What Does the Future Hold?

Strategic Thinking: Planning Ahead to Serve Our Community

What does the future hold for Community Living Huntsville?

We are fairly confident no one can predict the future – constant change makes that pretty difficult – but there is a tool that can help guide our not-for-profit organization into the unknown with determination: a strategic plan.

You will find an overview our 2019-2023 Strategic Plan on Page 12 of our latest Annual Report. For the past five years, that plan has focused our efforts and actions on innovation, teamwork, and resiliency, which has made a difference for our organization, our staff, people and families who access our services, and our community. Our leadership team, staff members, board members, and community partners have done a lot of work and made a lot of progress with that plan as inspiration.

Now it is time to create a new plan.

Work is underway on the next Community Living Huntsville strategic plan. Much is still up for debate but we know we will narrow our focus and prioritize our community’s most pressing needs – like fair access to dignified and affordable housing for everyone including people with developmental disabilities.

We also know the province’s multi-year plan for Developmental Services reform, called Journey to Belonging, will inform our new strategic plan. And so it should. Empowering people with developmental disabilities in person-directed choice and authentic community inclusion is what our organization has done well for the past 61 years. Strategically positioning ourselves, with innovation, people, and community at heart, will help guide us sustainably into the future – whatever it may hold.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Willett

Executive Director

Community Living Huntsville

Spotlight: Careers

a man sat in a wheelchair and a woman kneeling beside him. Both wear Toronto Blue Jays shirts.

Have a Career that Matters with Community Living Huntsville

This is your opportunity! Launch, grow or reimagine a meaningful career as a Direct Support Professional with Community Living Huntsville.

Join our growing team and be an advocate of inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and families.

We offer competitive pay, employer-paid benefits, a robust employee assistance program, opportunities for advancement, a positive team environment, and more, in beautiful North Muskoka.

Visit our website for current opportunities.

Visit Website

What's On

A musician plays a soprano saxophone. Text reads: Huntsville's Got Talent Registration Open.

Register now for Huntsville's Got Talent 2024!

This is YOUR time to shine! Register as a contestant for Huntsville's Got Talent 2024. First Prize is $1,000. Registration is free and open to North Muskoka community members of all ages, talents, and abilities. No stage experience needed:

1. Go to https://www.huntsvillesgottalent.com/

2. Submit your 60-second audition video

3. Complete the registration form

4. Wait to see if you are one of the Top 10 Finalists!

If you or someone you know has a talent to take to the stage – now is the time! The deadline to register and submit an audition video is January 26, 2024.

Interested in audience tickets? The Top 10 Finalists perform live on the Algonquin Theatre stage on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Audience tickets are on sale now. Don’t wait – this event sells out!

Huntsville's Got Talent is a nonprofit competition that brings community together to celebrate local talent and raise funds for charity. Funds raised support Community Living Huntsville.

Contestant Registration

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Community Support

Dippin' for Donations to Kick-Off a New Year!

Conditions were icy and spirits were high as more than 55 people of all ages – including a couple of Community Living Huntsville staff members – splashed into the icy water from the shore of Hidden Valley Beach on January 1.

The occasion? The 2024 Huntsville Polar Bear Dip in support of Community Living Huntsville!

Thank you to Markus and The Huntsville Polar Bear Dip for your continued support toward a more inclusive community for everyone. Thank you also to event partner Hidden Valley Resort.

And thank you, too, to the brave and hearty dippers, everyone who supported them through donations, and the crowd who cheered them on. So far, the event has raised more than $2,400.

Still need to donate? You can do so on the event's CanadaHelps page through January 31.

Donate

Make Your Voice Heard

Inadequate funding is threatening Developmental Services across Ontario – and the people who rely on them.

We join Community Living Ontario in calling on the Government of Ontario to provide an immediate 5 per cent increase to Developmental Services agencies’ core funding as well as to Passport and Special Services at Home funding.

Community Living Ontario's advocacy campaign, called #5ToSurvive, invites community members to join an email petition to Ontario's Premier, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and local MPPs.

Make your voice heard!

Sign the Petition

Did you know?

Become a Partner for Inclusion

Barriers to safe and affordable housing are on the rise, and the deepening housing crisis continues to hit marginalized community members, including those with disabilities, hardest. You can help.

Become a Partner for Inclusion with a five-year donation of $1,000 per year to Community Living Huntsville.

Get Started