Mayors’ luncheon highlights Community Living programs

By Mark Ribble

Well over 100 attendees took part in the annual Mayors’ Luncheon put on by Community Living Essex County on Thursday, May 18 at St. Mary’s Hall in Maidstone.

With the Essex Vocal Express providing several classic tunes in perfect harmony, the event got underway with Tony DeSantis, Community Living’s Manager of Community Relations, greeting those in attendance and talking about how Community Living has changed since he joined the organization some 21 years ago.

“We’ve come a long way,” he said. “What is community living, my friends would ask back then.”

DeSantis introduced many guest speakers who took the podium to speak about the variety of supports and programs that CLEC provides for their more than 700 clients and families. Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald spoke about the inclusivity required in communities in this day and age.

“It’s always about the quality of life in our communities,” she said. “No

matter the language, the colour of skin, or the intellectual capabilities, everyone needs to be included.”

Leamington is among local municipalities and businesses striving to be inclusive by hiring clients of Community Living Essex County.

Ken Brown, Leamington’s Manager of Public Works spoke to the audience about employee Ryan Issell, who began as a seasonal worker 10 years ago and has added crossing guard to his resume along the way.

“Ryan would do his crossing duties in the morning and then be picked up by staff and do his work on the public works crew and then go back to work at the school corner,” said Brown. “It’s been a rewarding experience for Ryan and also for the municipality.”

Brown joked that Issell was concerned about attending the luncheon and not being back to Leamington in time for his afternoon crossing guard duties.

“That’s how dedicated this guy is,” he added. Sutton Creek Golf Course’s General Manager and Head Professional Cory Lajeunesse, also spoke passionately about the golf course’s partnership with CLEC and his close friendship with CLEC client Kyle Spearing for the past 13 years.

Lajeunesse talked about how Kyle’s special abilities shone through and how it’s been so rewarding for himself, the golf course and for Kyle.

Ray Renaud and Brianne Taggart also spoke on behalf of New Day, which is a self-advocacy group that has regular meetings and activities, bringing people with intellectual diabilities together.

Other programs, such as Career Path and Ensemble, which is a group for parents and caregivers, were also touched on.

Community Living’s Director of Marketing and Innovation finished off the presentations with a talk on how technology helps those with intellectual disabilities, citing the autonomy, independence and freedom they get from certain devices such as ipads, Apple watches and laptops, all made possible through their annual Giving Tuesday event in December.

From left, Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke, Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Leamington Board of Works employee Ryan Issell, Leamington By-Law enforcement officer Jeff Armstrong and Leamington Public Works Manager Ken Brown.

Back row, from left, Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke, Jeff Armstrong, Ken Brown, Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers Ray Renaud (New Day), LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata, Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti, Tecumseh Councillor James Dorner, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, Lakeshore Councillor Ryan McNamara. Front row, from left, Community Living Essex County’s Tony DeSantis, Community Living Essex County’s Karen Bolger, Ryan Issell, Leamington Mayor (and county warden) Hilda MacDonald, Amherstburg Councillor Molly Allaire, Brianna Taggart (New Day), Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy, LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, Community Living Essex County’s Sue Desjarlais, Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt, Tecumseh Councilor Rick Tonial. SUN photos