INDEPENDENT LIVING CANADA 2008 Annual Report MESSAGE FROM CHAIRPERSON AND NATIONAL DIRECTOR First of all, we are delighted to be working together as a leadership team. We have known and worked with each other for approximately 12 years now in various capacities and now as National Chairperson and National Director, and working for the members of Independent Living Canada. There have been numerous successes and milestones to celebrate this year. Most importantly, we were able to work with the Independent Living Centre representatives and build consensus for a number of important initiatives. Together, under the leadership of the Social Policy Committee and with input from all of the IL Centres, we created a Case for Support for the Independent Living Movement for government funding bodies. Together, we agreed upon changing the name of the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres to INDEPENDENT LIVING CANADA! Not only that, we also created a plan and brochure for a National Planned Giving Program, which was not an easy task but we did it! In addition, we finished our first three year cycle of the accreditation process without too many complications. The process is now being reviewed by the Accreditation and Membership Committees and updated for the next cycle. Again, together! No matter how complicated the task may be, as a network with the national office we are taking on national issues and working through them together. We believe that consensus building is probably one of the keys to the success of our IL network. We have stuck together as the political attitudinal pendulum swings back and forth. Although political support for social justice and social programming is never certain, clearly it is the respect and support that we give each other within the association that enables us to go through these challenges together. In this year’s Annual Report you will find highlights of this year’s projects, meetings, and other major activities. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the consumers, staff, volunteers and board members of the network of 28 Independent Living Centres for their dedicated and passionate work at the grassroots level. A special thanks to our financial supporters, both corporate and government, and last but not least the IL Canada board of directors and the IL Canada staff. We hope that you enjoy reading the report and we look forward to working for you in 2008/09. Rick Goodfellow,National Chairperson Traci Walters, National Director Picture: Traci Walters at the Governor General Leadership Conference NATIONAL PROJECTS Food for Thought: A Pan-Canadian Initiative Addressing the Healthy Eating Goals of Persons with Disabilities With funding provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, our initiative aims to build on the successful tools and resources that were created in our previous physical activity initiative. We are doing this by adding new accessible tools on healthy eating including program models. We are exploring how food can also be used a vehicle to connect people, encourage physical activity and reduce isolation. We are using Participatory Action Research (PAR) as the means of discovering what models work in various communities by having consumers work with our nine pilot sites across Canada. The information gathered and lessons learned will be shared across the network to participate in the training and provide healthy eating information, tools and educational workshops for people with disabilities across Canada. Picture: Visit to Metropolitan Montreal IL CentreInvesting in Futures: An Independent Living Approach to Education Savings Incentives Funded in 2007, through the Canada Education Savings Program, HRSDC, this three-year national project supports member Centres in providing post-secondary education and savings resources, tools and supports to parents with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. A continuing partnership with RBC enables national training and facilitates the process of developing local partnerships between IL Centres and branches of RBC across the country. A Power Point presentation training tool was launched in May 2008 for local use. More accessible and plain language tools and resources are now being created to further promote the project throughout the network. Making a Connection – Literacy, Disability and Quality of Life: Participatory Action Research (PAR) Our new academic researchers from the University of Manitoba have assisted in creating three sets of interview questions for specific stages of the project, which allow consumers to identify their literacy goals and relay whether the skills development they experience throughout the project has changed their quality of life. As a result, many facilitators and consumers have met to complete their initial interviews. In pursuit of building the research capacity of IL Centres, literacy research is posted on the VILRC on an