“Celebrating Developmental Challenges”
SNAP SHOT OF GINNY!!!!
I have been with Mary Centre and with my
support worker for a very long time. I like living
on my own because I get lots of support from
my worker, Andrea so I can live independently.
I enjoy learning how to cook different meals so I
can stay healthy and out of the hospital.
I work at Famous People Players Theatre as a
puppeteer and also as a waitress in the restau-
rant. I have been working with this company for
17 years. I love to work with my friends and al-
so work with Diane. She is the founder of Fa-
mous People Players. I like meeting famous
people at the shows and going on tour. I have
met Tom Cruise and toured Japan and Hawaii.
My job is fun but it is hard work and I have to
work long hours and I get home late in the
night.
On my days off I like to spend some time with
my boyfriend, Rick. We like to go out for dinner
and go for long walks together. He likes Chi-
nese food and drinks lots of coffee.
Over the summer, we went to go to The Ex-
hibition, Taste of the Danforth, Chinatown
Festival and Buskerfest. I also like to be by
myself. I like to go to the movies, draw sce-
nic pictures, make my own cards and write
my own stories and poems.
My family is very important to me. I visit my
mother, brothers, sister in law, niece and
nephew as often as I can and sometimes
sleep over. They live on the Danforth. We
celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chi-
nese New Year together. Recently we cele-
brated The Moon Festival and ate lots of
moon cake which I just love!
I recently got a volunteer named Indrani.
She is my computer tutor. I can now learn to
use the internet, email and use facebook. I
enjoy my computer lessons with her. Indrani
is patient and kind. She is also helping me
with spelling and typing of a story that I am
writing about a Ninja who rescues a King and
Queen and the Headmaster of a Samurai.
In the future, I would love to travel all over
the world. But for now, I love my life. I love
my apartment. I love my family. I love my job.
I am very happy!
By Ginny
WINTER 2010
“Celebrating Developmental Challenges”
CHANGE BEGINS WITH A DREAM
Change begins with a dream! Pastor Kevin
came to visit Honey in her home to talk to
her about becoming a member of the Bri-
dlewood Presbyterian Church. Honey has
attended this church for close to twenty
years, but never became an official member.
The day the Pastor came, the wheels in his
head began turning thinking about what the
Men’s Mingle Group (Christian men serving
the community) could do for Honey’s home
to help make it more a part of the communi-
ty. Immediately the ball started rolling and
over four hundred flyers were delivered in
the neighbourhood inviting people to come
and make Redcastle a beautiful place to
live.
The church group have the same philoso-
phy as Mary Centre. We all believe that
people with developmental challenges are
vital and integral members of our community
life. We all believe that focusing on the gifts
and contributions of those who are devel-
opmentally challenged enriches the lives of
everyone.
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, August 7,
2010 over 40 people from the Bridlewood
Presbyterian Church and the neighbourhood
came with their gardening tools and volun-
teered doing yard work, pruning, planting,
landscaping and deck staining. What a
wonderful transformation that took place at
Redcastle. The front yard was transformed
into a beautiful landscaped haven. They
removed the vines and weeds from the back
yard with lots of plans to turn it into a beauti-
ful oasis where the individuals in the home
can relax and enjoy those summer leisure
days and hold parties to celebrate all life has
to offer.
The dream is not ended yet! The Men’s
Mingle group still has plenty of plans for
Honey’s home. In September there was a
BBQ inviting the neighbourhood to join us
again to continue building friendships. Then
again in October another Saturday was put
aside to plant bulbs and get the home ready
for the spring. Stay tuned because next
spring and summer more wonderful plans
are in the works.
WINTER 2010
“Celebrating Developmental Challenges”
INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMUNITY DAY PROGRAM
What a year it has been for our day pro-
gram at the Bartley Bull location here in Peel
Region! This program, which started in
May of 2005 with three individuals, has
grown and changed throughout the years.
Our day program has expanded to include
more individuals and even better experienc-
es for our participants! Introduction to the
Community focuses on teaching skills to
promote independence and socialization.
