Sudbury organization sees increase in membership, hosts upcoming Victorian gala

An upcoming gala in Sudbury will support an organization dedicated to helping those with disabilities.

The Victorian Gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Radisson Hotel, organized by Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin.

For the last 15 years, Independent Living has held an annual breakfast in honour of United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Instead of the breakfast, the group decided to change things up this year.

"COVID hurt the organization, quite badly," said Angela Gray, Independent Living's executive director

"We tried to do the breakfast a couple years after, and it's just been this is one of two major fundraisers that we do every year."

The gala has a fundraising goal of $20,000 but is currently at $8,500. The organization relies heavily on support from the community.

Gray said they don't receive regular funding from government. Their Direct Funding Program allows for increased independence for individuals with physical disabilities, allowing them to become employers of their own attendants.

"So all of our programs and services, we really do work hard to fundraise to provide the enjoyment and leisure and learning opportunities for the members here," she said.

"So whenever we do a fundraiser like this, we really do need to try to at least reach our goal because it does carry us on until the next fundraiser."

An upcoming gala in Sudbury will support an organization dedicated to helping those with disabilities. The Victorian Gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Radisson Hotel, organized by Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin. (Photo from video)

Instead, members suggested a Victorian Gala, with dinner, dancing, a silent auction and speeches.

Amy Adair, disabilities advocate, will be sharing about how Independent Living helped her live independently through the Direct Funding Program.

"I'm holding down a full-time job. I have staff that come in reliably who get me up in the morning. Get me dressed. Everything that an able-bodied person could do for themselves, I get someone else to do for me," Adair said.

"I have my own apartment, but my parents are back to being my parents instead of the people that take care of me. It gives me the freedom and flexibility to live the life I want to live."

Gray said the Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act will be discussed, which comes into effect in January.

"Business owners out there, organizations, we really need to be more inclusive and accessible," Gray said.

"There are over 37,000 people in our city that identify with the disability and that doesn't include our elderly. And I think it's just good business sense to become accessible."

While there’s always room for improvement, Gray said she believes the City of Greater Sudbury is doing all it can to be more accessible.

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"I do see some of the great things that they're doing. They've installed some raised plates at all the crosswalks downtown, which really do help people with blindness and low vision to navigate our city more effectively," she said.

"Our city is trying its best and we are very fortunate to have some amazing volunteers that sit on our city's accessibility panel.”

In the last year, Gray said membership has increased from 120 to 540 members, an increase of 400 per cent.

"I think it's the visibility factor," she said.

"We host citywide programs or celebrations. You know, we had day in the park, we had our 20th anniversary. We're very, busy on Tik Tok and, Facebook, which really is attracting a lot of people to see our organization and the things we do."

Tickets for the gala can be purchased online or in-person at Independent Living on Durham Street. Costumes are highly encouraged.

Tickets can be purchased here.