Registration for the Empower Simcoe 71st Annual General Meeting and Gift of the Heart Awards, taking place Wednesday, September 11th at Liberty North, 100 Caplan Avenue, from 5:00 - 7:00pm, is now open. Please use the link below to register by August 30th, 2024. The Gift of...
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...
Join us Friday, July 12th, at the Barrie Legion for an unforgettable evening of music with legendary local duo, Even Steven, presented by Superior Home Health Care in support of the Empower Simcoe Foundation. From classic rock and pop to country hits, you'll surely hear all...
The vibrant 'First Steps: Newcomer Parent and Child Programming' at EarlyON Child & Family Centres has officially kicked off, opening doors to a world of opportunities for newcomer families in our community. This exciting initiative, crafted by the minds at CFS Counselling & Wellbeing, CAPC...
Shine on Empower Simcoe! The celebration of Community Living Month 2024 kicked off with a vibrant display of support and solidarity at Empower Simcoe offices in Barrie and Orillia on the evening of May 1st.[vc_row][vc_column width='1/2'] Adorned in the signature blue and green hues representing Community Living,...
We're thrilled to announce that registration for our Summer Adventures Program for high-school aged youth opens on May 9th! Get ready for a summer packed with growth, fun, and adventure. About the Program: Our Summer Adventures Camp is designed to enhance the communication, social, leisure,...
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...
Skills to Thrive is an 8-week program where participants will leave with skills and knowledge to thrive. With guest speakers, slideshows, games, and hands on learning activities people will be engaged while learning and having a good time. The program will cover: Safety at Home and...
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...
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...
Following the resounding success of its inaugural run, Empower Simcoe is excited to announce the return of its highly sought-after culinary course, ‘Cooking Up Capability.’ With overwhelming demand and glowing reviews from participants, the second offering of this empowering program is offered in Barrie and...
Sibshop programs provide opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special needs to obtain peer support and education within a highly recreational context. This Sibshop is open to all brothers and sisters (ages 8-13 years) living in Simcoe County who have a sibling with...
Empower Simcoe is delighted to announce a significant expansion of its Snoezelen Room offerings with the introduction of a specially curated space designed for children ages 0-7 at the Barrie EarlyON Child & Family Centre. This marks a milestone in our commitment to providing inclusive...
Are you currently receiving services from Empower Simcoe and would like to learn more about how to empower your voice and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities? Then the Empower Simcoe Believe In Yourself Committee wants to meet you! Join the Empower Simcoe Believe in Yourself Committee for...
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...
This session has been cancelled - please stay tuned for a new upcoming session to be announced shortly. Sibshop programs provide opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special needs to obtain peer support and education within a highly recreational context. This Sibshop is open...
Empower Simcoe is thrilled to introduce our new “Cooking Up Capability” course, a Fee For Service offering designed to empower individuals with the skills and confidence to become more independent in the kitchen. This inclusive and adaptive course provides a supportive environment where participants can...
Get ready to be part of something exceptional! We're thrilled to invite you to the Empower Simcoe 70th Annual General Meeting and the prestigious Gift of the Heart Awards ceremony. Mark your calendar for September 20th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Liberty North,...
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new online booking service, allowing people supported, families, and community members to easily reserve Empower Simcoe's Snoezelen Room. Located at 40 Fraser Court, Barrie, ON, this sensory environment offers a serene and therapeutic experience for individuals...
Supports and Services Director Luke Lynn, Supports and Services Manager Michele Kapteyn, Program Associate Joan Crozier, and CEO Dr. Claudine Cousins visited Barrie and Fire Emergency Services to extend Empower Simcoe's heartfelt gratitude for the generous support of our Christmas Gift Hamper campaign. This past Christmas,...
Please join Empower Simcoe in congratulating Jackie and her sons Jaxon and Jett for sharing their artwork that graces our 70th Anniversary Empower Simcoe Thank You card. Jackie, Jaxon, and Jett love to express the importance of helping one another. No act of kindness is too...
Empower Simcoe's Community Support Services (CSS) is pleased to announce the shift from building based supports to direct community participation and inclusion. This will be achieved by the continued development of cohorts (groups of 3 - 4 people participating in common interests, facilitated by an...
In recognition of our agency’s strategic goals to educate and celebrate the different aspects of diverse cultures and traditions, CEO Claudine Cousins and Empower Simcoe’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council are pleased to unveil our agency’s Land Acknowledgement statement. A land acknowledgement is an act of...
Empower Simcoe is a fully accredited charitable, non-profit organization established in 1953 that is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. We provide supports and services to children, teens and adults of all abilities including people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We have...
On June 10, the Empower Simcoe Foundation announced the #StaySafeOutside campaign, inviting donations to help make the backyards and patios of Empower Simcoe’s supported living homes more beautiful and enjoyable for the people who live there. [caption id="attachment_12674" align="alignright" width="450"] Ben, Travis, and Dave enjoy the...
National Volunteer Week is April 19-25th! This year's theme is, "It's time to applaud this country's volunteers." At Empower Simcoe we give cheers to the commitment, dedication and selflessness of all our volunteers who help people we support engage in the community. They also assist us at...
Are you a family member supporting an individual with disabilities in Simcoe County? The Simcoe County Family Network was started BY families, FOR families. Please check out the Simcoe County Family Network page on Facebook. You can follow the page for current, relevant and local information. From the...
Please see the March 27th message from Claudine Cousins, Chief Executive Office of Empower Simcoe, as we navigate these difficult and uncharted waters together. ...
Congratulations to Empower Simcoe CEO Claudine Cousins, the recipient of the 2020 Woman of the Year Visionary Award at the 3rd Annual Women in Business Awards Luncheon presented by the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. "We want the community to know that we're a community agency. This...
Empower Simcoe is proud to announce that CEO Claudine Cousins has been named a finalist for the 2020 Women in Business Awards: Visionary category. “It’s very humbling. For me, it just cements in my mind that I’m on the right path. It also says that my...
We recently held our annual Empower Simcoe Festive Sweater Week to get us all into the holiday spirit. Here are some of the many faces of Festive Sweater week at Empower Simcoe. A very, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the people and families we...
Our heartfelt thanks to the employees of Innovative Automation Inc. for helping paint six of our Empower Simcoe supported living locations in Barrie and Orillia. This volunteer initiative was part of Innovative Automation's 30th anniversary celebration on December 4th to give back to the community....
The 2018-19 Gift of the Heart Awards were handed out October 2nd at Empower Simcoe’s Annual General Meeting in Barrie. For selflessly giving of their time and energy to improve the quality of life for people of all abilities and their ongoing support of Empower...