Community Living Honoured at Gala

MPP Norm Miller, left, and Dean Teasdale from Norbram Group Insurance, fifth from left, present Community Living representaives Lisa Cook, Angelika Distler, Brad Horne, Jo-Anne Demick, Sharon Shewen, Tricia Bain, and Sheri Cox with the Chamber’s Health and Wellness award, Community Living also collected a second award, the Business Involvement Award, during Saturday’s gala.

Chamber of Commerce Members Nominate, and Choose, the winner of the

Business Involvement Award

Community Living Parry Sound (CLPS) is a grassroots organization that began our work in Parry Sound 52 years ago. When Community Living was announced as the winner of the Business Involvement Award for 2015, chamber members erupted in a loud and excited round of applause. “The response of fellow chamber members to the announcement of our win was an unexpected surprise and extremely rewarding” says Jo-Anne Demick “it was a highlight of the evening for me and, in ways, more meaningful than the actual award”.

CLPS is a non-profit organization that has worked hard to create community partnerships and to ensure that funding and grant money received is spent locally. CLPS employs 70 people. Belonging and participating in the community fosters genuine and meaningful relationships which enhance a person’s sense of self–worth and value. CLPS advocates for the rights of people with developmental disabilities to assist in achieving this.

Health and Wellness Award

Wellness is very much connected to having a strong sense of purpose. The work our organization does every day to create an inclusive community has value and makes a difference in not only the lives of people we support, but in the community as a whole when all people are acknowledged for their abilities. Advocating for people with disabilities to achieve social inclusion creates meaning in the work our employees do and being part of a team that feels a strong sense of purpose, both individually and collectively, goes a long way to producing a healthy work environment that promotes wellness.

In 2014 a regular email communication to all staff was initiated called the “Wellness Wednesday” message. Weekly messages of hope, inspiration, health and wellness are sent to staff utilizing images, videos, personal letters, humor, and professional success stories.

CLPS provides staff with a flexible work environment that permits people to tailor their workday schedule to accommodate their needs. Flexible work hours create less stress daily for individuals. When matters of personal concern affect a staff member, CLPS responds with professional and deliberate support appropriate for that person. We believe that a work/life balance is critical to employee wellness.

Parry Sound Community Gardens, a local community initiative promoting healthy food and living for all, is an initiative strongly supported by CLPS staff and friends of CLPS and is yet another example of how the culture of health and wellness is promoted by our organization.

The philosophy that ‘together we are better’ establishes a culture of teamwork in the workplace. Staff shares a belief in the power of inclusion which encourages creativity and innovation in the workplace and in working in partnership with other organizations in Parry Sound. Feeling part of a team and a larger community network promotes wellness through connection.