Our bulletin to keep you up to date on what’s going on at Community Living Stratford and Area is currently on hold. Please check back for updates!

May 3rd, 2024

Community Living Stratford and Area is please to annouce that an agreement has been reached with its Union that will run until March 31st, 2026. This is great news for the people supported by CLSA and for the great staff providing those supports. We would like to thank everyone that makes CLSA such a wonderful agency which provides support that make a difference everyday. 

May 1st, 2024

CLSA is happy to announce that we reached a tentative deal with our Union yesterday. A ratification vote is being held later this week, results will be shared once we have been notified. Thank you for all your support.

April 26, 2024

On April 24^th and 25^th, Community Living Stratford and Area asked its employees to vote on an offer to resolve the current negotiations.  That offer was rejected by the Union membership and has now moved us closer to a strike occurring on May 2/24.

CLSA believes that the offer was fair, some of the details include a one time stipend of $1500 for full time employees and $800 for part time employees, a 2% wage increase for all staff for April 1/24 and another 2% wage increase effective April 1/25, an 1% increase in the amount paid for “in lieu of” benefits for part time employees and numerous changes in the contract that specifically benefit the membership. 

Although there is still time to avoid a strike with both sides agreeing to meet on April 30 to continue negotiations.  It is imperative that CLSA prepare to ensue the continuity of supports are provided for as many people as possible.  Over the coming days, decisions, some likely difficult, will be made in determining how we will provide services and at what level they can be provided.  A member of the CLSA Management Team will connect with you to discuss our plans.  Your input will be heard in how we make such decisions and conversations regarding plans you may have to support your loved one will be encouraged.  

CLSA does not want a strike and will work in a manner that will both attempt to avoid that fate while negotiating a contract that does not put the quality of services at risk by signing a deal that will cut services and supports in the future.  Every effort will be made to avoid a disruption in the quality of life for the people CLSA supports, I however apologize in advance for those disruptions. 

Your thought, concerns and suggestions are welcomed.  Please reach out, I will be happy to talk.

Thank you and sincerely,

Trevor McGregor

April 17, 2024

Update from the Board of Directors

We are sharing an update about the complaint and ongoing social media campaign that so many of you have expressed concern about.

I want to start by saying that our hearts go out to everyone grieving the loss of Amy Clark, a valued staff member. It has been a difficult time for her family, friends and colleagues and we continue to empathize and share our condolences.

At the same time, as many of you will know, a complaint was made in January by Kyle Clark, about our CEO, Trevor McGregor, regarding his interactions with Ms. Clark.  While we would not normally share information about an investigation or complaint, Mr. Clark’s social media campaign has left us with no choice but to speak more candidly about this situation.

I want to assure everyone that we take Mr. Clark’s allegations very seriously. On January 26 we called a board meeting. The Board engaged Angela A. Bradley, a highly trained Workplace Investigator, Lawyer, and Mediator, to conduct an independent third-party investigation.

Ms. Bradley interviewed relevant people; read emails, policies and human resources documents; and was provided with any other records she requested from CLSA. Ms. Bradley considered Mr. Clark’s allegations under our harassment, Violence and Abuse Policy and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

The investigation is complete and we thank Ms. Bradley for her thoroughness.  The following is a summary of her findings into Mr. Clark’s allegations that Mr. McGregor engaged in harassment and bullying against Ms. Clark, abused his power and created a toxic work environment for Ms. Clark: Ms. Bradley found that there was no credible evidence to support these allegations.

Specifically, the investigator found that: 

• Mr. McGregor’s interactions with Ms. Clark were few and far between and their interactions were typical and as would be expected in many workplaces. 
• The investigator heard no credible testimony suggesting that Mr. McGregor (or anyone) made insulting or degrading comments in any context or situation.
• Contrary to Mr. Clark’s allegations, there was no evidence that anyone’s employment was threatened regarding contact with the Children’s Aid Society. Mr. McGregor is within his responsibilities as CEO to instruct employees about the rights of people supported and what CLSA does and does not have the authority to do. And, when calling upon other organizations is required to support clients. This does not constitute harassment, abuse of power or a toxic work environment.
  The fact is that CLSA’s role and authority (including limitations) and the rights of people supported (including the right to refuse support and the right to privacy) are spelled out by Ontario law, statute and regulation, as well as Ministry policy and service agreements with people supported. 
• Contrary to Mr. Clark’s allegations, there was no evidence that Ms. Clark’s employment was threatened in relation to her complaints against another support worker. Mr. McGregor was within his rights to provide reminders about agency expectations related to workplace confidentiality. This also does not constitute harassment, abuse of power or a toxic work environment.

