Sixty-five years a group of parents decided their children, who all had an intellectual disability, should be allowed to attend school.
Back in the day, their children were not welcome in the school system.
These parents went on to create their own small school.
“It was in a church basement. There were eight students in that first classroom with one teacher and it has grown phenomenally over the last 65 years,” explained Sherry Carnevale, executive director of Community Living North Bay.
On Sunday afternoon, Community Living celebrated its 65th anniversary at the Callander Community Centre with families gathering to enjoy a day filled with games, laughter, and food.
Employee Kassidy Meecham and her two young children joined in the fun.
“It has been great. There’s lots of activities outside, and inside if you get cold. So, the kids have had their faces painted, there’s hot dogs, there’s candy floss, there’s games so it has been great,” said Meecham.
There was plenty of activity going on at the outdoor rink.
Chris Ouellette is the centre on the North Bay North Stars hockey team.
He likes spending time with friends he has met through the organization.
“I definitely enjoy it. It gives me a lot of opportunities I normally wouldn’t have. Thanks to the student links program Community Living has, I was able to mentor under the owner of Northland Wrestling.”
The number of people who are supported through Community Living has grown from the original eight to over 600 today, serving everyone from infants to seniors.
“It has been a long journey, 65 years. The school that started in the church basement was because people with intellectual disabilities were not valued. They were not respected. Things change. Every year society moves a little bit in a different direction, and we have been advocating for many years that people who have a disability are the same as you and I. They want the same things from life,” said Carnevale.
“So, we have developed programs to assist them and their families to attain a quality of life like you and I expect to have. There are a couple of school programs that help people who have graduated or have left the school system, to continue their education. We help people with volunteering. This past year we got involved with the Canadian Cancer Society. They give back to their community as they have been receiving for so many years.”
Rheal Thorn spent 32 years as executive director of Community Living North Bay before retiring 11 years ago.
“The organization has grown. We have more residential homes now, more programs. They’re doing a great job,” said Thorn who noted there is still a long road ahead.
“It is public education that has a long way to go. Trying to teach the community on how people with intellectual disabilities should be treated, that still has a long way to go. So, our jobs there is not done, and it is going to be a few more years before people are treated with the respect that they deserve.”
Employee Roberta Milne who works at a residential group home will be retiring in June.
She has witnessed plenty of changes during her career which has spanned nearly three decades.
“I have seen us grow. I have seen F.J. Dellandrea grow to where everything is at F.J. Dellandrea now, which was awesome to see. I’ve seen us expand in all levels; residential, vocational. It has just been a great place to work for 28 years,” shared Milne.
“We’re part of their family. I wouldn’t change my job for the world. It is going to be a hard day when I leave because you just make so many friends and see them progress in their lives. I think what Community Living does is let them have a life that is full of love, caring, and independence.”
Bev Phippen got involved with Community Living as a participant in the SIL program, Support Independent Living.
She now works as a part-time receptionist at the front desk at Community Living.
“I love it because I get support from the staff. Being employed with Community Living, I really enjoy it. I have been there almost nine years so I’m happy to be working there, plus I’m being treated like staff, like everybody else. I feel included, not shoved underneath a mat.”
