Access Access
Meet the Community Support Team
Ritu Singarayer
Director of Community Development rsingarayer@communitylivingyorksouth.ca 905-294-4971, ext. 523
Winny Ho
Community Support Coordinator
廣東話(Cantonese), 普通話 (Mandarin) who@communitylivingyorksouth.ca 905-294-4971, ext. 382
Shamira Prabakaran
Community Support Coordinator
(Tamil) sprabakaran@communitylivingyorksouth.ca
905-294-4971, ext. 703
Sanaz Sadozai Administrative Liaison ssadozai@communitylivingyorksouth.ca 905-294-4971 ext.385
Stina Li
Community Support Coordinator
廣東話(Cantonese), 普通話 (Mandarin) sli@communitylivingyorksouth.ca 905-294-4971, ext. 267
Palak Bhatia
Community Support Coordinator
(Hindi),
(Punjabi),
(Urdu) pbhatia@communitylivingyorksouth.ca 905-294-4971, ext. 640
Parents/Caregivers Workshops November 2025
WorkshopDescriptions
GraceHealthCentrePsychotherapyInfoSession(Mandarin)
JoinustolearnhowtogetpsychotherapyservicecoveredbyOHIP,OAPfundingorinsurance.
YorkRegionalPolice:MentalHealthSupportTeam(In-Person)
JoinustolearnmoreabouttherolePoliceOfficershaveatamentalhealthcallaswellasthe supportforapersonincrisisandtheirfamilies,friendsandcaregivers.
PATHInfoSession–DSOServicesInfo
PRE-REGISTRATIONISREQUIRED
DSOServiceNavigatorandHousingNavigatorwilljoinustoshareinformationaboutDSOservices ingeneral,DSOHousingoptionsandtheprocessofapplication Toregister,pleasecontactStinaLi at647-271-9339/sli@communitylivingyorksouth.caorPATHatpathcharity@gmail.com
PATHInfoSession:Funding,CommunityResources,CreativeOptionsforAdults
PRE-REGISTRATIONISREQUIRED
Inthissession,wewillshareinformationaboutCLYSservices,fundingopportunities,programsand resourcesinthecommunityaswellascreativeplanningforhousingsoptionsforadultswith differentneeds.
FarsiFamilyNetworkCommitteeMeeting(In-Person)
FarsiFamilyNetworkmembersmeettobrainstormanddiscussnewactivitiesforchildren/adults withintellectualdisabilities.
TheImportanceofaPsychologicalAssessmentReport(Mandarin)
Joinustolearntheimportanceofhavingapsychologicalassessmentreportinordertoaccess theservicesorresourcesinthecommunity
CareConnect:WorkOutDay(In-Person)
Comeandjoinustohavesomefunactivitieswithfamiliestogether!
Person-Supported Workshops November 2025
WorkshopDescriptions
VirtualMarketplaceProgramsDescriptions: Karaoke
PRE-REGISTRATIONREQUIRED
Whetheritisasoloorduet,singyourfavoritesongswithyourfriendsonKaraoke night!
AmazingRace:AroundtheWorldTravel
PRE-REGISTRATIONREQUIRED
Eachweeksimulatesanew“stop”ontherace,featuringamixofgames,puzzles, culturalelements,andmovement-basedactivitiesthatparticipantscomplete togetherinbreakoutroomsorinthemainsession.
BookClub
PRE-REGISTRATIONREQUIRED
JoinourVirtualBookClubtoreadandtalkaboutgreatbookswithothersonline. Participateinenrichingconversation,practiceyourreading,andenteraspace whereotherscherishbooksasmuchasyou!
CommunitySupportProgramWorkshopDescriptions: ProTeensRoboticsWorkshop-LEGO
PRE-REGISTRATIONREQUIRED
ParticipantswilllearnhowtobuildandprogramabasicLegoSpikePrimerobot thatcandrivewithpre-programmedcode,pickupobjects,andusesensors. Facilitatedby18844Pr0teens,agroupofhighschoolstudentswithashared interestinmechanics,designandprogramming.
A N N U A L M E E T I N G
O F M E M B E R S
OurAnnualMeetingofMemberswasa resoundingsuccess,bringingtogether members,peoplesupported,families, employees,andcommunitypartnersto celebrateourachievementsandshare ourgoalsforthefuture.Thehighlightof theeveningwastheimpactofour speakers,whobroughtpowerfulstories oflivedexperience,resilience,and community.Theirreflectionsoninclusion andbelongingresonateddeeplywith everyoneinattendance,sparking meaningfulconversationsabouttherole weallplayincreatingopportunitiesfor peoplewithintellectualdisabilitiesto live,learn,work,andparticipatefully.
Theenergy,inspiration,and commitmentshownbyourspeakers andattendeesalikereinforcedthe importanceofourmissionandthe strengthofourcommunity.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
EasternYorkRegionNorthDurhamOntarioHealthTeam’s AnnualPrimaryCareNetworkTownHall
TheAnnualPrimaryCareNetworkTownHallbrought togetherphysicians,primarycareproviders,healthsystem leaders,andcommunitypartnersfromacrossEasternYork RegionandNorthDurham.Theeventservedasaplatform toshareupdatesonOntarioHealthTeaminitiatives, highlightcollaborativeprogress,anddiscussopportunities tostrengthenlocalprimarycare.Withengaging presentationsandopendialogue,theTownHallreinforced theimportanceofintegratedcare,cross-sector partnerships,andcommunity-drivensolutionstoimprove healthoutcomesforresidentsacrosstheregion.
Wewereproudtotakepartinthisyear’sMarkhamFair withaboothrepresentingCommunityLivingYork South.Itwasafantasticopportunitytoconnectwith communitymembers,shareinformationaboutour services,andcelebrateinclusion,diversity,and communityspirit.Weweretrulygratefultobeamong somanyamazinglocalorganizations,families,and individualswhomakeMarkhamsuchavibrantand welcomingplace.Thankyoutoeveryonewhostopped bytosayhello!
OnSeptember16,2025,theCommunitySupport ProgramparticipatedintheHealthandWellness EventatMarkhamNorth’sWelcomeCentre.Itwasa wonderfulopportunitytoshareinformationabout ourvariousprogramsandworkshopsthatsupport mentalhealthandoverallwell-being.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
OnSeptember17th,wehadthepleasureofparticipatingintheYorkRegion PassportInformationFairatCommunityLivingCentralYorkinNewmarket.The eventprovidedawonderfulopportunitytoconnectwithotheragencies, exchangevaluableinformationaboutourprograms,andsharethewiderange ofresourcesweofferwiththecommunity.
Itwasinspiringtoseesomanyorganizationscometogetherwiththeshared goalofsupportingindividualsandfamiliesandbuildingconnections.
WewereexcitedtoattendCurriculumNightatWilclay PublicSchool,connectingwithfamiliesandsharing informationabouttheprogramsandresourcesweoffer. Itwasawonderfulopportunitytomeetstudents,parents andcaregivers.
Wevaluethesemomentsofconnectionandlook forwardtocontinuingtocollaboratewiththeschool communitytoenableeverystudent tothrive!
WehadthepleasureofattendingStudent LinksCommunityAppreciationevent,hosted byCommunityLivingOntario.Thecelebration broughttogetherstudents,families,mentors, andcommunitymemberswhoareallpartof thismeaningfulprogram.Thedaywasfilled withpowerfulstories,engagingguest speakers,andgreatconversations.Itwas wonderfultoseesomanypeoplecommitted tocreatinginclusiveopportunitiesand supportingyouthastheyexploretheir interestsandfuturepathways.
Truth Reconciliat
OnSeptember25,2025,40ofour employeesandpeoplesupported cametogethertohonortheNational DayforTruthandReconciliation throughameaningfulDreamcatcher activity-WeavingDreams.
OnSeptember30,2025CLYS hostedaVirtualLunchandLearn sessionavailableacrossthe organization.Thiswasan opportunitytoreflect,learn,and honourIndigenousculturesand traditions
Wereflectedonthesymbolism ofdreamcatchersandthe importanceoflearning, listening,andwalkingthepath ofreconciliationtogether.
