Community News & Updates

The Developmental Services Workforce Initiative was formed with the focus to address one aspect of Journey to Belonging: Choice and Inclusion, namely, Planning for a Skilled Workforce. This part of the plan is about supporting a skilled, diverse and professional workforce that will help people participate meaningfully in their communities and live good lives.

Modernizing the Core Competencies is one component to support this outcome.

Core Competencies reflect the needs of our workforce by recognizing the professional nature of Developmental Services, recruiting the right people, building leadership capacity and ultimately enhancing the lives of the people we support.

They are now taking registrations for the Core Competency Cafe. See details below:

Relevant Links:

• Communication Link 
• Direct Zoom Registration Link 
• You can also now register for the Café on REAL Xchange (scroll to bottom, big blue button)

The City of Cambridge will be running Sensitive Santa event again this year. This initiative is exclusively reserved for children with social, emotional, accessible, and behavioural needs. This sensory-friendly environment offers reduced lighting and a quieter atmosphere to meet with Santa. Families will receive complimentary digital photographs with Santa to commemorate this magical holiday season. The event is free for families.  

The City of Cambridge, in partnership with Cambridge Centre located at 355 Hespeler Road, has organized four dates for families to visit with Santa. Sensitive Santa will come to town on the following Sundays: November 26, 2023; Sunday, December 3, 2023, December 10, 2023, and Sunday, December 17, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Registration is required, and spots are filled on a first-come basis.

If interested, please complete this registration form and send to accessibility@cambridge.ca. Someone will follow up with next steps.

The WRFN team is excited to announce our upcoming event on Tuesday, November 28 in The Subscribers Lounge at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), the Social and Recreation Information Fair!

The evening will start with an opportunity to visit Info Booths to hear about programs in our community, followed by a panel discussion. We will be joined by two self-advocates and their parents, who will speak about their creative option created by five families. They will also help us lead a conversation about identifying gaps. The evening will end with an opportunity for you to connect with other families and self-advocates and create next steps.

Where:
The Subscribers Lounge
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud)
400 East Ave, Kitchener, N2H 1Z6

When:
Tuesday, November 28
5 - 8 pm

Schedule:

• 5-6 pm - Visit Info Booths to learn about programs and opportunities in our community.
• 6-7 pm - Panel Discussion: Hear from two self-advocates and their parents about a creative option created by five families and a conversation to identify gaps.
• 7-8 pm - Connect with other families and self-advocates to create next steps.

To register, please email at info@wrfn.info.

What: The Preschool Connections Network is planning their annual Networking Day event for the ELCC system.

When:October 24, 2023
8:30 am - 4 pm

Where: Knights of Columbus -
145 Dearborn Pl, Waterloo,
ON N2J 4N5

RSVP by October 13th, 2023
To: Wanda Kampijan at
519-741-8585 ext. 3008 or
wanda.kampijan@ytr.ymca.ca

Join WRFN and YMCA of Three Rivers for Camp Day 2023, a chance for your exceptional child to give camp a try in a supportive environment! 

On Saturday, October 14 from 11 am - 4 pm, you and your family are welcome to drop in at Camp Ki-Wa-Y in St. Clements to try classic camp activities like archery, scavenger hunts, high and low ropes courses, and more.

A meal will be provided between 1:30 and 2:30 pm. There will be a s'mores desset at the camp fire to follow. 

Register at https://WRFN-Camp-Day-2023.eventbrite.ca.