Community Living Ontario's Student Links is Coming to Kenora!

First, what is Student Links? Student Links is a career and interest mentoring initiative that connects high school students with intellectual disabilities to mentors who share their interests and passions.  It’s an opportunity for students (ages 14 to 21) to explore ideas for their future after high school.  The program matches students and mentors who share a common passion or interest. The goal is to enhance their capacity to make informed decisions about their future prior to leaving school and to support the natural development of relationships and connections to their community.  The program is through Community Living Ontario (CLO) and has been very successful in Southern Ontario and now Families For The Future is bringing it to Northwestern Ontario. Want to learn more? Click/Tap Here 👈

It started with a question back in the spring of 2025 after reading about a student who had a passion for broadcasting and Student Links connected him to a radio station to learn more about broadcasting. "Would Community Living Ontario consider venturing all the way up to Kenora?"  I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I contacted Claudine Levien, Director of Student Links, with that question.  Not only did she get in touch with me but after several positive conversations and lots of thinking outside of the box at CLO’s end, the program was a go as a pilot project!

In November of 2025, Claudine and Eric Humphreys, Manager of Students Links, visited Kenora to make connections, get familiar with our community, meet families, and understand what our unique challenges are.  They spent time with Firefly, Kenora Association for Community Living (KACL), administration at both high schools; St. Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae Secondary School, the City of Kenora, LEAP, and some of the community outreach programs.

Fast forward to today.  CLO has now posted the position for the Student Links Regional Coordinator – Kenora Pilot.  It is on CLO’s website and has been shared with the organizations that Claudine and Eric met with. Here’s the posting if you are interested or know of someone who might be. Here's the link to Community Living Ontario for the job posting! 👇 https://communitylivingontario.ca/get-involved/job-opportunities/

The family/guardian will be an important part of the experience.  Student Links is a collaborative effort. Students, families/guardians, mentors, and coordinators are partners in seeking out opportunities for each student. Student Links assists in building the initial foundation so that each student, their families/guardians, and networks can continue the work. - Leanne