WHO WE ARE
Land Acknowledgement
Breaking Down Barriers, Independent Living Resource Centre, acknowledges the traditional territory of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island. The traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. The Anishnaabeg include the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. We also acknowledge that our communities reside within Treaty 18, 1818.
For more than 15,000 years the First Nations walked upon, and cared for, the lands we now call home and cared for their families and communities, the way we now seek to care for ours. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work, live and play on this land. We are thankful to share in the special spirit of this place, rich in the energy of Mother Earth, our ancestors and the love of all Creation. We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We also recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular and our province and country as a whole.
In the spirit of Reconciliation, our BDB, ILRC team will continue to enhance and bring cultural understanding to the communities we serve through collaborative Indigenous partnerships that will develop inclusion and diversity within our people and community. We seek to do better, to continue to recognize, learn, and grow, in friendship and community, Nation-to-Nation.
___
Our Mission and Our Vision
Breaking Down Barriers provides supports, services and programs to enhance the opportunity for people with diverse disabilities to live independently in the communities of South Georgian Bay, Simcoe, Grey and Bruce Counties including the cities of Orillia and Barrie. We envision a community with access to resources, that enable and support people with diverse disabilities and their support network to participate in all aspects of society without barriers. Our key values: Accountability, Inclusiveness, Respect, Collaboration and the Independent Living Philosophy.
History
Breaking Down Barriers, Independent Living Resource Centre (ILRC) opened its doors on February 25th, 1985 as a Resource Centre for people with disabilities. We were the first to establish an information and referral service for individuals with diverse disabilities in the Georgian Triangle area.
Our Footing in the Community
We think of our Members/Consumers as family and they consider us family. We bring the wider community of supports into their lives through our collaboration with local heath care partners and agencies that provide specialized services.
Volunteers
Our volunteers give with their heart and infuse a spirit of community every time they step up. We are truly thankful for our volunteers who contribute 3,000 – 5,000 hours of personal time annually to assist our small dedicated team and hundreds of Members/Consumers.
Meet the Team
The organization was founded by a group of caring citizens- Kathryn Bloomfield, Betty Meacher, and Chris Boukamp, who believed those living between Barrie and Owen Sound needed a place to turn to for assistance when addressing individual needs and issues related to living with their disability.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is a dedicated and dynamic group of community-minded individuals who believe in the Vision and Mission of Breaking Down Barriers. Each and every member play an active role in moving BDB forward.
Community Support Services
Breaking Down Barriers is a member of the Community Support Services (CSS) sector. CSS plays an important role providing seniors and people with disabilities with the supports they need to live independently and safely within their community.
Under the rights outlined in Section 9(1) of Ontario Regulation 187/22 under the Connecting Care Act, 2019 Community Support Services must follow the Client Bill of Rights. BDB’s Client Bill of Rights can be seen here.
Financials and Agreements
We embrace the values of financial accountability and transparency. It preserves the very important trust our donors place in us with each contribution. That is why we make our annual financial statements easily accessible here . The same is true for our Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement (M-SAA). Click here to learn more about this funding agreement which is in effect until March 2026.
