Across Canada, October is Community Living Month.
A month dedicated to the individuals, families, and members of the community who try and make their communities more inclusive by giving opportunities for people living with diverse abilities.
Diverse abilities can be mental or physical, or both.
Deanne Guenette, the Residential Coordinator for the Williams Lake Association for Community Living, says that people with diverse abilities are a big part of the community, and need to be given the same opportunities as able-bodied people, to help keep a rich community.
“People that do have diverse abilities are an important part of our community, and including them brings enrichment to peoples lives. People with diverse abilites aren’t just ‘there’. They are great employees, they make great friends… it’s important to just be an inclusive community.”
Williams Lake City Council approved a renaming, and restructure of the Community Exercise Park, some of the updates will include more inclusive access, which Guenette is all for to help grow the community to become a more inclusive place.
“I think any project that allows people of all abilites to come together, and enjoy something is important in any community, and I think every person having access to things, is important to create an inclusive space.”
The Williams Lake Association for Community Living, hosted a kickball game as part of the Community Living Month events and awareness. There was a good crowd that went well alongside all the fun.
