Weekly Email Digest for Information Sharing Purposes October 6 - October 10, 2025

Contents
Arts 
OPEN CASTING CALL for Upcoming TV Series 
Human Rights 
'I had to be here': Former students tear down Tofino area residential school 
Invitation to BCOHRC's October 30 Systemic discrimination: What we can do educational session 
Note: 
Learning objectives 
Session details 
A note on accessibility and translation 
Participant engagement and group sessions 
Deadline Extended: Building Our Collective Capacity survey 
Newsletters 
Canadian Council of the Blind 
Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation 
Cooperation Canada 
EASPD Newsletter 
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition 
Fighting Blindness Canada
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) 
PPF Insider 
Seniors 
Publication of FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum report on ageism 
Social Development Goals 
Invitation: SDG Connections – How Data Powers the SDGs 

Arts

OPEN CASTING CALL for Upcoming TV Series

Jacie Lind Casting are doing an OPEN CASTING CALL looking for female performers with Cerebral palsy (to play age 17) for the lead in an upcoming TV series, that will be shooting in Vancouver, BC early 2026.

We are open to individuals who do not have acting experience but must currently reside in Canada and be eligible to work in Canada.

If interested please reach out to us via the email below (assistant@jackielindcasting.com).

Feel free to forward this email for a wider reach.

Thank you!

Tara Bell-Irving, CSA, CDC | Casting Associate
IMDB
she/her/hers

Cell: 604-363-4034
Jackie Lind Casting Ltd.

Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE: Arbitrary Relocation of Residents with Developmental Disabilities Due to Labour Dispute Violates Rights and Endangers Safety at Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS)

October 9, 2025

(Oakville, Ontario) - As parents and siblings of people living on Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) properties, we are deeply concerned that decisions taken in response to the current labour dispute are violating the rights of our loved ones with developmental disabilities and endangering their physical and emotional safety. Residents were, without choice, relocated from their homes in Mississauga, Milton, Georgetown, and Burlington into one large Oakville facility without their usual services and supports to aid daily living. This sudden displacement, disruption, and uprooting from their homes and communities, is having harmful and significant impacts on residents with developmental disabilities, many of whom have complex care needs. 

Currently, all residents from CWSDS supportive living homes have been arbitrarily moved to one central location at 53 Bond Street in Oakville. “The plan to relocate all residents to one location means residents will be forced to live with strangers. They will lose the ability to take part in their daily activities and community programs that bring them joy, health, and connection.” — Rabia Khedr

The rights of people with disabilities are enshrined in provincial, federal, and international law. Ontario’s  Human Rights Code, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities all affirm the inherent dignity, equality, and respect owed to people with disabilities. We will not allow these fundamental human rights to be dismissed or violated. People with developmental disabilities have the right to live with dignity and respect. The relocation of all residents to one congregated location without consent is a fundamental breach of trust and a severe violation of rights.

“It is unconscionable for people with disabilities, in violation of their rights and with the potential for devastating consequences, to be moved from their homes without their consent as a way to navigate an evolving labour dispute”, says Robert Lattanzio, Executive Director of ARCH Disability Law Centre. 

OPSEU Local 249 which represents the developmental support workers at all of CWSDS supportive living homes reports that on September 17, CWSDS management requested a “No Board” report to put the Employer in a legal lock out position as of October 09, 2025 at 12:01am.

CWSDS management will replace the highly trained and skilled locked-out workers with untrained and unfamiliar agency staff. This presents serious physical and emotional safety concerns for the residents who have been forced into 53 Bond Street. In addition, it is unclear if 53 Bond Street even meets fire code regulations for the significant increase in the number of persons who are now living there. Emails about health and safety at 53 Bond Street have been sent by concerned parents to CWSDS CEO Patricia Kyle, with no response.

Meanwhile, anecdotal reports indicate that locks have been changed at all CWSDS properties, further pointing to an imminent lock out on Thursday, October 9th.

Contacts:

Rabia Khedr 905-270-9679 
Alena Malina 775-771-2669
Sheree Burnett-Gualtieri 519 212-5614
Nancy Gamble 519-498-4559

'I had to be here': Former students tear down Tofino area residential school

Click on the following link: https://cheknews.ca/i-had-to-be-here-former-students-tear-down-tofino-area-residential-school-1282915/

Invitation to BCOHRC's October 30 Systemic discrimination: What we can do educational session

You are invited to join Systemic discrimination: What we can do, a free 90-minute educational session hosted by BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner on Thursday, October 30.

Are you concerned about systemic discrimination in your community or organization? Do you want to take action? Are you unsure about how to start and what to do?

Join our free, 90-minute educational session to learn more about some ways to address systemic discrimination.

Note:

If you do not already have a good understanding of systemic discrimination, we encourage you to participate in our webinar, Introduction to systemic discrimination, before attending this session. You can find registration information on our Events page at https://bchumanrights.ca/news-and-events/events/

Learning objectives

By considering real-life stories and examples of successful actions, participants will reflect on how systemic discrimination shows up in their communities and organizations and consider strategies to address it.

By the end of the session, participants will:

• review the key characteristics and impacts of systemic discrimination
• consider reasons for taking action
• reflect on organizational or community-based examples of systemic discrimination
• become familiar with actions to address them
• consider resources to support next steps

Session details
Date: Thursday, October 30
Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
Location: Online, via Zoom videoconferencing
Register:Visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U7QIJ-t7QnWVBqDTxB75AQ or contact us at engagement@bchumanrights.ca.

