Historical Footnotes

 

March 1979

An interested group decided to form TCE.

November 1979
TCE was incorporated as a non-profit organization.

January 1980
The organization obtained Charitable Status.

 

Summer 1980
Our first Director, Carol MacLauchlan, was hired.

December 1980
The first TCE home, located on Stewart Street, was purchased, funded 80% by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and 20% through fundraising.

1981
Stewart Street home was opened.

 

1986
We opened a home on Golden Avenue with the help of the Lions/Lioness's and Lionettes of Multiple District "A" through their Lions Homes for Deaf People Initiative.

 

1989
Karen Anderson was appointed as Executive Director of TCE.

 

The Ministry of Community, Family and Social Services helped TCE to purchase and renovate a third property located on Eleanor Drive. It was also at this time that TCE first established a rental property in the city of Nepean on Viewmount Drive.

 

1990
Multiple rental properties were now in operation and TCE was able to fund an administration office.

 

1991

TCE opened the Strathcona co-op apartments. A grant from the Trillium Foundation in 1992 helped us to purchase a new wheelchair-accessible van, furniture, computers for the office, and staff training. The grant also enabled us to establish a volunteer development program.

The same year, TCE purchased a fifth home in Heart's Desire, named Wilson House in honour of two of our founders, Murray and Christine Wilson.  Stewart Street was sold.

 

1992
A High Support pilot project for people with dual diagnoses (developmental disabilities and mental illness), located on Currell Avenue in two rental side-by-side townhouses, was opened.

 

1995
TCE purchased a permanent High Support Home on Quinn Road, through a grant from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the program at Currell transferred to Quinn Road.

 

1997
Kirkwood Apartments were purchased and renovated, with funding from the Lions Homes for Deaf People of Multiple District "A", to accommodate the residents of the Strathcona apartments.
 

1997-1998
We received a Parkway Foundation grant to purchase a wheelchair van and renovation to Wilson House for more accessibility.

1998
Ambridge Residence, a rental property, was closed; residents moved to Wilson House and Golden.

 

1999
Hillmount, our sixth home, was purchased and renovated, funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.  Four new residents from Rideau Regional Centre joined the agency in 1999.

 

2000
TCE was chosen as partner with Nepean Non-Profit Housing for a new housing development, Farnworth Manor.

 

2002

The two townhouses on Kilbarron Road and Farnworth Manor, rental units provided by Nepean Non-Profit Housing, came on board in the Fall of 2002.

 

2003
Residents move into Kilbarron Road and Farnworth Manor

 

TCE welcomed twelve new residents to TCE through the closure of the Ottawa Valley Autistic Homes (OVAH).

 

TCE began sponsorship of three attached apartments on Burma Road near Montreal Road in an innovative and supportive arrangement which was developed in 1993 through a partnership with Community Works Non-Profit Housing provider and OVAH.

 

TCE obtained a new rental home on Pritchard Drive off Knoxdale Road, and a new supportive housing home in Crystal Beach, which we named Anderson Place in honour of our long-time Executive Director, Karen Anderson.

 

A capital replacement project began, which, at the time, planners thought would  involve the sale of Eleanor and Golden, moving from Pritchard, and the replacement of those homes with bungalows tailored to meet the needs of the people living there, both then and in the long term.

 

2004

Golden Home replacement project began, with demolition of the old house.  Rebuilding on the same ideal site made the most sense.  The great location and large lot size, together with the well-loved but age related, worn down condition of the home, all combined to convince that the project was suitable and necessary to undertake.

 

MCSS approved funding for a new TCE Day Program operation, and three full time staff were hired.  Up to seven people were attending daily, participating in activities which included community outings, skills training, communication training, development of employment skills.

 

The announcement was made that the closure of the last three Provincial Facilities for adults with developmentally disabilities would be taking place over the next four and a half years, including Rideau Regional Centre in Smith's Falls.

 

2005

Baxter House opened, Wyman House was purchased, and Pritchard House's rental ended.

 

2006

TCE developed partnerships with two Long Term Care facilities (Forest Hill and Royal Ottawa Place) to provide support to aged individuals with developmental disabilities moving into the long-term care system.

 

Through a partnership with the City of Ottawa, TCE purchased a piece of surplus City land on Riverbend Drive at the corner of Holly Acres Road across from Andrew Haydon Park.

 

A fundraising campaign for a Snoezelen Room to be located in the new home at Riverbend was held, and the response was generous. 

 

TCE received capital funds to provide long overdue repairs and renovations to many existing homes.

 

2007

Construction of a new home at Riverbend Drive began.

 

2008

Riverbend home was completed.  Rosebella was purchased and renovated.  Quinn was renovated.

 

Residents moved into Riverbend, Rosebella and Quinn before Christmas 2008.