AG E N C Y N E W S INSPIRING POSSIBILITIES
Special points of interest: ARC Industries S.T.E.P.S. (Steps To Equip People for Success) Community Networks
Inside this issue: STEPS
02
NEWS from the ARC side
04
Valentine’s for Veterans
06
News from Volunteer Services
08
The Big Show ART Trails at the Dorothy Harvey Gallery
10
Volunteering his time and talent
12
A Mardi-Gras Sunday Funday
14
The purpose of life is to 16 discover your gift, the meaning of life is to give your gift away Call for Nominations and AGM
18
A dream come true for Richard!
20
About our Newsletter: Editor in Chief: Denise Gruber Editor, Layout and Design: Grace Santos Gould Proof: Judy Moitoso Content layout for Community Networks: Theresa Haight
MARCH 2016
SPRING EDITION
A new season brings new growth… this direc on. A number of key points were highlighted: For many years, CLC has had two very strong, ac ve programs for employment and volunteer placement From MCSS: Services/ supports will not be re‐ moved for people currently a ending Arc and no pro‐ gram will end without ap‐ propriate alterna ves The Board of Directors of CLC, in their most recent strategic plan (2015) iden ‐ fied as one of its strategies the need to transi on Arc Industries to a different program pla orm with a rebranding of the iden ty of Arc. The key to this per‐ spec ve is to ensure that the elements of Arc that are highly valued (work) by the people supported are not lost but remain availa‐ ble through other service A mee ng was held on Janu‐ frameworks. ary 21, 2016 for par cipants, For the past year, two com‐ family members, friends and mi ees of the board have community partners to talk been working on develop‐ about what this means for ing a clear direc on on how us here in Cambridge. With to revamp and re‐organize almost 80 people in a end‐ day programs to maximize ance we had a posi ve even‐ resources and accessibility ing of sharing informa on, Currently evalua ng the strategies, concerns and ide‐ Arc building to develop a www.communitylivingcambridge.ca as about the implica ons of possible reconfigured lay‐ During the la er part of 2015 and con nuing into 2016, sheltered workshops were in the news in a way that carried a certain amount of fear and trepida‐ on for those people who are involved in these loca‐ ons. The Minister of Com‐ munity and Social Services (MCSS) announced publical‐ ly that there would be no new admissions to sheltered workshops, and highlighted the Ministry’s shi away from a sheltered workshop model towards compe ve employment and other meaningful community par‐ cipa on. For CLC, this di‐ rectly impacts Arc Industries and those people currently a ending, along with the many people hoping to a end the program. Many ques ons were raised as a result.
out that would include a work component Team of managers devel‐ oping viable recommen‐ da ons for expanding day op ons and a new service delivery model in more of a centralized hub model So, we are ac vely planning to revamp our day programs and are excited for the possi‐ bili es and op ons that will be created for people cur‐ rently in our programs and even for those awai ng pro‐ grams. (Con nued on page 5)
Denise Gruber Execu ve Director