A note on accessibility and translation

Closed captioning, Zoom translated captions and Otter.ai will be available at this event. If you have other accessibility requirements, please contact us at engagement@bchumanrights.ca.

Simultaneous translation is available for this session if requested in advance. If you have a translation request, please contact us at engagement@bchumanrights.ca at least two weeks prior to the event and we will do our best to accommodate.

Participant engagement and group sessions

Due to the large number of participants attending our webinars, content has been adapted for a broad audience and participant interaction will be limited to reflection, polls and a Q&A. If you are interested in booking a smaller, more interactive session for your organization or group, please contact us through our Event Request page. To support our limited capacity and for optimal planning, we prefer six months notice.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this educational event. We hope to see you there!

BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
bchumanrights.ca | @humanrights4bc

Deadline Extended: Building Our Collective Capacity survey

With apologies for any cross-posting, Righting Relations Canada, in collaboration with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, is excited to share with you a survey to map civil society's education and training on international human rights mechanisms. The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to October 17th, 2025!

We are reaching out today to ask you to complete this brief survey (10-15 mins); your responses will help us to build a picture of the education and training about human rights currently being offered across Canada.

The results of this survey will create a foundation on which to build a national educational framework to increase awareness and understanding of, and meaningful participation with, Human Rights mechanisms amongst Canadian civil society organizations and the general public.

We are seeking information about:

The human rights-related education or training your organization provides;
The expertise or skills your organization already has to engage with international human rights systems; and/or,
The areas where additional training, resources, or support would be valuable.

This call out is for all of us: if you are a civil society organization that engages on any aspect of human rights, we want to hear from you. We encourage you to share this survey with your colleagues and wider networks; help us cast our net as widely as possible.

The findings will be shared publicly as a mapping of assets and gaps to help strengthen collaboration and capacity across the country. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Angelica Quesada by email at angelica@jhcentre.org.

Thank you in advance for your time and response!

Ally Crockford
National Coordinator, Righting Relations Canada

Newsletters

Canadian Council of the Blind

Click on the following link: White Cane Magazine October 2025

Click on the following link: Tomorrow: Right to Sight — World Sight Day 2025 Conference (Agenda Inside)

Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation

Click on the following link: New Publication: Reimagining Canada’s International Student Policy

Cooperation Canada

Click on the following link: Cooperation Canada Newsletter 

EASPD Newsletter

Click on the following link: EASPD Newsletter

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Click on the following link: Euthanasia - Compassion or Neglect?

Click on the following link: Québec Constitution bill creates a "right" to be killed

Fighting Blindness Canada

Click on the following link: Sharing the latest vision research news, event updates, resources, and more.

National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)

Click on the following link: October NEADSletter - Upcoming Workshop, Program Updates, Community News, & More

PPF Insider

Click on the following link: Canada’s new critical mineral? Health data

Seniors

Publication of FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum report on ageism

In June 2021, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum approved three new priorities for the 2022 to 2025 work cycle. The ministers also agreed to continue the carry-over work under the social and economic impacts of ageism in Canada, associated with the 2018 to 2021 multi-year work plan.

Today, we are pleased to announce the publication of the Report on Policy Options Related to the Topic of Ageism Targeting Older Canadians.

This report identifies strategies, approaches and best practices to address ageism targeting older adults from the perspective of Canadians and researchers. It is based on a cross-content analysis of two reports that were led by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum: An Examination of the Social and Economic Impacts of Ageism and Consultations on the Social and Economic Impacts of Ageism in Canada: “What We Heard” Report. These reports reflect on ageism in five domains: health and health care, employment and workforce, social inclusion, safety and security, and media and social media.

The Forum is an intergovernmental body established to share information on seniors’ well-being, discuss new and emerging issues of importance to seniors, undertake initiatives to advance issues of common concern, and work collaboratively on key projects.

To stay up to date on future consultation activities and news related to seniors, follow the Seniors in Canada Facebook page or sign up for the Secretary of State (Seniors) newsletter.

Thank you,
Employment and Social Development Canada
For regular updates, please follow:
X (Twitter): @EDSC_GC
Facebook: Aînés au Canada

Social Development Goals

Invitation: SDG Connections – How Data Powers the SDGs

Let’s spark more ideas – join the SDG Connections conversation! The SDG Unit is pleased to invite you to our upcoming event SDG Connections: Progress in Numbers – How Data Powers the SDGs.

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 13:30 to 15:00 (90 minutes)
Location: virtually on Zoom - Register Now!
Languages: There will be one presentation in English and one in French (with simultaneous interpretation available)

This dynamic session will explore how data drives progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through presentations, we’ll delve into methodologies, challenges, and best practices in collecting and analyzing data.

Statistics Canada will provide a national perspective on data collection and SDG indicators and how they can support meaningful action on the SDGs.

Engage Nova Scotia will provide a local perspective on data collection through their Quality-of-Life Initiative and how it connects to the SDGs.

We hope you can join us for this important conversation!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to programme2030-2030agenda@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

Warm regards,
The Sustainable Development Goals Unit
Employment and Social Development Canada
Government of Canada
Programme2030-2030Agenda@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca