In 1973, construction began on the CN Tower, inflation and high gas prices hammered North America, the United States withdrew from the Vietnam War and the average yearly income was $12,900.
That was also the year Citizens All Association (CAC), a registered non-profit organization, began providing residential and supportive living services to adults with intellectual disabilities.
To honour the five-decade milestone, CAC is holding a come-and-go tea party to celebrate its 50th anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Church of Our Lady on South Hill.
Invitations have been sent to residents, participants, families, staff and other agencies and individuals — including people who may have moved away — who have had some connection to the organization during the last 50 years.
“It’s an incredibly great milestone. We’re very fortunate to have been around for 50 years (and) that families and participants … have chosen us to be their support agency … ,” said Nicole McKenzie, CAC executive director.
“There’s a very good group of individuals — both staff and participants — that I’ve worked with in my time here. It is really great.”
McKenzie has worked with Citizens All Association for 27 years and has been the executive director for the past few years.
Five decades ago, some parents saw a need to better support their children with intellectual disabilities instead of hiding them away in institutional settings as at Valley View Centre, said McKenzie. It then became a grassroots initiative to help affected people live more in community than an institution.
CAC supports 52 people today, with 27 individuals living in six group homes while others live in supportive living programs.
“The services we provide really are about supporting people to live their best lives (and) to be able to be part of the community for true inclusion,” McKenzie said.
“We can help people develop peer relationships within the organization — and particularly in the community. But then also just providing daily living supports to keep their independence as much as possible.”
CAC leadership has attempted to ensure its clients participant in community activities as frequently as possible, which has ensured residents recognize the agency more than before, she continued. Sometimes, people think the organization focuses only on seniors, but become better informed when they learn about the group’s focus.
Celebrating anniversary milestones is nothing new for Citizens All Association, which held a similar party in 2013 to honour its 40th birthday.
The executive director added that if residents want to attend the tea party, they are welcome to join clients and their families.
For more information about Citizens All Association, visit its website.
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