In Canada the Cheshire Services span

four Provinces. From east to west those Provinces include British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. These services have always been attached to Leonard Cheshire International, but have lacked a National presence. In the 1980’s, a National Office was established, but it unfortunately folded in the early 90’s due to financial reasons. In addition, the office also did not seem to represent all of Canada, primarily Ontario programs.

With the recent developments of the Global Alliance, Cheshire programs once again have a National feel and are, for the first time in the past twenty years, feeling much closer together. It is good to have brothers and sisters close at hand. We have recently sculpted a new National Constitution which was signed in May/09 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Cheshire services are certainly on the go in Canada!

In a nutshell Cheshire service development in Canada is on the move!

CHESHIRE SERVICES IN SASKATCHEWAN

In Saskatchewan, we have two Cheshire’s; Saskatoon and Regina.

Cheshire Saskatoon (http://www.cheshirehomessaskatoon.com) has spent the last year modernizing all three of it's homes. The project has been a major undertaking, which has included a new roof, all new bathrooms and fixtures, wall painted and carpets replaced. Quotes are presently being obtained for consideration of all new doors, windows, furnace and another roof. In addition to modernizing the homes, we are committed to building a fourth home which will offer a greater level of independence to residents. Currently we have space for another building and are considering a “condo like” home for six residents. A building committee has been established and they are currently working in partnership with our primary government funder.

CHESHIRE SERVICES IN

There are now 15 Cheshire organizations in Ontario serving approx. 1000 people (940) with approx. 1000 staff (960) and 1 affiliate (Participation House – Hamilton and District).

Most of the Cheshire organizations in Ontario continue to provide attendant services (personal support) for adults with significant physical disabilities. These services are offered through two main programs (Supportive Housing and Outreach Attendant Services).

Many of these same organizations are members of the Ontario Association of Independent Living Service Providers of Ontario http://www.oailsp.org/

Organizations also offer other services such as respite, services for children as they transition to adulthood etc. Services for people with acquired brain injury.

Some organizations offer very specialized services e.g. Rotary Cheshire Homes supports adults who are both blind and deaf; Balance offers support for adults who have vision difficulties.

The following list provides some additional information about the services in Ontario;

1. Access Apartments – Toronto http://www.accessapartments.ca

62 consumers in 4 Supportive Housing locations and Outreach. Access also provides Nurturing Assistance to parents with small children and assists people with Acquired Brain Injury.

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2. Balance – Toronto: http://www.balancefba.org

137 clients – Balance provides training opportunities for people with visual difficulties

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3. Cheshire – Hastings/Prince Edward

73 consumers, One congregate living arrangement for 10 people, One Supportive Housing program for people, 60 people supported through Outreach

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4. Cheshire London – Southwestern Ontario: Celebrating 30 years! http://www.cheshirelondon.ca/

212 consumers

7 Supportive Housing programs – 4 in City of London (one congregated living for 8 people and three apartment buildings), one apartment building in each of Woodstock, St. Thomas and Stratford

6 Attendant Outreach Programs – counties of Middlesex, Huron, Elgin, Oxford, Perth and the city of London

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5. Cheshire Independent Living Services

Serving 88 consumers; 3 Supportive Housing programs

Carey House – 10 consumers; Brampton House – 12; Helen Home – 6

Outreach Services – 60 consumers

6. Clarendon Foundation (Cheshire Homes) Inc. in Toronto:

Broadway Avenue – 8, 10 and 12 Broadway Ave.; Henry Lane Terrace – 25 and 49 Henry Lane Terrance and 140 The Esplanade.

7. Conway in Hamilton:

11 consumers – one location

This is a congregate living arrangement with one apartment upstairs for one person.

8 Independent Living Halton: http://www.independentliving.ca/

35 Consumers

One Supportive Housing with 5 people and 30 in Outreach

- students requesting service who are attending community college – looking a creating a service hub to meet their needs.

9. McLeod House:

No longer provide active service, but are setting up a foundation to help support Cheshire consumers.

10. North Yorkers for Disabled Persons:

One congregate living arrangement for 8 people and 2 apartments attached to the house.

Have stated a Communication Enrichment Program for 12 people.

Provides housing and attendant services and augmentative and alternative communication facilitation services to persons with a physical disability as well as a complex communication need. The majority of the consumers are severely speech impaired or non speaking. They also provide service to AAC users who live independently in the community but require facilitation service. NYDP runs a literacy and vocabulary levels so they are able to direct their services. Their housing program is congregate with 2 additional apartments attached to the home.

11. Nucleus Independent Living in Toronto: 25 years in 2007

Two Supportive Housing Programs supporting 29 people and Outreach Program supporting 87 people.

They have implemented a 24 hour mobile service for seniors and are supporting 53 people and hope to help 90 more this year.

They have divided their services into two divisions – one for seniors and one for younger people with disabilities.

12. Personal Choice Independent Living in Ottawa:

One congregate setting for 6 people; One apartment location for 11 people and

One townhouse location for 10 people;

3 sites – Supportive Housing – 26 consumers;

13. Rotary Cheshire Homes in Toronto:

www.rotarycheshirehomes.org

Rotary Cheshire Homes provides residential, intervenor and emergency intervenor services to persons who have acquired the dual disability of deaf-blindness. Rotary Cheshire Apartments is home for 16 residents and 18 are served in the community.

14. Three Trilliums in Toronto:

45 consumers – 26 in Supportive Housing and 19 on Outreach

CHESHIRE SERVICES IN QUEBEC

Cheshire services in Quebec are focussed in Montreal where one home for complex challenged adults has been operating for many years. Just recently, Cheshire Quebec purchased a secondary home about two blocks from the original home. This home is currently undergoing renovations so it will be completely wheelchair accessible. When the renovation is complete the existing residents will be moved there temporarily, while the original house is completely renovated. Once the two homes are up and running, one home will continue to provide permanent placement for residents between the ages of 18-50, and the other home will continue to provide transitional placement with an adapted program for living autonomously.

On another front, Cheshire Quebec is in the process of challenging the Ministry of Health in regards to providing ongoing funding, as well as recognition that services are necessary for people with physical disabilities. Cheshire Quebec has rallied 13 organizations together in their fight with the Government.