Birds of a Feather
In addition to participating in a number of day and weekend trips out of town, individuals supported by Community Living have been regulars at the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights. In these photos, two individuals supported by our Day Supports program take in the free music and make a new friend.
For over two decades, the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights has been offering free-admission concerts for the entire family to enjoy. For more information about the Festival, visit their website.
Take Care
Starting this September, we will be offering a new, monthly column focusing on health and wellness issues. To be published on our website the 15th of each month, the column will be written by Kristin Duare McKinnon. Kristin has two decades of experience in the not-for-profit and social services sectors, ten of those years spent running her own business - KDM Program & Management Services.
"When I write about health and wellness," says McKinnon, "I bring to my writing not only my training and experience as a social worker but also my personal experiences learning to live with chronic illness. I bring a special insight that I hope can offer something a little different to those who read my columns."
Over the next year, Kristin will be tackling such issues as stress and burnout, depression, time management, information overload and the challenges of caregiving. In particular, Kristin is looking forward to sharing her articles, "All I need to know from stress management I learned from my cats" and "The e-vils of e-mail." (A sense of humour is important at all times!)
Community Living is excited to be offering this valuable resource to our website readers. Equally as important as our role to support people with intellectual challenges is our mission to participate in the development of healthy, inclusive communities. We see featuring Kristin's writing on our website as one way to reach out and 'take care' of our whole community.
So be sure to visit us on September 15th to read our first instalment of Take Care. And if you find it useful, be sure to pass it on.
E-waste Unplugged
The Technology Alliance Group and Community Living have joined forces to help keep the City of Kawartha Lakes green.
Tonnes of e-waste (electronic waste) containing toxins are being sent to landfills, placing our health and the environment at risk. The Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation (through Industry Canada's Eastern Ontario Development Program) and the Ontario Trillium Foundation have provided funding to address this community concern.
In partnership with Community Living Kawartha Lakes, the Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Kawartha Lakes is hosting the first ever computer take-back day. Called E-Waste Unplugged, this event will raise awareness about e-recycling and offer residents an environmentally safe option for disposing of their unwanted equipment. With the help of an $11,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, TAG is developing a business plan for an exciting and innovative program aimed at diverting electronic equipment from landfills.
TAG is a non-profit charitable organization working to increase public awareness of technology and its uses. Since establishment in November of 2001, TAG has offered a variety of services to the public free of charge including access to computers and training. In promoting the use of technology, TAG recognizes that continual upgrading of technology can create an environmental problem. Last year, with the assistance of a youth intern provided by the Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation, TAG was able to refurbish and re-distribute 32 computers to non-profit organizations and families in need.
TAG is also working closely with the City to ensure that a proposed facility for refurbishing useful equipment and dismantling 'end-of-life computers' will complement the existing recycling system. (The City of Kawartha Lakes offers electronic recycling at the Fenelon Falls and Lindsay-Ops City Landfill sites. For further details call the City at (705) 324-9411, 1-888-822-2225 or visit their website.)
TAG's key partner is Community Living Kawartha Lakes. Established in 1960, Community Living Kawartha Lakes currently operates as one of the largest charitable, not-for profit social service agencies within the City of Kawartha Lakes. Community Living Kawartha Lakes has successfully supported people with intellectual challenges and their families through all stages of their lives.
Jobs 'R' Us, a division of Community Living Kawartha Lakes, already has a group of people skilled at recycling and they will be working with TAG to dismantle and sort equipment. This project will not only be beneficial to the environment but it will provide employment opportunities for people with intellectual challenges.
So, mark your calendars for Tuesday September 11, 2007 as TAG and Community Living Kawartha Lakes are encouraging everyone to take action NOW. Dust off your old, unwanted computers and bring them in for FREE responsible recycling at the Canadian Tire parking lot from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The following items will be accepted for recycling: computers, computer accessories such as mice, keyboards and cables, printers and fax machines. Monitors will be accepted at a $10.00 shipping cost. Cell phones and ink cartridges will also be accepted in support of the Kawartha Lakes Food Source.
Charitable donation tax receipts will be provided upon donation drop-off. You can also join in the fun as a group of highly energetic and motivated employees from Jobs 'R' Us of Community Living Kawartha Lakes dismantle and prepare materials for recycling.
For more information about E-Waste Unplugged contact TAG at (705) 878-9261. Help support your community and the environment today!
This project is supported by:
Thank you to the following contributors:
Thank you to TAG for providing this news story.