In the wake of Ms. Clark’s death, it has been a difficult time for many. We hope that our staff get the support they need while grieving this sudden loss. CLSA has an employee assistance program that provides free counselling to staff. The support is anonymous and confidential, and the name of anyone getting that support is not given to CLSA.

We’re committed to the truth and following our lawful obligations to investigate allegations fairly and in accordance with our policies. We ask that all members of the CLSA community respect the outcomes and follow the processes established by the law and our policies.

We remain committed to working with staff to resolve their concerns. We will support all members of the CLSA community to participate in our organization respectfully and positively.

We thank all members of the CLSA community for their continued resilience and commitment to the people we support.

Regards,

Gerry Krug, 

President, Board of Directors, Community Living Stratford and Area

Statement of the Board of Directors 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) for Community Living Stratford and Area (CLSA) is aware that allegations have been made about CLSA’s work environment and its leadership.  The Board takes these allegations very seriously and on January 26^th called for a board meeting and immediately took action to engage a third-party investigator to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.  The investigation is currently in progress.

To date, the Board and CLSA have not received all details of any alleged harassment or inappropriate conduct by leadership in this case, nor any pattern of same at CLSA.  Therefore, the Board and CLSA are not in a position to draw any conclusions or take any action pending the outcome of the independent investigation. 

The Board and CLSA expressly prohibit any form of retaliation against persons participating in this process and reaffirm our commitment to handling this matter in a manner that is fair, reasonable and respectful of the privacy of all staff and people supported by CLSA.   

The Board remains committed to promoting a safe and harmonious work environment for CLSA staff and the highest standards of professionalism for the people we support.

Sincerely, 

The Board of Directors

Stratford Festival - Relaxed Performances

Relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome patrons who will benefit from a less restricted audience environment. Patrons of all abilities are welcome, including but not limited to those with intellectual or learning disabilities, sensory processing conditions or autism. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the auditorium, and some minor production changes may be made to reduce the intensity of light, sound and other potentially startling effects.

See their website for more information: 2024 Relaxed Performances

World Down Syndrome Day - March 21st, 2024

See their website for more information: World Down Syndrome Day

Check out this video: #NOTSPECIALNEEDS

Inspiring Possibilities Estate Planning Guide

People who have a disability and their families now have an online, comprehensive toolkit available to them as they consider their financial objectives and obligations. Community Living Ontario launched the Inspiring Possibilities Estate Planning Guide: A Tax, Benefits, Trusts, and Wills Toolkit for Ontarians with Disabilities.

Find more information here: Estate Planning Guide

Music soothes their souls!
Thank you to The Leisure Activity Council of Stratford for supporting Community Living Stratford and The Alzheimer Society of perth County for bringing the "magic of music" to people's lives.

All three organizations partnered up to help people receive Ipod touches and headphones.  Their faces shone with joy when they first heard the music play.  Each person was interviewed and their favourite playlist was downloaded.  Having access to an ipod provides an individual a personalized music intervention designed to stimulate the persons memory, provide encouragement through auditory stimulation, and support self expression and identity.  Beyond the entertainment value, there is growing evidence that listening to music can also help stimulate seemly lost memories and even resotre some cognitive function.

DON’T SHUT DISABLED KIDS OUT OF SOCIETY
Globe and Mail Tuesday, January 31, 2012
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail: “Loneliness is the most terrible poverty.”– Mother Teresa
There are few things more heartbreaking than a child with no friends.
But being friendless is the norm for Canadian children with physical and developmental
disabilities.

A new study, written by Anne Snowdon, a nurse and professor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor in Ontario, shows that 53 per cent of disabled kids have no friends.

Read More...