Our participants have learned things like
money concepts, grocery shopping, emer-
gency response, community safety, and
most importantly have made lasting friend-
ships and connections.
Our day program staff, Jessica Sandhu
and Amann Gill, have worked very hard to
help encourage the potential and talents of
our participants while in the program. The
group attends activities within their commu-
nity, including art classes with a local artist,
cooking classes with the Superstore, exer-
cising at the YMCA, and taking part in many
community events that occur in Brampton
and Mississauga. They will also be volun-
teering at a local food bank in the near fu-
ture. As they participate in these activities,
they learn how to use public transportation as a
means of getting where they need to go.
The social benefits of the group are evident: as
friends bring back gifts from their vacations, in-
vite their friends to birthday parties, phone each
other in the evenings, and have an overall con-
cern when a friend is absent from the group. I
often hear laughter and excitement emitting from
their program. When I am working in my office, I
am envious of the experiences shared just steps
away!
We are presently embarking on a new outlook
for programming and skill development, which
implements Mary Centre’s “Independent Life
Skills Assessment Package” to assess, test, and
determine which skills are needed to master
successful integration into community. We hope
that this individualized approach will help gear
the program plans for each participant’s goals.
Overall, the day program has been a rewarding
and challenging experience for our staff and par-
ticipants here in the day program. We are excit-
ed to see the changes and growth in the individ-
uals who are with us now and in the future!
By Elisha Kroeker,
Integrated Seniors’ Coordinator
Playing “Jeopardy”
Computer Class
WINTER 2010
“Celebrating Developmental Challenges”
Newsletter Committee
Sharon Alexander
Pat Campbell
Carol Chung
Tamara Despard
Darlene Dowling
Bruce McCallum
Fathima Nisar
Marion Patterson
Manu Verma
Desktop Publisher
Marion Patterson
Printing
Paragon Reproductions
Volunteers
Dianne Doan
Mary Fotia
Alan Liss
Arline Middup
Kalisha Seymour
Alexandria Ashbourne
Ted Swinton
Honey Graham
Stephen May
Hong-Anh Tran
Supported by;
Catholic Charities
ShareLife
Province of Ontario
Mary Centre of the Archdiocese of Toronto
530 Wilson Avenue, Suite 210, Toronto, ON M3H 5Y9
Phone (416) 630-5533, Fax (416) 630-5702 www.marycentre.com
If you would like more information about Mary Centre and/or you would like to make a donation,
clip out this and we will provide you with a Charitable Tax Deductible Donation Receipt.
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Charitable Registration #12892 3737 RR0001
SAM
During my employment I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted
with a wonderful young man by the name of Sam. He was a client of
the residential respite program located at St. Bernard’s. Sam is of an
Italian back ground with a family that cares very deeply about him.
When I first met Sam he was an outgoing, independent person, who
during his down time would lay on the couch and listen to Italian music,
or once in a while he would put in a Britney Spears c.d. Sam had
stopped attending the respite program for sometime but returned in the
fall of 2009 and we noticed a change in his behaviour.
This once outgoing young man had become very anxious and with-
drawn. He did not want to participate in any activities, and his level of
anxiety would be so high that he would run and huddle in a corner. His
behaviour became so aggressive that his parents did not feel safe car-
ing for him. Eventually Sam became homeless. He was temporarily
placed in a safe bed with another agency, however; this situation did
not work for him as his anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder be-
haviour became even more challenging.
After a series of meetings with MaryCentre and partnering agencies a
decision was made to place Sam in one of Mary Center’s respite safe
beds. Sam returned to St. Bernard’s in April of 2010, and with the hard
work and dedication of everyone, including Sam’s family, the behav-
ioural therapist and staff, Sam’s behaviours began to change, his ob-
sessive compulsive disorder behaviour and anxiety decreased. He
was again able to participate in community outings with very little up-
set, and started interacting with his peers and listening to his music.
He would still have some bad days, ‘but don’t we all?’ In September
Sam moved from the respite safe bed and into his new home.
He is greatly missed and we wish him all the best!
by Sharon Alexander, Coordinator
