#WEALLBELONG: CELEBRATING BELONGING TOGETHER

In 2025, Community Living Toronto reimagined its Community Living Month campaign with a simple but powerful idea: belonging is not something we talk about once a year – it is something we create together every day.

The #WeAllBelong campaign moved beyond traditional awareness-building and invited people to share what belonging looks and feels like in their own lives. Rather than sharing a single campaign message, we created space for people with intellectual disabilities, families, staff, partners, and community members to define belonging in their own words and through their own experiences.

At the heart of the campaign were stories, photos, and reflections that celebrated the people, places, and everyday moments that foster connection and inclusion. The campaign inspired participation across Ontario, with Community Living organizations, community partners, elected officials, and supporters joining the conversation and sharing the message that everyone deserves to feel welcomed, valued, and included.

These stories came to life across social media, community spaces, and local initiatives, including artwork, staff-hosted gatherings, BBQs, and handmade #WeAllBelong bracelets created and shared by people with intellectual disabilities. They were further amplified by participants who wore campaign merchandise and engaged throughout May.

Through authentic storytelling and community participation, #WeAllBelong helped position belonging not simply as an aspiration, but as a shared responsibility, one that strengthens communities and creates opportunities for everyone to thrive.

To continue this journey with us and learn more about the campaign, visit weallbelong-wab.ca

PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT

We are committed to building a sense of community, where those we support and their families, feel like they belong and are empowered to make choices that shape their tomorrow. Below are a few of the ways we actively seek input from everyone connected to our organization, using their voices to guide meaningful engagement opportunities and to measure our progress.

Community Chats podcast: Where conversations bring people together

Since 2024, Community Chats has continued to grow as a platform for meaningful conversations about inclusion, belonging, and the issues that matter to people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and communities. Through stories, lived experiences, and discussions with sector leaders, advocates, and community partners, the podcast helps elevate diverse perspectives, spark dialogue, and deepen understanding of the opportunities and challenges within our sector.

This year, Community Chats welcomed a range of influential voices, including Vassy Kapelos, political journalist and Community Living Toronto Patron’s Council member; John Tory, Chair of Community Living Toronto’s Patron’s Council; Heather McDonald, President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto; and returning guest Brendon Pooran, founder of PooranLaw. Together, these conversations explored topics ranging from advocacy and community inclusion to leadership, belonging, and the future of support for people with intellectual disabilities.

“What began as a way to stay connected with our community during COVID has evolved into a platform for sharing stories, elevating lived experience, and exploring issues that impact the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Belonging starts with listening, and the podcast continues to create opportunities for connection, learning, and conversation across our community,” says Brad Saunders, CEO and host.

To date, Community Chats podcast has received over 17,000 downloads, and helped build relationships, deepen engagement, and demonstrate the power of working together.

Creating connection with our Community Engagement team

The Community Engagement Speaker Series continued to highlight different monthly topics of interest including how to navigate the development services system, advocacy, and community inclusion. Each session was attended by over 50 people and served as an accessible entry point for learning and community dialogue.

Even more members joined our Community Councils this year, which hosted various events designed to strengthen relationships and welcome new participants into our community. A significant area of impact was addressing food insecurity. Community Councils collectively sponsored initiatives that provided holiday gift cards to more than 200 families living below the poverty line.

Each of our Family Peer Support Networks – Dads Supporting Dads, Moms Group, and Parent Share, also continued to grow.

Diverse families across Toronto, including 32 fathers and over 200 mothers, created a strong peer mentorship community where they were able to learn from their shared experiences. One mom reflected, “We are always the caretaker and asking if everyone is ok. It was nice to be taken care of at the Moms Spa Day.”

Together backstage at Community Rocks: the band, hosts, Community Living Toronto leadership, and our presenting and partner sponsors who helped make this unforgettable evening possible.

Volunteers play an integral role in our organization and this year we were thrilled to have the support of 416 volunteers in various programs and at our events. Many of our volunteers come together as multi-generational families to give their time, with parents, children, and grandparents creating a sense of community together. One example of a dedicated group of volunteers of more than 15 years is Susan and her family.

For Susan, what began as a simple connection to someone she knew on our staff team quickly grew into a deep commitment to volunteering and eventually became a family tradition.

“I love the people that CLTO supports,” she explains. “They’re often overlooked, or people make assumptions about their abilities. But many of them have incredible and inspiring stories about things they’ve overcome in their lives, or their interests and passions. Getting to know them, supporting them, and hopefully impacting their lives in a positive way is an amazing feeling,” shared Susan.

