On July 1, we celebrated a remarkable journey—20 years of Community Living BC. This milestone is about celebrating a collective movement, one rooted in courage, vision and the enduring belief that everyone belongs.
It all began in 2002 with the release of A New Vision for Community Living, led by a grassroots movement of families, self-advocates, and community and government allies. Their bold vision became reality in 2005 with the birth of CLBC, a governance model that strives to listen to and learn from the people and families we serve and those that support them in all that we do.
Together, we’ve built more than a government system—we’ve worked together to strengthen relationships, advance inclusion and build the leadership of self-advocates and families. From launching individualized funding, to establishing Community Councils, quality of life and employment initiatives, WOW Awards, Welcome Workshops, and the L.I.F.E. service, and our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Communities—each step has been driven by people, partnership and purpose.
We thank the founding leaders and partners whose vision set this path, and we are deeply grateful to those who continue walking it with us—self-advocates, families, service providers, Indigenous partners, and government collaborators. You have helped shape every success and every stride forward.
As we look to the future, we do so with hope and determination. Let’s keep building a province where everyone is included, valued and empowered.
To learn more about the leadership of B.C.’s self advocacy community, check out the newest edition of the Celebrate Diverse Abilities Magazine.
You can also read more about self-advocacy in B.C., and find opportunities for self-advocates to share their stories, by visiting SelfAdvocateNet here. Now in its 25th year, the site was created and continues to be run by Bryce Schaufelberger, who served on the steering committee that established CLBC.
And a huge thank you to this year’s WOW award winners who are an example of people going above and beyond to advance the rights and full citizenship of people with developmental disabilities across the province.
Here’s to the next 20 years of building inclusion together!
