1955 

On January 20th, 1955 a group of parents and community-minded people interested in the education of the retarded child met at the Queen Elizabeth School Township of Toronto (Port Credit). Mr A.A. Martin, Inspector of Public Schools presided and introduced the guest speaker, Mrs. Hunt, Provincial Leader of the Parents’ Council for Retarded Children. At the conclusion of Mrs. Hunt’s talk, it was moved by Mr. Charles Atkins that such a unit be organized in South Peel following the Constitution of the Provincial Organization. Mr. Warren Henry seconded, motion carried. Mr V. E. Stetler suggested the name South Peel Association for Retarded Children. Mr. Robt. Reid seconded. Motion was carried and the South Peel Association for Retarded Children was formed. In February the first class opened at the Clifton Road Public School.

1958  

Mary McNinch and Marjorie Tress set up a Home Care Committee; the first in Ontario. “[We formed the committee] to go into the community and talk to the parents of handicapped children, to explain to them the services that were in place and our hopes for the future…” Mary went on to organize committees at the provincial level.

1960  

The Red Oaks School officially opened with 53 students, four teachers and Eleanor Knowles as Principle. The school was operated by the Association until 1967 when an Education Authority was established. Students attended Red Oaks School until its closure in 1982. Students and teachers were transferred to Applewood Acres.

1964  

ABC preschool began to operate out of the nursery room at the Cooksville United Church. Preschool Services currently supports over 150 children in over 50 different preschools and childcare centers.

Eleanor Knowles organized a Workshop in the basement of Red Oaks school to accommodate nine students who had reached the school leaving age and had no where to go.

1966  

The Association bought an unused school on Eglinton Ave West and opened the Creditview Adult Training Centre; later to become ARC Industries. Many more workshops and supported businesses were to follow. Some of these were Dixie Woodworks, Diversipak and Mississauga Wax Works.

1971  

With more and more children becoming adults the Association changed its name to South Peel Association for the Mentally Retarded.

1974  

The Association opened a group home for 12 people on Given Road. This was considered “State of the Art” at the time. The opening of this group home lead to major expansion of Residential Services throughout the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

1975  

After the incorporation of the City of Mississauga, the Association changed its name to the “Mississauga Association for the Mentally Retarded”.

1978  

The Association became familiar with and worked hard to embed the philosophies of Normalization into the organization. Staff and Board Members went to numerous Normalization and PASS courses; later to be known as SRV and Passing. These philosophies led to profound changes in the way services were offered. In virtually every program area, the Association sought to develop ways to support people in integrated environments.

1984  

Community Vocational Alternatives began as a one year pilot project. The goal was to provide people the opportunity to work in regular settings in the community. Community Living Mississauga was the first Association to develop supported work as a major component of Vocational Services.

1985  

The Association changed its name to Community Living Mississauga

1995  

The Employment Resource Centre opened to replace Community Vocational Services.

1996 

First Association in Ontario to have two staff trained by the Accreditation Council in the States. The Base Site on Dunwin Road opened to provide meaningful alternative day activities for adults without paid employment options. Mississauga Packaging Systems, the last of the sheltered workshops, closed its doors. Mississauga Packaging and Assembly, a Cooperative Business owned and operated by people supported through Community Living Mississauga, opened for business.

1998  

Community Living Mississauga was awarded a one-year Accreditation from Accreditation Ontario. Community Living Mississauga was allocated start up dollars to open an additional Cooperative Business. This came to be known as Mississauga Packaging and Assembly West.

2001  

The Base Site on Palstan Road opened.

2002  

During PD Days in October, the Association announces plans to go through an Accreditation Review in April, 2003. Three people were hired to work on the Outcome Support Team. Another Base Site was established on Britannia Road. The First spring conference for people supported through Community Living Mississauga was held at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga.

2003  

Community Living Mississauga was awarded a three-year Accreditation with Distinction by Accreditation Ontario and became the largest Association in the province to do so. This honour was bestowed in recognition of Community Living Mississauga’s excellence in customer service, development of an innovative and committed workforce and acting as a community catalyst.

2005 

Community Living Mississauga celebrates 50 years of providing supports in the community.

2009  

Community Living Organizations across Ontario celebrate the March 31st closure of the last large institutions in the province for individuals who have an intellectual disability.

Currently Community Living Mississauga supports more than 1700 families and  individuals, providing respite to 475 families a year, supporting more than 200 individuals in various residential settings, offering day support to 240 people, and offers other community supports to more than 1000 families.