Over the years, Susan has supported many activities, including more than a decade of volunteering at our annual Family Fun Fair. She has also helped run a lemonade stand outside our head office, packaged rapid antigen test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supported many other initiatives. Volunteering has never been something she does alone, it’s something her whole family takes part in.

Her husband has volunteered alongside her for just as long, and their children (now 11 and 9) have been attending and helping at events practically since birth. Even Susan’s extended family have joined in, with her in-laws, brother, and close friends volunteering regularly at the Family Fun Fair.

One of Susan’s favourite traditions has been running the sno-cone and popcorn station at the Family Fun Fair, something her family has done together for more than 10 years. Over time, her children went from enjoying the event to becoming active helpers.

This past summer marked a special moment. “In 2025, they practically ran the station,” Susan recalls with a laugh. “They pushed us aside and asked for help when they needed it. It was really amazing to see, kind of like passing the torch.”

Of course, volunteering also comes with its share of memorable (and sometimes messy) moments. Susan recalled a particularly rainy summer picnic. “It was cold and wet, and no one wanted sno-cones,” she says. “The moisture in the air made the cotton candy stick everywhere. We were cold and sticky by the end of the day, but it was pretty funny.”

The Family Fun Fair has grown into a major community celebration. The event is open to the entire community and brings together the people we support, their families, staff, and volunteers for a day of connection and fun. At the fair 1,000+ people attended, supported by an incredible team of 70 volunteers who helped make the day possible.

This year’s event also included an opportunity to say a final goodbye to our Lawson location, which holds many memories for all of us. Volunteers and retired staff helped create a special memory wall, where people could share photos, notes, and reflections.

Over the years, what has meant the most to Susan and her family are the relationships they have built. Many of the people they have met through our organization greet them with hugs and enthusiastic hellos whenever they see each other at events or around the community. Those friendships are what make volunteering so meaningful.

“What stands out most is the relationships we’ve built over the years,” she says. “It’s a great community of dedicated employees, volunteers, and wonderful people with some pretty amazing stories. It’s pretty special to be part of something so amazing.” 

Through her dedication and the excitement her children now bring to helping others, Susan shows how volunteering can become more than just how you give back. It builds friendships, creates shared family experiences, and passes the value of kindness from one generation to the next.

Bringing inclusion to a national audience

Through both leadership and storytelling, we strengthened our work on inclusion. We welcomed renowned political journalist Vassy Kapelos to our Patron’s Council, enhancing its ability to influence policy and champion inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Bringing national reach and a strong commitment to civic engagement, her appointment expands our Council’s impact across the community. For Kapelos, the connection was decades in the making: “I was first introduced to the organization over 20 years ago as a volunteer where we rowed with participants of the youth to work program, and that early experience left a lasting impression.” 

At the same time, we partnered with AMI Media, a national not-for-profit broadcaster, on a video project featuring the people we support in an episode of Our Community. The episode explores our history and impact, from our roots in the “community living movement” to our work today while centring the perspectives and lived experiences of those we support. Together, these efforts help bring our mission to a broader audience and deepen public awareness. 

Our partnerships create opportunities for engagement that empower choice, nurture participation, and create spaces where everyone can engage in ways that are meaningful to them. Together, we are not just building programs, we are building a community where everyone belongs. 

Watch the full episode at: www.amiplus.ca/our-community/ community-living-toronto 

WHAT OUR TEAM BROUGHT TO LIFE THIS YEAR

We are proud of our accomplishments and grateful for our partners that help make this work possible including the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, the City of Toronto, and the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development. These are just a few of the ways we demonstrated our commitment to empowering choices for those we support and their families.

Our Specialized Services team created two programs to help the people we support cope with intense emotions, practice self-regulation, and improve their relationships. This included an 8-week series focused on mindfulness activities and a 10-week series focused on building skills to manage complex emotions, based on the principles of Adaptive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. We will be expanding the number of program offerings as well as their locations in the coming year.

Working closely with Dr. Dua in the Developmental Psychiatry Resource Clinic, we navigated medication changes which improved the quality of life for those in our Supported Living and Specialized Resource Homes programs. The people who received services have been able to manage a decline in psychiatric medications and an increase in engagement.

The completion of the Specialized Services Training Framework transitioned key clinical trainings into a new Learning Management System. This transition has improved accessibility, consistency, and accountability across the organization. Staff engagement has been substantial.

We implemented a new easy-to-use attendance tool (called ADP Workforce Manager), which modernized one of our business systems. This improvement required testing, training, and support from various departments to ensure our organization was ready to take on the change.

