Who Are We

History

The Brockville & Area Community Living Association (BACLA) is a not for profit, charitable organization that traces its roots back to the Brockville & District Association for the Mentally Retarded, founded in 1956 by concerned parents who lobbied for educational services for their sons and daughters.

As young people began to graduate from the school system, the Association began looking at alternate day supports including “life skills” training and vocational opportunities. A number of the families realized that their adult children wanted to leave their family and live more independently. The first group living accommodation for 9 persons opened its doors on July 4, 1978.

In 1983, some members of that caring community decided that a new organization would be incorporated to provide residential supports for people wishing to leave their family home. The Association also welcomed people from the now closed St. Lawrence Treatment Centre to live in the community with support. The Association then filed Letters Patent and became incorporated as the Brockville & Area Community Living Association.

As the Association has grown and diversified, it has maintained its focus on each person as someone with unique gifts, talents and needs.

We are primarily funded by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and generate some other revenues through fundraising.

Our Vision

A community where all people are valued, respected, included, and live a good life.

Our Mission

We dedicate ourselves to providing unique person-directed supports that enable people to live good lives in community.

Board of Directors

Our Association is governed by a community minded volunteer Board of Directors that approaches its task in a manner that emphasizes outward vision rather than internal operation, strategic leadership more than administrative detail and clear distinction and definition between Board and staff roles.

Malcolm (Max) Patterson – President

Brian Van Mierlo – Vice-President

Marion Brown – Secretary/Treasurer

Stephen Duffy

Brigitte Irwin

David Smith