| LiveWorkPlay | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1995 |
| Type | Charitable Organization |
| Purpose/focus | Supporting a good life for people with intellectual disabilities |
| Headquarters | C3 Centre, 1155 Lola Street, Suite 201, K1K 4C1 613-235-9550 |
| Region served | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| CEO, President, Chair | Keenan Wellar, Julie Kingstone, Marlene Floyd |
| Affiliations | Community Living Ontario |
| Staff | 8 FT, 2 PT |
| Volunteers | 120 |
| Website | www.LiveWorkPlay.ca |
| Former name | Special Needs Network |
LiveWorkPlay is a Canadian charitable organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in Ottawa in 1995 by the husband and wife team of Keenan Wellar and Julie Kingstone, LiveWorkPlay was originally known as the Keen Learning Centre for Youth and then the Special Needs Network.[1] LiveWorkPlay is an affiliate of Community Living Ontario.[2]
Soon after its founding as resource centre, the organization evolved, adopting a philosophy of supporting self-determination for people with intellectual disabilities. In 2001 the name was changed to LiveWorkPlay to focus on the organization's goal of promoting full participation and decision-making with regard to living situations, work, and play.[3] In 2005 the LiveWorkPlay organization formally adopted self-advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities as its mission.[4]
In spring 2007 LiveWorkPlay became a housing provider for people with intellectual disabilities through the acquisition of condominium units in an existing Ottawa high rise.[5] This decision came as an outcome of more than five years of practical and theoretical study and continuous consultation with adults with intellectual disabilities and their parents.[6] The decision to pursue a non-institutional housing solution aroused significant interest in the field and the local media.[7]
As an outcome of the organization's 2007 Visioning Day[8] LiveWorkPlay adopted the new slogan A Good Life for People with Intellectual Disabilities in an effort to better connect LiveWorkPlay and its mission with the general public.[9] The new slogan was announced at the annual Engines of Success recognition banquet[10] along with a new effort to promote the self-advocacy movement with the release of several video presentations.[11]
In an effort to better share best practices and connect with like-minded organizations LiveWorkPlay joined Community Living Ontario as the Ottawa Affiliate in 2008.[12] The organization continues under the name LiveWorkPlay but has the option to use Community Living Ottawa.[13]
LiveWorkPlay was the lead Ottawa area organization in marking the historical closure of Ontario's mass institutions for people with intellectual disabilities on March 31, 2009.[14]
At the Annual General Meeting of 2010, LiveWorkPlay celebrated admission to the C3 Centre,[15] which is a collaboration with United Way Ottawa, Volunteer Ottawa, Leadership Ottawa, the Social Planning Council of Ottawa and the Ottawa Chamber of Voluntary Organizations. The purpose of the centre is to create a mission-enhancing work space for collaboration and partnerships designed to build the capacity of the social services and voluntary sectors in Ottawa. Components of the C3 Centre include a resource centre, training centre, and incubation and hoteling services for small or start-up non-profits. The move to the C3 Centre was described as part of a broader strategy to shift from a social services to social change perspective.[16]
Keenan Wellar (born 1968, in Evanston, Illinois) and a lifelong resident of Ottawa, Ontario is currently serving as LiveWorkPlay CEO and has public visibility as a media spokesperson.[17] and an advocate of social media marketing for non-profit organizations.[18]
Wellar completed a BA in History and a BEd with Ontario Teacher Certification at the University of Ottawa, and is a graduate of the applied linguistics Master of Arts program at Carleton University. Wellar also holds a of a Professional Certificate in Public Sector and Non-Profit Marketing from the Sprott School of Business.
Prior to working full-time with LiveWorkPlay, he managed the national Special Needs Education project (part of the Government of Canada's SchoolNet program) from 1995-1997 as a Project Manager at Ingenia Communications Corporation and represented Canada at the Seventh Annual Conference of the Internet Society.[19]
In 2010 Wellar was surprised with a United Way Ottawa Community Builder Award acknowledging not only his work with LiveWorkPlay, but for volunteerism with many other community organizations, including more than 1000 hours with Meals on Wheels Ottawa, and pro bono social media marketing services to non-profit organizations.[20]
Julie Kingstone (born 1973, in Ottawa, Ontario is currently serving as the organization's President. Kingstone completed a BSc and an MEd at the University of Ottawa as well as a BA in Psychology from Carleton University. Prior to working full-time with LiveWorkPlay, she worked in Palliative Care at the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital, and had a long history working with youth, including mental health promotion with Youth Net/Réseau Ado and various roles with Christie Lake Camp. Kingstone was a finalist in the 2004 YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.[21]