Renfrew County, when Community Living reached out for help, you were there.
In January, Jennifer Lavallee, executive director of Renfrew County South, sat down with myFM to tell us about the #5toSurvive campaign, which calls on the Ontario government to provide an immediate 5 per cent boost to developmental services agency core funding. During that conversation she urged county residents to share the message, on social media and to send letters to our elected officials.
And the county answered the call! Lavallee recently reached out to let us know that the Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke riding was the area with the second highest number of letters received. She expressed her thanks for the support.
Community Living Ontario recently announced that more than 8,000 letters of petition were sent to MPPs in the following top three areas: Bobbi Ann Brady (MPP), Haldimand-Norfolk, Independent — 499; John Yakabuski (MPP), Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario — 323; and Will Bouma (MPP), Brantford-Brant, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario — 253.
Across Ontario, the campaign is still a little shy of the goal of 10,000 and officials are asking for those who have not signed to do so, and for those who have, to promote the campaign as much as possible.
To sign the petition, visit the website.
Community Living Renfrew County South is celebrating its 6oth anniversary this year. Among the special activities is a ‘Diamonds are Forever Gala’ being held on Friday, May 10 at the Renfrew Armouries.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)