ANDREA HOUSTON,Peterborough Examiner, June 17th 2009

Kenner Collegiate student Luke Flynn, 18, was honoured by Community Living last night for being a leader in his school and a champion for inclusion.

Flynn was one of 10 local people, businesses and community organizations honoured at the Community Living Awards of Excellence at the Evinrude Centre.

The awards came immediately after the group’s 56th annual general meeting. At Kenner, Flynn serves on his student council, he said. He also works part-time at East Side Mario’s making salads and helps with the cooking. “I try to always be nice to people and help people out and be a leader at school,” Flynn said. Laura Challice, 23, and Kate Eastabrook, 25, were tied for the Lois Harte Maxwell Award, which honours people who promote inclusion and show leadership in supporting other people with disabilities. Challice keeps busy volunteering at several community organizations, including People First, Peer Educators, Amigos and the Quality Enhancement Committee for Community Living, she said. Barb Hiland, Community Living director of operations, said this year’s awards and the speakers at the meeting celebrate Community Living’s partnerships that have contributed to the advancement of people with intellectual disabilities and have opened doors in the city and county of Peterborough.

This year's slogan is “Pathway to Excellence: We’ve done it together,” she said.

About 150 people attended the event, including people supported by Community Living, their family and support workers, Community Living staff members, volunteers and board members, Hiland said. Before the awards were distributed, keynote speakers talked about how partnering with Community Living has enhanced people’s lives and made Peterborough a more inclusive place to live. Trent University professor Raymond Dart spoke about how the Blueboxing@trent Project is making Trent a cleaner and greener place while involving people supported by Community Living. Mike Davey, who helps facilitate the program at Trent, is now helping to bring the program to other colleges and universities, such as Fleming College, Dart said. Dianne Payne, from Kawartha Participation Projects, spoke about the Myrtle Terrace Housing Project with resident Joanne Jollieffe. “I was moved there from a nursing home,” Jollieffe said. “Now I can stay in my home where my medication is monitored and I have independence.”

Awards of Excellence winners: Lois Harte Maxwell Award – (Tie) Kate Eastabrook and Laura Challice Youth leader – Luke Flynn Community partner – Peterborough Housing Corporation Community connector (staff member) – Kim Steele Media Award – CHEX-TV Education Award – Anna Lee, Heads Up for Inclusion Member Award – Pat and Wayne Eastabrook Employer Award – East Side Mario’s Restaurant

Staff years of service awards: 30 years – Edna O’Toole, Ben Taylor 25 years – Joan Smith, Shelly Davis 20 years – Will Robertson, Shawna Belcourt, Wanda Findlay, Karen Ashley-Woo 15 years – Dave Cuddy 10 years – Maria Scott, Denise Starling, Jinnell, Cooper, Jane Lavalley-Blizzard, Lindsay Ashton Five years – Andrea Dunn, Matt Scollard, Erin Wight, Julie Schuster, Ruth Fitzgerald, Sharon Henwood, Amy Obayashi, Cindy Hobbins

NOTE: Friend of Community Living and singer/songwriter David McKillop performed at the event. During You are My Sunshine, many people sang along.