ongoing basis. We have also begun compiling our own research on the initial stages of the partnerships with literacy providers, for the purpose of creating a practical guide on partnership building. Future monthly calls will focus on strategies for facilitating literacy skills development, by accessing the expertise each participant brings to this project. Our academic researchers are conducting site visits this fall, gathering on-location research and facilitating training on PAR in collaboration with consumers, facilitators, and literacy providers. Marketing, Awareness and Fund Development Initiative This project ended March 31, 2008 and successfully laid the foundation for Independent Living Canada’s fund development department. This project had many positive results, including enhancing the capacity of both IL Canada and the IL Centres fundraising capacity, establishing new partnerships, a new logo and slogan for IL Canada that was adopted by more than half of the IL Centres. One of the most valuable outcomes has been the opportunity to heighten awareness of the Independent Living movement, and better articulate the role it plays in the lives of Canadians living with a disability. IL Canada is most grateful to our corporate, foundation and government partners. Virtual ILRC Project Since the official launch of the Virtual ILRC (VILRC) website at the AGM in 2007, and with the continuing support of the National Office of Literacy and Leaning and TD Canada Trust, we continue to develop IL Canada’s technology capacity. New resources are continually added to the employment portal, including general and disability-specific employment links to diversify the site. The development of community groups, such as the IL Canada board, Food for Thought and Making a Connection (Literacy), allows for greater communication and information sharing. Since we are currently in the final phase of the project, we are employing an evaluation framework designed to build upon our accomplishments and determine where we wish to take the VILRC in the future. SERVICES TO INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) CENTRES IL Canada provides services to its 28 member network through the Membership and Accreditation component. In 2005 we began a process based on IL principles and standards to accredit Centres. Once accredited, membership in IL Canada is renewed for three years. Seven IL Centres participated this year, with the result that all eligible members have now taken part. Accordingly, the Accreditation Committee decided to evaluate this process through surveying Centres, and it held a face-to-face meeting in May 2008 to review existing tools and survey feedback. Accreditation evaluation will be completed next year. The third annual Executive Directors’ (ED) Forum took place in Ottawa in April 2008. This event provides an opportunity for EDs to network, to share information and best practices, and to take part in workshops. The focus this year was on training for the Food for Thought project. Workshops were also held on fund development and planned giving, national project updates, the CPP disability program, and a compelling presentation on hate crime and persons with disabilities delivered by ED Sandra Carpenter (Toronto). Provincial and regional networks met, and this year two new networks were formed; a Prairie Network and an Atlantic Network. Picture: Executive Directors' Forum April 2008 NEW PUBLICATIONS AND MATERIALS Information/ Fact Sheets • Hiring People with Disabilities: It’s Good for Business • Hiring People with Disabilities: It’s Good for Customers • Hiring People with Disabilities: Myths and Facts • Hiring People with Disabilities: It’s Good for Your Bottom Line • Food for Thought: Healthy Eating on a Budget • Food for Thought: Nutritional Labels – What do they tell us? Facilitation Tools • Food for Thought: Facilitators Guide to Exploring Canada’s Food Guide • Investing in Futures (RESP) Power Point Guides for the Network • IL Canada Branding Style Guide and Templates • VILRC Users Guide • IL Canada Information Brochure • Planned Giving Brochure for IL Network Discussion Papers • IL Case for support (For government) • Food for Thought: Persons with Disabilities and Healthy Eating Summary of Research Results • United Nations Universal Periodical Review Document IL CANADA BOARD MEETING- SHIPPAGAN At the end of May 2008, the IL Canada board of directors descended on the town of Shippagan, New Brunswick, for the national spring board meeting. We have never had a meeting like this in a rural location, due to the lack of accessible transportation and hotel accommodation that is normally the reality in most small towns. The Shippagan Centre staff and board were determined to make it happen. After months of planning – with the involvement of their entire community and even the province – we arrived. The IL Canada board was able to experience first hand the challenges of Centres in rural