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Tillsonburg POST
MARCH 20, 2025
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Community Living Tillsonburg celebrating 70th anniversary JEFF HELSDON Editor
Much has changed since Community Living Tillsonburg was established 70 years ago. The group, whose mission is to “build inclusive communities by promoting acceptance”, kicked off a series of special events to celebrate the 70th anniversary with a display in the Tillsonburg Town Centre on Feb. 28. “May is community living month,” said Community Living Tillsonburg CEO Cathy Hudson. “We light up the town with blue and green – those are our colours. We’re planning a scavenger hunt for the community that month.” Other planned activities include an exhibit at Annandale National Historic Site during Turtle Fest, a cash calendar fundraiser in June, sponsoring the Tillsonburg District Chamber of Commerce’s Business After 5 in August, celebrating developmental service workers’ month in September and early childhood educators’ month in October. “We’re hoping to connect with other things happening in the community and have a bigger presence,” Hudson said. In the early 1950s, services for individuals with developmental disabilities were limited to segregated care in large institutions. In the mid-1950s, change started. “Seventy years ago, it was families that came together looking for something for their children,” Hudson said. “At that time, if you had a child that had been diagnosed with disabilities, lots of times your doctor recommended putting them in an institution. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
THE BIG SPLASH
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)
Tillsonburg’s indoor pool opened on March 10, just in time for March Break, with a full slate of programming. Prior to the opening, former aquatics supervisor Julie Dawley, left, started a new tradition with the passing of the duck to Melanie Corbett, centre, who filled that role after Dawley was promoted to manager of recreation programs and services. Aquatic coordinator Vanessa Letoile couldn’t resist the temptation to be amongst the first in the water and witnessed the ceremony. See story on Page 2.
Planning underway for temporary health clinic JEFF HELSDON
Editor
Organizers of a temporary health clinic planned for Tillsonburg are encouraging the public to fill out a survey to provide input before the end of the month. As of March 7, only 337 residents had filled out the survey (https://bit.ly/New_Clinic_Survey). Of those who filled out the survey, 68 per cent do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, 28 per cent have a family doctor or nurse practitioner and four per cent aren’t sure. However, 92 per cent of respondents – whether they have a primary health care provider or not – prefer to have a provider in Tillsonburg.
The survey is part of the process of establishing a temporary clinic in Tillsonburg. The Oxford Ontario Health Team has been working hard with local partners on the initiative over the last nine months, according to executive director Teresa Martins. Preliminary work was to bring awareness of how to access preventative care, such as cancer screening, if a resident didn’t have a primary health care provider. Through the process, the partners identified a clinic for unattached residents as a possible way forward. As part of its 2025 budget, Tillsonburg council included funding to establish a temporary clinic for those who don’t have access to a primary care health care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner). This clinic will not be a walk-in clinic; CONTINUED TO PAGE 4
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