Abilities Centre

10/06/2026

We're excited to start showcasing some of our incredible vendors you'll see at this year's Festival of Trees and Holiday Market!

Meet Birch and Margosa, one of the local vendors joining us this year.

Discover handcrafted felt creations made to bring colour and character to any space.

Don't miss them on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Abilities Centre.

Get your tickets and learn more: https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/97532814/select-race?regnow=awe-regnow&error=login_required&state=83ffeea0-fc7e-4ca0-906c-7a90fc4309c4&_p=3867206540998319&e4q=705b45a2-60de-49ac-8634-1846d73d6828&e4p=c6492db9-9095-4513-a927-a490969dff0c&e4ts=1791308847&e4c=active&e4e=snawe00000000&e4rt=Safetynet&e4h=183db63fdd573f1132a4001b518097cc



[Image: Vendor Spotlight graphic for Birch and Margosa featuring the Abilities Centre building decorated with colourful holiday lights. The graphic includes the Birch and Margosa logo and photos of handcrafted felt creations, including colourful hanging animals and a penguin. Event details read: Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Abilities Centre.]

10/06/2026

Accessibility goes beyond ramps and elevators.

It also means looking at the policies, decisions, attitudes, and systems that shape how people experience an organization every day.

In this video, Mubina explains why accessibility should include both visible and invisible barriers, from physical spaces to mental health, developmental needs, and organizational practices.

Creating meaningful access starts with asking a bigger question: can every staff member and customer participate fully, without unnecessary barriers?

Ready to see where your organization stands? Contact Abilities Centre’s Accessibility Consulting team at [email protected] to learn more.



[Video description: Mubina explains that accessibility includes more than physical features, ramps and elevators. She discusses the importance of reviewing organizational policies, governance, attitudes, mental health impacts, and developmental needs to create environments where staff and customers can participate fully.]

10/06/2026

The Festival of Trees and Holiday Market is back at Abilities Centre!

Discover local artisan vendors, beautifully decorated trees, seasonal treats, festive family activities, and visits with Santa.

Save the date for Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and celebrate the holiday season at Abilities Centre.

Tickets are available through the website: https://endurancecui.active.com/new/events/97532814/select-race?regnow=awe-regnow&error=login_required&state=83ffeea0-fc7e-4ca0-906c-7a90fc4309c4&_p=3867206540998319&e4q=cc117339-a5a8-4034-8bc2-9c335e7fb95a&e4p=b73986e9-9e9d-4ea8-89f3-bc9fce95bb7a&e4ts=1791245481&e4c=active&e4e=snawe00000000&e4rt=Safetynet&e4h=9592b6d2781849eef7d8f3cfbe51edbf



[Image 1: Festival of Trees & Holiday Market graphic on a magenta holiday-themed background. Colourful holiday lights and gifts decorate the graphic, with the Abilities Centre holiday tree logo in the centre. Two hanging ornaments feature photos of decorated cookies and a handcrafted felt penguin. Text reads: “Festival of Trees & Holiday Market is BACK!”

Image 2: Magenta holiday-themed graphic with snowflakes and a hanging ornament featuring a green holiday candle. Text reads “What to Expect” followed by: local artisan vendors, visits with Santa, beautifully decorated trees, festive family activities, and seasonal treats.

Image 3: Magenta holiday-themed graphic featuring hanging ornaments with a decorated chocolate cookie and holiday nutcracker figures. Text reads: “Save the Date. Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Image 4: Magenta holiday-themed graphic with colourful holiday lights, snowflakes and the Abilities Centre holiday tree logo. Text reads: “Celebrate the season with Abilities Centre! Buy your tickets on our website today.” A yellow banner at the bottom reads: “Visit abilitiescentre.org for more information.”]

10/05/2026

What can accessible recruitment look like in practice?

For National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we’re looking at the role accessibility plays throughout the hiring process.

Inclusive recruitment starts by thinking about barriers from the very beginning, so every candidate has a real chance to show their skills, experience and strengths.

In our first NDEAM reel, Mike sits down with Arnetia, Abilities Centre’s senior director of human resources. Mike has seen the hiring process from both sides: first as a candidate, and now as a manager. Watch as they talk about how accessibility shapes a more inclusive recruitment experience.



[Video description: Arnetia and Mike sit across from each other at a table, talking about Mike’s experience with the recruitment process at Abilities Centre.]

10/01/2026

Did you know 1 in 5 workers experiences some form of disability?

This October, we're recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month. People with disabilities bring skills, perspective, and talent to every workplace, yet too many still face barriers to finding and keeping meaningful work.

All month long, we'll be sharing stats, tips, and practical ways employers can build more accessible and inclusive workplaces.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to do more, we hope you'll follow along and learn with us.