and remote areas, while simultaneously creating incredible awareness on the national Independent Living Movement. Many employers and politicians attended various events with the board and we are confident that our presence will have a long lasting impact on their entire community. Many thanks to the CRVA – Shippagan for hosting and to Gilbert Brunette for his hard work for co-ordinator this successful event. Picture: IL Canada Board of Directors in Shippagan, NB IL CANADA 6TH ANNUAL UNITED NATION’S INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS CELEBRATION “Our Place in the World: An International Perspective on Independent Living, Disability Rights and Inclusion” On a snowy, blustery, November 22nd, Independent Living Canada joined together with the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and Canadian Association for Community Living to celebrate the UN International Day of Disabled Persons. The day commenced with IL Canada joining the End Exclusion event with a march to Parliament Hill. More than 300 people warmed up afterwards at the Westin Hotel for IL Canada’s celebration of the UN Day with special guest The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. Once the formal portion of the event was over, the guests mingled at a reception, sponsored by Scotiabank, Main Branch, Ottawa, with representatives from other disability organizations, political and government leaders, as well as the general public. Picture: End Exclusion March November 2007 IL CANADA AWARD WINNERS 2007 Consumer Award of Excellence • Francine Leduc, Metropolitan Montreal Independent Living Centre The Allan Simpson Award • Centre for Independent Living in Toronto and their Direct Funding Self-Managed Attendant Services Program National Director’s Volunteer Award • The members of the Fund Development Task Force • Mary Dufton, Ottawa, Ontario The John Lord Award • There were no submissions this year GOVERNMENT FUNDERS Human Resources and Social Development Canada • Organizational Core Funding • IL Impact Project • Marketing Awareness and Fund Development Initiative • Summer Student Placement Program • Investing in Futures, through Canada’s Education and Savings Program Public Health Agency of Canada • Food for Thought Project National Office of Literacy and Leaning • Making the Connection: Literacy, Disability, and Quality of Life Project • Virtual VILRC project CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS National Leader’s Club ($50,000 +) • TD Bank Financial Group • RBC Foundation Community Builder’s Club ($25,000 - $49,999) • CIBC Community Partner’s Club ($10,000 - $24,999) • Compusult Inc. • ING Canada and ING Foundation • M.A. Teall Foundation • Scotiabank • AVW Telav Picture: RBC Foundation Our Vision - Independent Living Canada envisions an inclusive and accessible society where people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully. Our Mission - Independent Living Canada is a national non-profit association of Independent Living Centres run by and for people with disabilities who promote the Independent Living Philosophy. Independent Living Canada supports the development of Independent Living Centres, and provides education and leadership for its member organization, partners and communities. IL Canada would like to thank the volunteers & staff of both the local IL Centres and the national association. It is the dedication and commitment of countless volunteers that make IL Canada a strong successful pan-Canadian organization. INDEPENDENT LIVING CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Goodfellow National Chairperson Whitehorse, YT Paul-Claude Bérubé Past Chairperson St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Cecilia Carroll 1st Vice Chairperson Torbay, NL Vince Miele 2nd Vice Chairperson Richmond, BC Tracy Knutson Treasurer White City, SK Wendy Savoy Secretary & Provincial Delegate Thunder Bay, ON Mike Murphy Executive Member at Large Kingston, ON Kelly J. Nadeau, CCDP Executive Member at Large Calgary, AB Jean-Paul Normandin Executive Member at Large St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Jim Harnden Provincial Delegate Duncan, BC Diane Kreuger Provincial Delegate Calgary, AB Sandy Preston Provincial Delegate Saskatoon, SK Jacques Lapointe Provincial Delegate St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Arisma Losier Provincial Delegate Tracedie-Sheila, NB Bonnie Smith Provincial Delegate Halifax, NS Michelle Murdoch Provincial Delegate St. John's, NL Dave Shannon Member at Large Thunder Bay, ON Meenu Sikand Member at Large Woodbridge, ON Linda Anne Thompson Member at Large Parry Sound, ON Independent Living Canada 170 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 1104 Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5 Tel: 613-563-2581 TTY: 613-563-4215 info@ilc-vac.ca www.ilcanada.ca Audited Financial Statement - Available upon request Available in alternate formats - Disponible en français