LiveWorkPlay / VivreTravaillerJouer

We don’t really need a week dedicated to appreciating us, because our favourite thing to do is appreciate all of you.

If you’d like to join us in celebrating community, connection, and the people who make inclusion real, we’d love to see you there:
www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

Families, in all their shapes, forms and sizes, are at the heart of our communities. LiveWorkPlay exists today because family members in Ottawa wanted a better future for their children. May you enjoy a safe and joyous weekend with your loved ones! ♥️

YouTube video by Canadian Heritage The Flag That Unites Us

Happy National Flag of Canada Day 🍁 youtu.be/t0qzJRL-AGo

Free Online Webcast
The Henson Trust & Trustee Considerations
February 25, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST

www.planningnetwork.ca/events/the-h...

We’re sharing this webinar with Brendon Pooran as a learning opportunity for those who want to better understand the role (and limits) of the Henson Trust.

Au-delà de l’accompagnement au travail — partie 2 : construire un modèle de soutien à l’emploi durable

La partie 2 fait partie d’une nouvelle série de cours en ligne en trois parties par @liveworkplay.bsky.social, développée en partenariat avec PDC.

theinclusiveworkplace.ca/en/courses/b...

Beyond Job Coaching – Part 2: Building a Sustainable Employment Supports Model

Part 2 is part of a new three-part eLearning course series by @liveworkplay.bsky.social, developed in partnership with Ready, Willing & Able.

Start Part 2: theinclusiveworkplace.ca/en/courses/b...

YouTube video by LiveWorkPlay Krista Carr (Inclusion Canada) Senate Testimony "Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service"

Terrific presentation by Krista Carr, these are clips from her Inclusion Canada testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights regarding “Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service” from 9 Feb 2026 LiveWorkPlay is referenced 3:05​-3:25​ of the video) youtu.be/kLxDUD0VQe8

Do LiveWorkPlay Friday Night Meetups shut down when it's cold out? Not at all! Check out this crew enjoying Winterlude on a gorgeous and somewhat crisp Ottawa evening last night!

A big shout out to The Heart of Orléans BIA Networking Lunch! Relationship building is at the core of our work LiveWorkPlay and we are always working to build and establish new employer connections. Inclusion Specialist Jen Broad attended a wonderful and welcoming The Heart of Orléans BIA Lunch that was catered by one of our employer partners Meatings Barbecue. Some wonderful new connections were made and Jen also ran into a former colleague from 20 years ago! Thanks also to Orleans Boat World & Sports for hosting and guest speaker Eric Deschamps for some wonderful insights on "getting clear on your why" - what an awesome event!

A big shout out to The Heart of Orléans BIA Networking Lunch! Relationship building is at the core of our work LiveWorkPlay and we are always working to build and establish new employer connections. Inclusion Specialist Jen Broad was thrilled to attend this wonderful and welcoming event!

P4P presents...

www.planningnetwork.ca/webinar/stra...

Strategies for Employment:
Preparing, Finding, and Retaining Work
January 27th, 2026, 7pm

[RECORDED]

Presenters:

Frank Fagan, Assistant National Director, @rwaworks.bsky.social

Keenan Wellar, Co-Leader, @liveworkplay.bsky.social

We are proud to share “Beyond Job Coaching” a new three-part eLearning series by LiveWorkPlay developed in partnership with Ready, Willing and Able. The course is FREE!
bzbz.ca/beyondjobcoaching

Just a quick check in from Madahoki Farm from LiveWorkPlay member and Madahoki volunteer Ian Murphy who is making the rounds to ensure everyone is happy and healthy!

Zhenni, Daniel, and Meagan are part of a 3D display for the movie ANACONDA.

We've been sharing posts about our members out enjoying the winter outdoors, but Zhenni, Daniel, and Meagan (look carefully, they are in the photo!) are here to remind us that there's indoor fun to be had as well!

