Our History
Prior to 1965, parents across Ontario were gathering and asserting demands that their sons and daughters receive appropriate education and other supports. This "movement" of parents eventually led to the creation of the Ontario Association for Community Living that is now made up of some 100 local Associations throughout the province.
Community Living Association (Lanark County) is an integral and proud part of this movement. The following represents important milestones in the history of the Association from its inception in 1965.
On November 8, 1965 a group of parents met at the Baptist Sunday School in Smiths Falls to start laying the plans for a day school. Attending were the Goods, the Bradys, the Hagars, the Rosevears, the Stewarts, the Moultons and the Lesways. Joan Lesway chaired the meeting. A Steering Committee was established to do the groundwork to form a local Association.
The Perth and District Association for the Mentally Retarded was formed at an organizational meeting held on January 10, 1966 in Perth. Willis Lesway of Perth became our first President. A nursery for pre schoolers with developmental disabilities was opened in 1966 under the direction of Skee Hagar. Parents and volunteers operated the program.
Willis continued his presidency and the Knights of Columbus offered the basement of Farrell Hall in Perth for the new day school, which opened on January 3, 1967. Matilda Swift was hired as principal along with two teachers, Valerie Deakin and Marjorie Leslie. <hr>
Edna Good was elected president and Valerie Deakin was promoted to principal of the school when Mrs. Swift retired.
Edna Good continued as our President. Changes to the Education Act allowed children with disabilities to be funded by public education. This resulted in schools started by Associations to become the responsibility of the public school system. An Adult Services Committee was formed to start a sheltered workshop and its first manager, Jim McAllister was hired.
Andy Stewart became President. ARC Industries Sheltered Workshop and Training Centre opened in Carleton Place.
Andy Stewart completed his second year as President. The Association raised enough money to pay its workshop manager $7200 per year. In September the school was relocated to the New Aberdeen School in Smiths Falls and renamed the Jean Vanier School.
Roy Smith was President of the Association. A major addition was built at the Jean Vanier School.
Roy Smith entered his second term as President.
Betty Harper assumed the Association's Presidency. <hr>
While Betty Harper carried on her second year as President, the Association opened the George Street residence. <hr>
Marjre McCoubrey was elected President. The Lanark Association was part of a group of Associations that produced a resolution that saw the Canadian Association lobbying the federal government to include mental disabilities as a prohibited ground for discrimination when a Human Rights Act was developed.
Marjre McCoubrey again assumed the position of President and an Open House at ARC Industries attracted over 200 guests.
John Hollinger was local President. The membership consisted of 127 people.
Dan Porayko became our President. The participants of ARC Industries staged a walkout demanding more money for their participation in the program. This was the first and only such walkout in the province and it attracted wide spread attention. Neil Card headed a regional committee that monitored the progress of the Tri Ministry Project, which was a government initiative to introduce program support to the residents of nursing homes and homes for special care. The work done by Neil's Committee provided invaluable information for OACL as it carried out its provincial lobbying role.
As Dan Porayko carried out his second term as President, the Association opened the Charles Street residence.
Ruby Shortt was President, with Neil Card in an acting role for part of the year. Locally, Justin Clarke fought for the right to not be declared mentally incompetent and was victorious, allowing him to determine his life direction. He shortly moved out of Rideau Regional Centre to live with friends in Ottawa.
Cap Foster became our Association's President, while Justin Clarke was the guest speaker at the Association's Annual Meeting.
Paul Brady was elected President and the Edward Street residence opens.
Norm Willis was the Association's President.
Norm Willis completed his second year as President and the Association hired its first Executive Director.
Pat Trew was elected President of the Association. We changed our name to the Association for Community Living (Lanark County) and assumed responsibility for the Family Home Program from Rideau Regional Centre.
Pat Trew completed her second term as President.
Duncan Schouler became the Association's President. The Association opened the Thomas Street and Edward Street residences. The members approve borrowing money to build the Elmsley Street residence.
Duncan fulfilled his second term as President. It's a sad year for the Association when Joan Morgan, a part time employee is killed in a car accident. Joan was the former wife of the founding president and spent many years advocating on behalf of people with disabilities all over Canada. The Association opened the Elmsley Street and Moffat Street residences and approved a groundbreaking position on integration of students with intellectual disabilities in the school system. The Keith Johnston Memorial Award was initiated honouring Keith who was a valuable participant at ARC Industries. The first recipient of the award was Bill Kyle of Perth.
Dave Hutchingame was President. The Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Association was celebrated. The Association created two bursaries for students pursuing post secondary education in developmental services and special education. Tulsa Stratford, then of Carleton Place, received the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Under Tom Brownell as President the Association adopted its current Goal and Vision statement. It co-sponsored, with the Lanark Board of Education, a professional development day on integrated education for Board employees and others. The Association now supported over 90 people throughout the County. Roger Prior of Almonte was selected to receive the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Tom Brownell continued as President and Weston Redden of Smiths Falls was the proud winner of the Keith Johnston Memorial Award. ARC Industries closed, replaced by Community Support Services throughout the County. Mike Duffy was guest speaker at the Annual Meeting.
Entering his third year as President was Tom Brownell. The Keith Johnston Memorial Award went to Greg Hobbs of Almonte. Max Keeping is guest speaker at the Annual Meeting.
Chris Purdy of Carleton Place received the Keith Johnston Memorial Award. Alice Miller was elected President of the Association. <hr>
Alice Miller continued as President and the Keith Johnston Memorial Award was given to David Johnston of Perth.
As Alice Miller entered her third year as President, Bob McGrath of Almonte received the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Alice Miller continued to head the Board of Directors and Jackie Barr of Perth received the Keith Johnston Memorial Award. The Association opened the Spring Street residence in Almonte, the forerunner of Edward Street.
Norah Lee Jackson of Carleton Place was the very proud winner of the award named after her colleague, Keith Johnston and Alice Miller continued as President.
Alice Miller started to wind down her unprecedented six years as President and Sarah Lalonde of Almonte received the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Derek Dunn of Carleton Place is chosen to receive the Keith Johnston Memorial Award. The Association celebrates its 35th Year of service to the community and provides support to well over 100 people in Lanark County. Bruce Monteith is elected President.
Bruce Monteith continues in his role of President and James Poirier of Perth is presented with the Keith Johnston Memorial Award. Chris Purdy of Carleton Place receives a bursary from the Anne Stafford Light Up The Future Fund, a program operated by the Ontario Association for Community Living.
Harry Purdy is elected President and the Association initiates an Employer of the Year Award, granted to Sun Flower Bake Shop in Perth. David Boal of Smiths Falls receives the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Lori Reith is elected as President. The Carleton Place IGA is granted the Employer of the Year Award and Janet Kent of Carleton Place receives the Keith Johnston Memorial Award.
Lori Reith continued in her role as Association President. The membership adopts a far-reaching strategic plan for the Association and plans begin to support four gentlemen from Rideau Regional Centre to move to a new home in Smiths Falls. Donnie Walker receives the Keith Johnston Memorial Award and Hoffman's Antique and Flea Market in Perth receives a Certificate of Appreciation for supporting the Association's Goal and Vision.
In June, Collin Gibson of Almonte became President. The Association celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
Our Mission
That all people live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community and have the opportunity to participate effectively.