We focused on strengthening our workforce through concentrated recruitment and the expansion of our Float team, which has provided greater agility balanced with stability, continuity in support, and greater skill mobility across services. In addition to this, we have refined our scheduling practices, making it possible for employees to both pick up additional hours bi-weekly and work across programs and service areas. Through these strategies, position vacancies have reduced significantly, and our eligible staff are filling a greater number of vacant shifts.

The goal of this year’s United Way Campaign was to raise $50,000, and together we surpassed that goal, raising more than $53,000. From cookie-making events and Diwali celebrations to wacky workdays, walk-in tacos, and international buffets, these activities brought us together, celebrated our diversity, and helped build a more inclusive and connected community, all while making a meaningful impact.

With the Government of Ontario’s new Procurement Restriction Policy that restricts Broader Public Sector organizations, including CLTO, from purchasing goods and services from U.S. businesses, we have transitioned 700 credit cards to a new Canadian provider. These cards are used to make purchases on behalf of those we support. We also introduced virtual payment methods to make it easier for our suppliers to receive payment from CLTO.

Our Spinclusion game, designed to address bullying and promote inclusive thinking, underwent a refresh. The updates included language that reflects current inclusive practices, new scenarios emphasizing allyship and shared responsibility, and age-adapted versions. We also added visual supports and colour coding, integrated digital tools like Kahoot, and expanded facilitator guides and online resources.

We joined our Individualized Passport Supports with our Community Participation Supports and Respite service stream. By sharing data across our teams and using valuable insights from the people we support, we are better able to offer person-directed services that support community engagement and participation.

Our Respite Services team supported families as they transitioned to our new Licensed Children’s Respite location. The fun and functional space offers children after-school programs, weekends, overnight and school break respite tailored to their unique needs. The home has spaces that have been developed for younger children upstairs as well as a dedicated area for youth downstairs.

Foster Connections’ CPS expanded to better serve Transitional Aged Youth (ages 18–30). Recognizing that younger participants want peer connection and community-based activities, we introduced youth-focused groups, flexible schedules, and outings aligned to their interests. A small group of young local adults has now been formed, including a high school graduate duo and a well-known local DJ.

Recreation Therapists have been a transformative addition to the CPS and Respite service stream, bringing their professional expertise to increase engagement, exploring community participation, and building skills through recreation. Recreation Therapists are also expanding their reach to other service streams to serve a higher number of people we support.

MyJobMatch supported over 1,300 job seekers across Ontario through a growing network of 34 collaborating employment service agencies and more than 700 employers. We continued to show how the thoughtful use of technology, grounded in collaboration and human connection, can open doors to meaningful work, and foster a more inclusive labour market.

Community Rocks 2025, presented by E-L Financial, lit up the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with its Secret Garden: From Blooms to Grooves theme, raising close to $1 million with a portion of the proceeds going to LIGHTS! Hosted by Fay and Fluffy and featuring a high-energy performance by Dwayne Gretzky, the evening continued to bring guests onto the dance floor with DJ Raptor Marc and DJ Lynz. The magical garden setting included themed photo areas, activities, food stations, and even a walking tree. Follow @communityrocks.ca to be the first to know the theme for next year’s event set for November 20, 2027.

The End of Summer Golf Tournament, co-hosted by CLTO and Corbrook Awakening Abilities, took place at Glen Eagle Golf Club. The event welcomed 130 attendees and 26 sponsors, raising $79,295 with part of the proceeds going to Shadow Lake Centre! Now entering its third year as a partnership event, the tournament brings together stakeholders from across the developmental services sector to raise money for people we support and their families, all while playing a great round of golf. Follow @ shadowlakecentre for details on this year’s event set for September 9, 2026.

Our Employment Services team delivered 28 skill building workshops, 17 job-ready intakes, and eight pathway to employment sessions to build workforce readiness and employment success. Through onboarding at least two new organizations each week and focusing on employer outreach, we are creating opportunities for people with disabilities to join the workforce.

Over the course of three years, we conducted our Family Experience Survey *, which to date has collected over 700 responses. Through this work, we know what is most important to families and caregivers, and how those priorities shape their experiences. Most families shared that services meet or exceed their expectations and highlighted the meaningful relationships they have with our staff team. Programs and services are valued for supporting belonging, independence, and well-being, and for adapting to individual needs. At the same time, families want to ensure that services are developed with their input, accessible to everyone, and expanded to better prepare for managing life transitions. The priority is that CLTO is helping people to achieve and goals and dreams. We value this feedback and the opportunity it gives us to continue shaping our support in ways that reflect what matters most to the people and families we serve.

