A long-respected Ottawa community inclusion organization joins The BUSY Group, bringing together two values-aligned teams at a pivotal moment for the sector.
We are pleased to announce that LiveWorkPlay, the Ottawa-based not-for-profit dedicated to inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and autistic persons has joined The BUSY Group.
For LiveWorkPlay, the partnership is about safeguarding and extending a 30-year mission. With the sector evolving in Ontario, the team chose to align with a partner who shared its philosophy and could provide operational support for the work ahead.
For The BUSY Group, this is a meaningful step in our Canadian story. We have been growing our Canadian presence with a clear focus: build with partners who are doing inclusive employment well and help them do more of it. LiveWorkPlay is exactly the kind of partner The BUSY Group were seeking.
What stays the same
By design, a lot will remain the same, including the LiveWorkPlay name, brand and identity. Co-founders Julie Kingstone and Keenan Wellar continue to lead the organization day to day and the team in Ottawa stays in place. Importantly, the services people rely on will continue without interruption. That includes community supports, Supported Independent Living, employment services, and the Just Enough Support approach LiveWorkPlay is known for. Existing relationships with funders, employers, families and community partners remain in place.
What will change
Two representatives from The BUSY Group will join the LiveWorkPlay Board of Directors to support the next phase.
Joining The BUSY Group gives LiveWorkPlay access to the operational capability, employment services expertise and scale of a global for-purpose organization. Together, we will work on:
- Expanding LiveWorkPlay’s supports and services into other parts of Ontario and, where appropriate, into other parts of Canada
- New opportunities in advocacy, system change, service design, training, workforce development and communications
- Sustainable growth that enhances rather than dilutes the core strengths of LiveWorkPlay
- Continued investment in the Just Enough Support model and the person-centred practices that define the organization
What it means for the people we support through LiveWorkPlay
Nothing changes about the right of every person to live, work and play as a valued citizen. What changes is the platform supporting and advocating for that right. A larger, values-aligned organization is better positioned to advocate for inclusive employment, hold the line on quality, and respond to the funding and policy pressures the sector continues to face.
If you are a participant, family member, employer, funder or community partner of LiveWorkPlay, your point of contact remains Julie or Keenan and the team you already know.
We are proud to begin this next chapter together!
Learn more about LiveWorkPlay
Learn more about The BUSY Group