Halloween Party Recap
What a Spooktacular Time!
Our Halloween Community Fun Day at CLYS Markham was a huge success!
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this occasion. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, creative costumes, and community members coming together to enjoy music, games, and plenty of Halloween fun.
A special thank-you goes out to our amazing employees, volunteers, and participants for making this event possible — your enthusiasm and teamwork truly brought the Halloween spirit to life!
The Fall GoodyDrive
CommunityLivingYorkSouth organizedaFallGoodyDrive, wherewedeliveredwonderful goodypackagestothepeoplewe supportandtheirfamilies! Peoplesupportedandfamilieshad theopportunitytochoosethe itemstheywantedfromavariety ofkits,includingdentalhygiene kits,stationerykits,backpacks,and familymealkits,amongothers.
TheFallGoodyDrivewasheldon October9 ,2025inallour3 locations-Markham,Vaughanand RichmondHill.Over100people supportedandfamiliesbenefited fromthisdonationdrive.Aheartful thankyoutoourdonorsthatmade thispossible!
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR DONORS
Workshops
We’reexcitedtosharethatthroughoutOctober,wesuccessfully completed8ACTworkshopsessionsusingahybridmodel,heldboth onlineandatourMarkhamoffice. Eachsessioncoveredauniquetopicdesignedtobuildknowledgeand enhanceemployabilityskillsofourparticipants.Wewerealsohonoredto collaboratewithouramazingpartners,Kerry’sPlace,CityofMarkham, andNPower,whojoinedusasguestspeakerstosharevaluableinsights andresources.
�� Together,wecontinuetobuildconnections,shareknowledge,and supportcommunitygrowth!
Family Support Networks
Farsi Family Network Farsi Family Network
Farsi Family Network
Farsi Family Network successfully received the Family Engagement Grant from Community Living Ontario in July! Since then, they have put this funding to great use by increasing their participationincommunityoutreachevents,like the BaTo Iranian Cultural Event held on August 15–17.Withthesupportofthisgrant,thenetwork was also able to create a banner to proudly showcasetheirnetworktothecommunity.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontact:
SiminAyatiat647-504-9246or simin ayati@hotmail.com
PATH PATH PATH
PATH (Korean Family Network) had their first meeting in 2018. In the seven years that has passed, the network has grown to 47 families united with 20 sponsors, special members, and over10partnerorganizations.InAugust2025,with support from CLYS, the network successfully utilized their Family Engagement Grant from CLO tohosttheirfirstFamilyRetreat.Theeventoffered fun activities for families to enjoy together, while parents and caregivers also had the chance to learnaboutwellnessandself-care.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontact: Hwa-jooKimat416-985-2286or tmlhjk@hotmail.com
DAY PROGRAMS
Tristan Thetsombandith Residential Supervisor at Centre for Belonging
CentreforBelonging’sparticipantshavetheopportunitytosocializewith peerswhileengagingin“inhouse”recreation&leisureprograms.Thereare alsoopportunitiestovolunteerandparticipateincommunitybased recreationandleisurebasedactivities.
Visionquestisa Cantonesespeakingday programlocatedin Markham.Thisprogram exploreslocalattractions, practicesEnglish,yoga, music,math,andmore!
Markham Learning Academy
Holiday Cupcake
Ingredients (for 12 cupcakes)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
For Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
Sprinkles or candy canes
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin pan.
Mix flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla.
Pour into liners. Bake 18–20 min. Cool.
Beat butter, powdered sugar, and milk for frosting.
Frost cupcakes & decorate!
Resources
The directory includes virtual and online workshops, mental health, virtual attractions, activities, social, and education resources. Urgent and basic needs. You will find links and information on food banks, prepared meal delivery services, crisis support, and financial information.
Access to our member portal that provides extensive information and resources
Discounts on Respite Services and Camps
Invitations to complimentary workshops, information nights, and events
Information on Opportunities available in your community
Receipt of our quarterly Access Newsletter
Voting rights at the Annual General Meeting
A copy of our Annual Report.
