Independent Living Waterloo Region

06/03/2026

Hey! That's our Paula! 😁

She pretends to be retired and continues to be busy and active in our office and events! Such a privilege to know her and be part of her story!

Happy 40th Independent Living Day!

✨ Faces of IL Continues ✨

As we continue the countdown to Independent Living Across Canada Day (ILACD) on June 1 and celebrate IL Canada’s 40th anniversary, we’re proud to share the next Faces of IL.
This movement was built by people across generations who challenged barriers, created change, and helped shape Independent Living in Canada through advocacy, leadership, and community.

Today, we recognize another group of influential voices and changemakers whose impact continues to strengthen the movement.

Here are the next Faces of IL:

6️⃣ Vic Willi
Vic Willi is a Canadian disability rights advocate known for his leadership in the Independent Living movement and for his tenure as Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). He played a key role in advancing self-directed support models and inclusive policies for people with disabilities in Canada.

7️⃣ Paula Saunders
Paula Saunders is a Canadian disability advocate and leader in the disability non-profit sector, known for her work with Independent Living Canada. She has advanced the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities through community-based leadership and national policy engagement. Her work emphasizes self-determination, accessibility, and the social model of disability in Canada.

8️⃣ Cathy LaFrance
Cathy LaFrance is a Canadian advocate known for her contributions to the Independent Living (IL) movement supporting people with disabilities. She has played a central role in advancing policies and programs that promote autonomy, accessibility, and community participation for Canadians with disabilities. Her efforts have focused on promoting barrier-free environments and influencing local and national accessibility standards. Beyond policy work, LaFrance has been involved in grassroots initiatives that connect people with disabilities to resources for housing, employment, and education.

9️⃣ Paul-Claude Bérubé
Paul-Claude Bérubé is a prominent Canadian lawyer, governance specialist, and disability rights advocate who played a significant leadership role in advancing the Independent Living movement and accessibility rights in Canada. A graduate of Université Laval and member of the Quebec Bar since 1984, Bérubé served as National Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Independent Living Canada from 1999 to 2010, helping strengthen the national Independent Living network and promote the principles of consumer control, inclusion, and self-determination for persons with disabilities across the country.

1️⃣0️⃣ Meenu Sikand
Meenu Sickand is a respected Canadian disability rights advocate, community leader, and longstanding contributor to the Independent Living movement in Canada. Through her work with Independent Living Canada and the broader disability community, she has been recognized for advancing accessibility, inclusion, peer support, and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Over the years, she has contributed to national conversations surrounding disability rights, accessibility, equity, and inclusive policy development while supporting collaboration across Independent Living centres and community organizations throughout Canada.

Because Independent Living has never been one story.
It has always been many voices, many communities, and one movement.

💥 Stay tuned.
📢 Share the stories.
🔥 Get Inked For IL.
🇨🇦 Celebrate ILACD on June 1.

Alongside these stories, we’re inviting the community to show their pride boldly through the launch of:

🔥 Get Inked For IL 🔥
Whether you wear IL on your sleeve metaphorically — or literally — this campaign is about visibility, pride, solidarity, and celebrating the movement that continues to change lives across Canada.

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✨ Les visages de la VA se poursuivent ✨

Alors que nous poursuivons le compte à rebours vers la Journée de la vie autonome au Canada (JVAC) du 1er juin et célébrons le 40e anniversaire de Vie autonome Canada, nous sommes fiers de présenter les prochains Visages de la VA.

Ce mouvement a été façonné par des personnes de plusieurs générations qui ont remis en question les barrières, provoqué le changement et contribué à faire évoluer la vie autonome au Canada grâce au leadership, à la défense des droits et à la mobilisation communautaire.

Aujourd’hui, nous rendons hommage à un nouveau groupe de voix influentes et d’acteurs de changement dont l’impact continue de renforcer le mouvement.

Voici les prochains Visages de la VA :

6️⃣ Vic Willi
Vic Willi est un défenseur canadien des droits des personnes handicapées reconnu pour son leadership au sein du mouvement de la vie autonome et pour son rôle à titre de directeur général du Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT). Il a joué un rôle clé dans l’avancement des modèles de soutien autogérés et des politiques inclusives pour les personnes handicapées au Canada.

7️⃣ Paula Saunders
Paula Saunders est une militante canadienne des droits des personnes handicapées et une leader du secteur communautaire, reconnue pour son travail avec Vie autonome Canada. Elle a contribué à faire progresser les droits et l’inclusion des personnes handicapées grâce à son leadership communautaire et à son engagement dans les politiques nationales. Son travail met l’accent sur l’autodétermination, l’accessibilité et le modèle social du handicap au Canada.

8️⃣ Cathy LaFrance
Cathy LaFrance est une défenseure canadienne reconnue pour ses contributions au mouvement de la vie autonome soutenant les personnes handicapées. Elle a joué un rôle important dans l’avancement de politiques et de programmes favorisant l’autonomie, l’accessibilité et la participation communautaire des Canadiennes et Canadiens handicapés. Ses efforts ont porté sur la promotion d’environnements sans obstacles et sur l’influence des normes locales et nationales en matière d’accessibilité. Au-delà du travail politique, Mme LaFrance a également participé à des initiatives communautaires visant à relier les personnes handicapées à des ressources en matière de logement, d’emploi et d’éducation.

