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Rallies across province aim to ‘Raise the Bar’ for developmental services

The people who provide developmental services will be rallying in communities across the province tomorrow, pressuring community agencies and the provincial government to address the inadequate funding and precarious working conditions that put the entire system at risk.

“The government knows the developmental services system needs a massive overhaul, but it is refusing to act,” said Erin Smith-Rice, a developmental services worker in Thunder Bay and the chair of OPSEU’s Developmental Services Division. “And the longer they take, the longer wait lists become.”

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas says front-line developmental service workers aren’t going to stand for more inaction.

“This is a full-fledged crisis, and it can’t be swept under the rug any longer,” said Thomas. “So we’re taking the message to the public: it’s time to raise the bar for the people who provide developmental services, and for the people who depend on them.”

The rallies will be taking place on Friday, April 6, in:

Woodstock

at 212 Bysham Park Dr., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Contact: Alana Hargreaves at 519-535-9603
 

Meaford

at the corner of Sykes and Nelson St., at 4 p.m. 
Contact: Deb Powell at 519-387-2351
 

Kingston

at 191 Portsmouth Ave., from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
Contact: Wendy Nield at 613-331-2281
 

Thunder Bay

at 179 Algoma St., at 12 noon. 
Contact: Silvana Cacciatore at 807-621-9347
or Erin Smith-Rice at 807-627-8709
 

Alliston

at 125 Dufferin St. South at 1 p.m. 
Contact: Allan May at 705-440-6416
 

London

at 217 York St., Suite 203, at 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Contact: Amanda Picott at 519-902-2384
 

Campbellford

at 65 Bridge St. East, at 1 p.m. 
Contact: Courtney Pickell at 613-661-3260
 
For more information:
Erin Smith-Rice at 807-627-8709 
Warren (Smokey) Thomas at 613-329-1931