shelter Model, so people don’t return to the streets. This incentive-laden program aims to assist low-income and vulnerable individuals currently accessing emergency shelters with housing throughout this current winter season.
“The Journey Home is an essential step towards ending the housing crisis in our community. We’re so grateful to community partners like Lakeview Realty and those who operate in the housing market who are helping those most vulnerable and at-risk,” says Claudine Cousins, Empower Simcoe CEO. “Because everyone deserves a place to live.”
To offer a rental unit to this vital community project or to receive information on landlord incentives, click here, or email rhss@empowersimcoe.ca.
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To the people and families we support at Empower Simcoe, we want to hear from you! There are just a few days left to have a voice in our latest Empower Simcoe Quality Improvement Survey. Please take a few brief minutes to complete this survey by March 4th. Your valuable input will assist our agency to continue to provide the absolute best quality supports and services.
Take the survey here or if you'd like to speak with someone to complete the survey on your behalf, please contact 705-726-9082 ext. 2445 or ext. 2262.
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Empower Simcoe's Believe In Yourself
Self-Advocates
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The Empower Simcoe Believe In Yourself Committee provides a voice for people receiving support from Empower Simcoe, as well as a forum in which to discuss concerns and to share opinions about rights issues.
Once again this month, Meaningful Life is pleased to profile one its members and the ongoing work they're doing to educate and advocate on behalf of people of all abilities in our community.
Please meet Empower Simcoe Believe In Yourself Committee Member Dillon Pilger.
Hi my name is Dillon. I have been a Believe In Yourself Committee member since 2020. First of all, I wanted to share with you a little bit about me. I like living in Orillia and having Empower Simcoe support staff help me with jobs such as doing my laundry. I do sometimes ask support staff to drive me to my appointments or social groups but I do like to walk to places on my own too.
I also feel Empower Simcoe supports me with my cultural beliefs. I feel very proud of my cultural beliefs. I like to show my commitment to my cultural beliefs by making the time to involve myself in groups, social circles, and indigenous ceremonies. I am also very interested in learning about my culture more, and try my best to follow customs taught to me by my elders. One of the groups I am referring to is the Believe In Yourself Committee. The Believe In Yourself Committee has given me the opportunity to learn how to continue being a strong advocate for myself and to teach others the same skill.
At the same time, the Committee members and others can learn from me about how important it is to “Believe In Myself” by sharing my cultural beliefs and values with them.
Learn more about Empower Simcoe's Believe In Yourself Committee by visiting their webpage here.
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Generous Lakehead University Students
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Madeline Fitzpatrick and Serena Partington show off some of the arts and craft items that are being donated to Empower Simcoe on behalf of students in residence at Lakehead University Orillia Campus. Students challenged each other to see which residence floor could come up with the most donations for a not for profit of their choice. Third floor students chose Empower Simcoe! This generous donation will greatly benefit our Empower Simcoe Youth Program and our Community Support Services Day program. Thank you Lakehead University, Orillia!
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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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Cooking Up Something Good in This Kitchen
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Thanks to Special Services At Home funding, and the support of the Empower Simcoe Family Services program, Juli and her family recently purchased a new play kitchen, complete with play food and every kitchen accessory imaginable.
As Canada’s next Chef in training, imaginative play is helping Juli learn about kitchen safety and food preparation, in addition to teaching independence, confidence, language development, and communication. Essential life skills for Juli and her family. Enjoy your new kitchen Juli, and Bon Appétit from Empower Simcoe!
To learn more about the Empower Simcoe Family Services program, click here.
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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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Invisible Institutions Podcast
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Invisible Institutions is a new documentary podcast exploring the past and present of institutions for people labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Canada.
Creator and host Megan Linton, a disability researcher and writer, investigates the unreported and invisibilized harms of the institutional system. Join her on her journey to the grounds of current and former institutions, including interviews with survivors, community activists, and experts, as they work together to expose the exploitation, isolation, resistance and survival facing people labeled with disabilities.
The first episode of the podcast is now live. It covers the Rideau Regional Centre, one of the largest institutions for people labelled with intellectual disabilities in Canada. Listen to the episode by clicking the button below.
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Subscribe to MeaningfulLife and stay up to date with everything that's happening at Empower Simcoe. Inspirational stories of accomplishment, what we're working on as an agency and upcoming events are just a click away. |
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This Month'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 March calendars here. |
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Lakeshore Ridge Campaign Update
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As of the end of February, Empower Simcoe's generous donors have made the Lakeshore Ridge Capital Campaign reach 54% of its goal. There's still a long way to go to get the $250,000 needed for the new supported living home in Oro-Medonte, but we've made a lot of progress.
Read more about the Lakeshore Ridge campaign here and hit the button below to donate to the campaign. All donations are going to the finishing touches at the new home: furniture, decor, landscaping and more. Your gifts will help make the new house a home where people with multiple and complex needs will be supported to live a meaningful and self-fulfilling life.
The Empower Simcoe Foundation is over halfway to its goal but we still have a long way to go. Your donation of any amount will help bring the home at Lakeshore Ridge one step closer to completion.
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For other ways to donate, including gifts of securities, or for more information, please contact Empower Simcoe Foundation Donor Relations Coordinator Doug Cleverley at dcleverley@empowersimcoe.ca, or at 705-726-9082 x2285.
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Supporting the Celebrating Community
Champions Fashion Show
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Left to right: Glenn Conduit and Carole Allen of the Retired Teachers of Ontario District 17, and Empower Simcoe Foundation Donor Relations Coordinator, Doug Cleverley.
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Thank you to the Retired Teachers of Ontario District 17 for its recent $500.00 donation to the Empower Simcoe Foundation. The money will help support the return of the annual Empower Simcoe Celebrating Community Champions Fashion Show planned for October 2022. We thank the members of RTO-ERO District 17 for their generous support.
More details on the 2022 Celebrating Community Champions Fashion Show are coming soon!
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A New Inclusive Program for Area Youth
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Do you want to be part of something amazing? Are you a difference maker, a creative, energetic youth? Then we want to hear from you!
Empower Simcoe is preparing to launch our new, fully inclusive Youth Program, beginning with virtual opportunities for all youth. The only criteria to attend is you must be a high school student. Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey and let us know what is important to you!
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Our Vision: Empowering all Youth to lead meaningful lives through the celebration and development of their unique talents, abilities and individuality, recognizing the power of one and the strength of community. Learn more about Empower Simcoe's Youth Program here.
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Our Empower Simcoe EarlyON Child and Family Centres were pleased to announce the resumption of In-Person, outdoor sessions as of February 22nd. Visit here to register and to find out what in-person programs are being offered. EarlyON Virtual programs will continue to be offered as well. Learn more here. Please reach out to us at facilitator@empowersimcoe.ca should you have any questions are require more information.
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Tax season is here. Are you looking for help with your income tax return? Interested in learning about tax credits you might be eligible for?
Dial 2-1-1 or click here to find help in your area.
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