MyCommunityHub (where people discover, register, and access programs and services), now includes a new invoicing feature that allows service providers to create, manage, and track invoices while collecting payments in real time. This streamlines financial workflows, reduces manual processes, improves accuracy, and gives both providers and clients clear visibility into payment status.

We piloted a data governance initiative to evaluate structured data management practices, assess their impact on organizational data quality, and establish a framework for sustainable data governance. Our team now has greater confidence in data-driven processes and a solid foundation for broader data governance adoption.

By implementing ServiceNow Client Service Management for MyCommunityHub and MyDirectPlan, we have strengthened the consistency, governance, and scalability of our digital support services. Our Help Desk has evolved from a basic support function into a governance-aware service team, with standardized incident management, enhanced reporting, improved operational readiness, and greater accountability.

We renewed our Anti-Racism Committee as the Committee for Inclusive Change, bringing together a diverse group of employees to help lead and strengthen our AREDI work. Together, we launched the Equity Census with a 94 per cent participation rate, piloted tools like Microsoft Name Pronunciation to foster a more inclusive workplace and developed a framework for inclusive policy practices. This work strengthens our organization by grounding equity efforts in data and lived experience, helping us identify and address systemic barriers, enhance employee engagement, and ensure our workplace reflects the diversity and needs of the people we support and employ.

Our Senior Program leaders participated in two Organizational Capacity Building workshops led by faculty from the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQUIPS) team. The workshops focused on organizational capacity building for quality improvement. Our leaders strengthened the proactive approach to learning from audits, incidents, and feedback from staff, families, and the people we support.

Tammy, a Zumba, stretch and tone, and creative movement instructor, began working with us 15 years ago after being approached by a member of our staff team at Community Junction.

“I have always felt like this was my calling to teach and bring joy to participants of all abilities. Dancing is my expression, and being able to inspire people of any ability or physical level to move their bodies is what motivates me,” shared Tammy.

One afternoon in March, as she was preparing to leave, Tammy stopped to chat with parents about the construction taking place near Community Junction and the challenges it was creating for parking. Participants were being dropped off down the street and had to walk up in slippery conditions, putting them at risk of injury.

“I went home that day and started looking into how to get an accessible parking sign,” Tammy explained. “After submitting the necessary forms, those responsible for approving the sign wholeheartedly understood our concerns and worked with us to make it happen.”

For Tammy, it was a meaningful way to give back to participants and their families, who had become dear friends over the years. When she was battling breast cancer years earlier, she was deeply touched by the support and encouragement they showed her.

In late September, the accessible parking sign was officially installed. By December, Tammy and her husband had made the difficult decision to move closer to family in British Columbia.

“The decision to move was not made lightly, and I have already spent many teary days missing everyone at CLTO. Leaving, knowing that I was able to help in even a small way, has meant the world to me,” she shared.

You never know how one life can impact another, or how one small gesture can create meaningful change. We are grateful for people like Tammy, who do so much more than teach programs to those we support. They share their hearts and their lives as members of our CLTO community. 

One of the 544 people we supported through Individual Passport Support services this year was Robert, a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge.

When Robert’s sister, his main support system, passed away 12 years ago, he began living independently for the first time. Although his sister’s close friends remained an important connection to community, Robert wanted a true connection to the music scene. Because the Ontario Passport Program operates as a reimbursement-based model, Robert was unable to attend paid events like concerts. Without the ability to cover costs upfront, live music remained out of reach.

In August 2025, Robert connected with our organization’s Individualized Passport Support services. During a meeting with our team, we explored how to help manage his funding and discussed the possibilities available to him.

One of his favourite bands was the Doobie Brothers, and he had dreamed of seeing them live since he was a little boy. Over the years, he had missed four separate opportunities because he couldn’t afford the tickets upfront. Now, as it happened, the Doobie Brothers were scheduled to perform in September at a music venue.

Robert worked closely with Camille, a community support worker to attend the concert. Tickets were purchased, and arrangements were made to ensure Robert felt confident and supported. Since he was not comfortable traveling alone to unfamiliar places, Camille accompanied him to the concert.

During the taxi ride to the show, Robert warmed up his voice by singing Doobie Brothers songs and explaining the meaning behind each one. They arrived early so Robert could soak in the atmosphere and as fellow fans filled the seats around him, Robert eagerly shared that this was his very first concert and how long he had waited for this moment. When the band took the stage, Robert was on his feet instantly, singing, clapping, and dancing along to every song.

Months later, his friends and Camille say the concert remains his favourite topic of conversation, the highlight of having Passport funding and the support of our organization to help manage it.

When people are empowered to make choices about the support they receive, extraordinary things can happen. For Robert, that empowerment turned a lifelong dream into a night he will never forget.