News & Information From Around The Community

Empower Simcoe is thrilled to announce that a Community Living Ontario Self Advocate Research Group is currently conducting an important Experience with Passport Funding survey. If you or someone you know identifies with an intellectual disability, please participate and share your valuable input. The Research Group’s...

Get ready for an incredible week of adventure with Empower Simcoe’s Fee for Service Connect to Adventure Program! Join us August 19th to 26th in Orillia for a journey you won't forget. Explore the stunning biodiversity habitat at the Alexander Hope Smith Nature Reserve in Washago,...

What an incredible mix of students we have working at Empower Simcoe this summer! CEO Claudine Cousins recently welcomed these talented students for a tea and coffee meet n’ greet to learn more about each student's field of study, career aspirations, and to celebrate the...

On June 27th, Empower Simcoe CEO Dr. Claudine Cousins was named Chair of OASIS (Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs) at its Annual General Meeting. [caption id="attachment_20129" align="alignright" width="450"] Claudine and OASIS CEO Robert Walsh[/caption] In taking on this central leadership role in Ontario's developmental services...

June 17-21 marks Developmental Service Worker Appreciation Week! Let's take the time to recognize, celebrate, and thank all our essential Empower Simcoe support staff for their resilience, dedication, and commitment to enhancing the lives of the people we support. You've been invaluable to Empower Simcoe on...

June highlights both Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), recognizing the significance of Indigenous history, heritage, resilience, and the diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across our nation. Angelia Brooks, Empower Simcoe’s Indigenous Coordinator, recently joined the Community Support Services Barrie...

Journey to Belonging: Choice and Inclusion and the work my division at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is doing to help improve services for people with developmental disabilities. Our vision in Journey to Belonging is of an Ontario where people with developmental disabilities...

This May, light up your world in blue and green to support inclusion and community living. Join us on Wednesday, May 1st, as we participate in Community Living Ontario's Shine a Light on Community Living initiative. Illuminate your home or office in the vibrant colors...

Empower Simcoe is proud to announce the nearing completion and launch of its new Transition Program, a pivotal development designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities. This unfunded, transitional housing initiative aims to provide a nurturing environment that encourages independence through tailored skills development. Located in Orillia,...

We're thrilled to announce the upcoming 'Focus on Families - Virtual Series,' a trio of information-packed sessions designed to support families and caregivers. Highlighting our strong partnership, we're especially proud to spotlight the 'All About Respite' session, a collaborative effort with the Empower Simcoe Family...

Drum roll, please! The results of the 2023 Empower Simcoe Communications Survey are now available, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards enhanced communication and community engagement. We extend our deepest appreciation to all participants who took the time last December to share their...

Empower Simcoe's recent "Cooking Up Capability" program is making waves by offering culinary classes to individuals with intellectual disabilities in Barrie and Orillia. “Learning basic life skills, like cooking, is essential to fostering independence as an adult,” Empower Simcoe CEO Claudine Cousins said. “It’s magical...

Congratulations to Empower Simcoe artists Raymund Concon and Joel Pisano for sharing their inspiring and creative artwork that graces our 2024 Empower Simcoe Thank You card. According to Raymund, his watercolour painting “The Tree” represents how Empower Simcoe helps people to be the best version of...

Empower Simcoe, along with other organizations in the Developmental Services (DS) sector, is advocating for sustainable funding for organizations that support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.   Empower Simcoe CEO Dr. Claudine Cousins recently met with Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin,...

Welcome to an immersive journey of self-expression through movement, music, and dance! The ‘Ex-press Yourself’ course by Empower Simcoe is a unique blend of melody and motion, designed to unleash your creativity and get you moving in a fun, inclusive environment. Why Join ‘Ex-press Yourself’: Fun...

Empower Simcoe is developing a new communications strategy and we need your input to better understand how you receive information. Aimed at people supported, staff, family members, and community members alike, this survey aims to shape the organization's future communication initiatives. The Communications Committee at Empower...

Calling all Unpaid Caregivers in Simcoe County.  The 2024 Respitality Program is open for applications November 27 – December 31, 2023 What is Respitality?  Respite + Hospitality = Respitality Empower Simcoe and our business and community partners recognize the significant impact Unpaid Caregivers have in providing exceptional...

We look good in purple! On October 19, Empower Simcoe was thrilled to participate in the nationwide Light It Up! For NDEAM campaign in honour of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Every October, this initiative unites organizations coast-to-coast in illuminating buildings and landmarks in vibrant shades...