Aidan vandenBosch has big news to share about the growth and development of his employment at Kinaxis! We would like to thank Neil Butts, Director of Culinary Programs at Kinaxis, for providing additional details for this update. The LiveWorkPlay employment team worked closely with Neil regarding the establishment of a part-time role on the Facilities team, involving stocking and restocking of kitchenettes, stock room organization, and related duties with the fitness area. LiveWorkPlay matched Aidan as a leading candidate for this position, and he was hired into this role in April of 2025. Aidan quickly excelled with his core duties, and was also swept up with the love of cooking shared by his colleagues. This led to Aidan taking on additional roles related to pop-up cooking events and employee appreciation days. Now ten months into the job, based on Aidan's performance and demonstrated skillsets, Neil has identified additional opportunities for Aidan to expand his role which will now include computer-based duties such as invoice submissions, inventory counts, and ordering supplies. LiveWorkPlay is pleased to be collaborating in developing and implementing the training plan for this expanded job description. Pictured: Aidan and Neil are completing the setup of Aidan's workstation! - photo by Jen Broad, LiveWorkPlay

Aidan vandenBosch has big news to share about the growth and development of his employment at Kinaxis! Aidan has a new expanded role which will now include computer-based duties such as invoice submissions, inventory counts, and ordering supplies.

Through a random draw, each staff member makes a video to appreciate a colleague. We cannot share them as part of what makes it special is that it is something just for the team. But here's a screen capture collage that showcases the spirit of it all! Happy Holidays from the LiveWorkPlay team!

What an amazing night! The LiveWorkPlay News live and then music by Kenny Hayes and a delicious three course meal! Full photos and videos coming!

He's growing up so fast! Grace's son Ben is right on top of the LiveWorkPlay holiday cards, thank you Ben!

What a wonderful first day at the Disability and Work in Canada conference, taking place right here in Ottawa, offering LiveWorkPlay an ideal opportunity to host a panel session to shine a light on what really matters in inclusive employment: hiring!

Today the final quarterly meeting of the LiveWorkPlay Federal Employment Strategy Group was another extraordinary 60 minutes; formal speaking roles today: Mary Gusella, Emile Tompa, W. Francis Fung, Anna Nelson, Joëlle Perrier-Olsen, Sherrise Turgeon, Céline Henrie, Joshua Gray, and Ashleigh Benson.

vimeo.com/1127546811/9...

The Future of Supports in Inclusive Hiring: Innovative Practices from the Field (Original broadcast October 8, 2025)

Anna Nelson (LiveWorkPlay)
Oly Backstrom (SCE Lifeworks)
Charmaine McIntyre (Inclusion Alberta)

This year's Disability and Work in Canada conference is coming up fast, and LiveWorkPlay will be a part of it with an exciting and challenging panel on Inclusive Employment Accountability with representatives from Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) and Ready, Willing and Able (RWA)

Another very busy week for the LiveWorkPlay team was capped off today with a presentation by co-leader Keenan Wellar on Just Enough Support as part of the WE Inspire online conference. Over 100 students from 12 different Developmental Services Worker college programs were in attendanc!

Fairness for Couples on Disability Assistance in British Columbia - Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network PLAN is very happy to share some encouraging news from the Province of British Columbia. Starting December 1, 2025, couples where both partners receive disability assistance will no longer receive […]

Absolutely massive news out of British Columbia, they have ended this practice that forces people to choose between love and food. This is a gross injustice that inexplicably continues in various parts of Canada in 2025.

plan.ca/2025/11/13/a...

Check out this feature in the latest Menu Magazine from our amazing employnent partner Calypso Theme Waterpark represented by Director of Human Resources Sandra Lalonde. You can read the full article online, it includes two very familiar faces, Shelby and Carl!

This is the 110th anniversary of John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields" thank you to the amazing students of Mount Royal Public School in the Peel District School Board for sharing their rendition of the poem with us.

Janet Balcome and Joshua Balanaser were just two many LiveWorkPlay members, volunteers, staff, and supporters in attendance for the amazing Atlético Ottawa victory in the Canadian Premier League championship in Ottawa! They had a great view of the snow clearance team and of course the winning goal!🏆

Breaking news! Kenny Hayes will perform at our members-only (and invited guests) Festive Family Gathering on Friday, December 12!

Martin Couture and Frances Laube purchased this beauty straight from the farmer's pumpkin patch! They decided on a challenging cat design, carved to perfection, and ready to go for tomorrow. Happy Halloween!

- Photos by Mikayla Young, LiveWorkPlay Community Supports Team

Co-Leader Keenan Wellar was pleased to join in this webinar "Integrated Employment Services in Ontario: Challenges and Opportunities for Job Seekers with Intellectual Disabilities" hosted by Community Living Ontario's Shawn Pegg, and Ines de Escallon from the Family Support Network for Employment.

Amazing news! LiveWorkPlay is thrilled to report the 50th indeterminate hire that we have supported for people with intellectual disabilities and autistic persons in the federal public service! Full story: liveworkplay.ca/2025/10/23/50/