[Image: Abilities Centre graphic with the text "National Disability Employment Awareness Month." Below, an illustration shows a wheelchair user and a standing person on opposite sides of a balance scale, each with an equally strong CV. The scale tips unevenly as two people look on.]

10/01/2026

Want to spend your days helping people move, play, and connect? Abilities Centre is hiring!

We're a place where everyone belongs, and we're looking for people who want to help make that happen every day. Four roles are open right now:

• Fitness & Wellness Instructor: Help members of all abilities build strength, confidence, and healthy habits.

• Lead, Thrive Adult Day Program: Guide a program where adults build skills, friendships, and community.

• AC Program Facilitator (Kids' Programming): Bring energy and creativity to programs where every kid gets to play.

• Rentals & Events Associate: Help our community celebrate, gather, and make the most of our space.

If you want your work to make a real difference in people's lives, this could be your next step.

Abilities Centre welcomes applications from all persons, including persons with disabilities, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation, and newcomers to Canada.

For full details and how to apply, visit our website: https://abilitiescentre.org/join-our-team/

At Abilities Centre, we are in the business of changing lives. Every program we run, every partnership we build, and every service we deliver moves us closer to a Canada where people of all ages and abilities can live, work, and play without barriers.

09/30/2026

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, the Survivors, and their families and communities.

We know reconciliation isn't a single day, but an ongoing commitment to listen, learn, and act.

At Abilities Centre, we recognize that we live, work, and play on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, and we carry a responsibility to keep learning about the truth of our shared history.

As a place built on the belief that everyone belongs, we're committed to continuing our learning and creating spaces where Indigenous community members feel welcomed, respected, and included.



[Image: Abilities Centre staff and participants pose together in the building's bright atrium, wearing orange shirts, many with Every Child Matters designs. Tall windows behind them show a tree with golden autumn leaves.]

09/29/2026

What does research actually look like at Abilities Centre?

For Mikaeli Cavell, Senior Manager, Research, it starts with community.

Research at Abilities Centre is connected to programs, teams and the people they support. It helps identify real needs, understand barriers and create meaningful impact in the community.

Lived experience is an important part of the process, helping make sure research reflects the people it is intended to support.

Watch as Mikaeli shares what makes research at Abilities Centre different.

Interested in learning more? Visit abilitiescentre.org to explore research at Abilities Centre.



[Video description: Mikaeli Cavell sits in front of the camera and answers questions about research at Abilities Centre.]

09/25/2026

Exercise is medicine.

For people living with cardiac or pulmonary conditions, staying active can be an important part of long-term symptom management.

Respiratory and Cardiac Maintenance (RCM) at Abilities Centre supports participants after completing formal rehabilitation through guided exercise focused on maintaining strength, mobility, confidence and independence.

Regular movement can help support symptom management, reduce flare-ups and lower the risk of hospitalization, while creating opportunities for connection and community along the way.

Interested in learning more? Visit abilitiescentre.org to explore RCM and find out how to get started.



[Video: Participants in the Respiratory and Cardiac Maintenance (RCM) program take part in a guided group exercise session at Abilities Centre. The video shows participants moving and exercising together in a supportive community setting. It ends with Carrie and a participant sharing a hug.]

09/22/2026

A refreshed Group Fitness schedule is now available for this September and October.

These updates are about more than new class names or times. They’re part of a broader approach to Fitness & Wellness programming, designed to make it easier to understand the purpose behind each class and find movement that supports your goals.

Swipe through to learn more about what’s changing.

[Image: Abilities Centre Group Fitness graphic introducing upcoming changes to the September and October Group Fitness schedule.]

The updated schedule is connected to four Fitness & Wellness pillars.

Each pillar highlights a different way movement can support your health and wellness, making it easier to understand what a class is designed to help you work toward.

[Image: Graphic introducing four Fitness & Wellness pillars: Build Strong, Move Better, Recover and Age Well.]

Build Strong is all about developing strength, power and muscular endurance.

Look for this icon when choosing classes that support your strength goals.

[Image: Build Strong graphic with a flexed arm icon and text highlighting strength, power and muscular endurance.]

Move Better focuses on mobility, flexibility, balance and coordination.

Look for this icon when you want to feel more confident and comfortable in the way you move.

[Image: Move Better graphic with a stretching figure icon and text highlighting mobility, flexibility, balance and coordination.]

Recovery is an important part of staying active.

Recover focuses on mobility, stretching, releasing muscle tension and giving your body time to reset.

[Image: Recover graphic with a circular movement icon and text highlighting mobility, stretching, muscle tension release and recovery.]

Age Well is about supporting movement for the long term.

These classes focus on mobility, balance, everyday function and staying active and independent through every stage of life.

[Image: Age Well graphic with a plant icon and text highlighting mobility, balance, everyday function and staying active and independent.]

Four pillars. One goal: helping you find movement that works for you.

As you explore the new Group Fitness schedule, look for the icons to help guide y