9️⃣ Paul-Claude Bérubé
Paul-Claude Bérubé est un avocat canadien de renom, spécialiste en gouvernance et défenseur des droits des personnes handicapées qui a joué un rôle de leadership important dans l’avancement du mouvement de la vie autonome et des droits à l’accessibilité au Canada. Diplômé de l’Université Laval et membre du Barreau du Québec depuis 1984, M. Bérubé a été président national du conseil d’administration de Vie autonome Canada de 1999 à 2010, contribuant à renforcer le réseau national de la vie autonome et à promouvoir les principes de contrôle par les consommateurs, d’inclusion et d’autodétermination des personnes handicapées partout au pays.

1️⃣0️⃣ Meenu Sikand
Meenu Sikand est une militante canadienne respectée des droits des personnes handicapées, une leader communautaire et une contributrice de longue date au mouvement de la vie autonome au Canada. Grâce à son travail avec Vie autonome Canada et la communauté élargie des personnes handicapées, elle est reconnue pour son engagement envers l’accessibilité, l’inclusion, le soutien par les pairs et l’autonomisation des personnes handicapées. Au fil des années, elle a contribué aux discussions nationales portant sur les droits des personnes handicapées, l’accessibilité, l’équité et l’élaboration de politiques inclusives, tout en favorisant la collaboration entre les centres de vie autonome et les organismes communautaires partout au Canada.

Car la vie autonome n’a jamais été une histoire unique.
Elle a toujours été faite de nombreuses voix, de nombreuses communautés et d’un seul mouvement.

💥 Restez à l’écoute.
📢 Partagez les histoires.
🔥 Se faire tatouer pour la Vie autonome.
🇨🇦 Célébrez la Journée internationale de la vie autonome du Canada (JVAC) le 1er juin.

En plus de ces histoires, nous invitons la communauté à afficher fièrement son engagement en lançant :

🔥 Faites-vous tatouer pour la vie autonome 🔥
Que vous portiez fièrement la vie autonome, au sens figuré ou littéral, cette campagne vise à accroître la visibilité, la fierté et la solidarité, et à célébrer le mouvement qui continue de transformer des vies partout au Canada.

06/02/2026

You can still join us today at the Ken Seiling Museum for National AccessAbility Week Tradeshow and Conference! Free admission to see all the vendors, speakers and workshops happening and the museum gallery too!

06/01/2026

We're here! 💚

Today and tomorrow, Community Connection Day is at the National AccessAbility Week Tradeshow & Conference hosted by Independent Living Waterloo Region.

I'm honoured to be speaking today at 4pm:
✨ You're Not Too Much ... You Just Haven't Found Your People Yet ✨

We'll be talking about community, belonging, connection, and what happens when we stop trying to fit in and start finding spaces where we can truly be ourselves.

Our table is in Hall B. We have fairy lights ... and stickers so please stop by and say hello!

~ Meghan & Stephen💚

05/31/2026

We are in Guelph today at the MS Walk 2026 letting people know about Direct Funding Self-Managed Attendant Services in Ontario.

Robyn is the Resource Coordinator for this program and we even have a gift basket from Vincenzo's that we are giving away today!

05/30/2026

Let's get moving!

Our team is walking, wheeling and cheering to support the MS Walk again this year in Guelph!!

Our Direct Funding table will be set up there to do just that! We have our spin the wheel giveaway prizes with us and some cool swag!

Go team!

05/29/2026

The 2026 Tournament of Hope takes place on Wednesday, June 17, at the Beaverdale Golf Club. There is one week left to register!

Proceeds from the Tournament of Hope go towards the ILWR Access Fund, which helps individuals with disabilities purchase assistive devices, adapted technology, and medical equipment.

In 2026, ILWR will support 20 individuals with approximately $60,000 in funds! To date, the Access Fund has helped more than 360 individuals purchase equipment totaling more than $890,000!!!

To register and play some golf for a worthwhile cause that is very much needed in our community ---> Click here: https://ilwr.ca/tournament-of-hope/

Our Annual Event Tournament of Hope Randy Hepditch Golf Memorial Register Now The 2026 Tournament of Hope takes place on Wednesday, June 17, at the Beaverdale Golf Club. Proceeds from the Tournament of Hope go towards the ILWR Access Fund, which helps individuals with disabilities purchase assistive...

05/26/2026

Thanks for the shoutout about the National AccessAbility Tradeshow and Conference!!!

02/10/2026

Save the Date!!

June 1–2, 2026
Ken Seiling Waterloo Regional Museum

The 2026 National AccessAbility Week Tradeshow & Conference is coming to Waterloo Region.

Join innovators, professionals, organizations, and community members for two days focused on accessibility and inclusion. The event will feature workshops, panels, presentations, vendor displays, a sensory room, food trucks, and more.

Registration will be FREE. Follow our page for updates and details as they are announced.

Interested in becoming a vendor? Early-bird pricing is now available. Email [email protected] to learn more before spaces fill.

01/30/2026

After a 4-1 win for the Kitchener Rangers against the Sarnia Sting, Independent Living Waterloo Region set up at the Community Corner - a heartfelt congratulations to Scott who entered and won the raffle for a Vincenzos Waterloo gift basket full of treats! Enjoy!

01/23/2026

The Creativity Series is already half way through!

Visual Arts and Spoken Word workshops are happening in February!