Easter Seals (Canada)

In Canada, Easter Seals is a group of charitable organizations which provide opportunities for children with physical and/or mental disabilities. Founded in 1922 by a group of ten Rotary Clubs, it sought to emulate the success of the American Easter Seals program. In 1945, the first Canadian Easter Seals was introduced in Alberta. Today, licensed agencies work across Canada to provide programs and services to over 40,000 children and their families. Easter Seals Canada is considered to be well-funded and more known than their American counterpart.

The most well known services are the camp programs. There are 12 camps across Canada providing camp opportunities to over 4600 kids with physical and/or mental disabilities. These camps provide children with opportunities to do activities such as: sledge hockey, archery, arts & crafts, music & drama, campfires, accessible High Ropes, camping in a tent, other fun sports, swimming, pottery, and much more. Camps are provided to children at little or no cost to the families. Easter Seals also provides services such as mobility aids, adaptive computers, communication aids, and wheelchair-accessibility modifications to vehicles and homes.

Common disabilities that Easter Seals helps are cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, and spina bifida, among many others.

Canadian Easter Seal organizations

British Columbia

The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities www.lionsbc.ca [http://www.eastersealscamps.ca BC Easter Seals Camps]

New Brunswick

The New Brunswick Easter Seals helps to support thousands of New Brunswickers living with a disability. One of their most noted programs is their summer camp Camp Rotary.^{[citation needed]}

Alberta

Alberta Easter Seals: Easter Seals Camp Horizon is the only Easter Seals camp in Alberta, and is located near Bragg Creek.^[1][2]

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Abilities Council

Manitoba

SMD Foundation

Ontario

Easter Seals Ontario

Mission

Easter Seals Ontario is dedicated to helping children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities achieve their full individual potential and future independence. Easter Seals funds disability solutions through financial assistance, summer camps (Merrywood and Woodeden), the Recreational Choices Funding Program, research, advocacy, and public and consumer education.

Additional information

Easter Seals Ontario main offices are located in Toronto. The Provincial office houses a team of almost 40 individuals working for children with disabilities. A number of events runs throughout the year. These events are organized to raise funds for Easter Seals' kids. Some of these events include: Conn Smythe, Gala Ball, Regatta, 24-hour Relay, Snowarama.

Nova Scotia

Abilities Foundation of Nova Scotia

Newfoundland

Easter Seals Newfoundland and Labrador is a charitable organization which is dedicated to maximizing the abilities and enhancing the lives of children and youth with physical disabilities through recreational, social and other therapeutic programs, direct assistance, education and advocacy.

Easter Seals Newfoundland and Labrador has a long, rich history of service to the community in NL, dating back to 1937 when the then Rotary Sunshine Camp Association was formed with a mandate of establishing a summer camp for children. Offices are currently located in St. John's and Corner Brook.

External links

• Official Easter Seals Canada website
• Official Easter Seals Ontario website

References

1. ^ About Us | Alberta Easter Seals
2. ^ Year-Round Facilities | Alberta Easter Seals