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Banner of Spark caregivers with young child, Care, Caregiving, Client Care, Personal Support Workers, PSWs, Community Resources

Do You Need a PSW Certification to Be a Good Caregiver?

10 years ago, if someone had offered me a job as a caregiver, my response would have been, “Sorry, I’m not a certified Personal Support Worker.” Back then, I thought you had to be a PSW, not just to be a caregiver, but a good caregiver. Well, after 8 years...
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Unfair Attendant Care Compensation within SABS, Advocacy, Attendant Care, Awareness, Care, Client Care, Compensation, Family, Family Support, SABS, Social Work, Spark Updates

Unrecognized Sacrifices: The Impact of Unfair Attendant Care Compensation within SABS

Our team wants to bring light to an issue that affects not only accident victims but also their families and the critical role they play in providing care and support. Let’s discuss the concerning compensation practices within the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), specifically related to attendant care and the implications...
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Celebrating Women’s Leadership at Spark, Diversity, Inclusivity, Women, Inspiration

Celebrating Women’s Leadership at Spark

International Women’s Day is a time to commemorate the achievements of women all around the world, while also acknowledging the continued importance of gender equality and inclusivity across different races, identities, and backgrounds. This Women’s Day, Spark recognizes and celebrates the many contributions of our women leaders, who make up...
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Children going out for trick or treat during Halloween, ABA Therapy, Autism, Behavioural Therapy, Children, Family, Halloween, Social Stories, Community Resources, Guest Spotlight

Tips and Tricks for an Autism-Friendly Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner, and this is typically an exciting evening full of spooky adventures! For most kids, dressing up, playing tricks, and filling up on candy can be a highpoint of the experience. Who wouldn’t love that, right? Unfortunately, some children with special needs may find this...
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Shining a light on the Indigenous clean water crisis in Canada, Awareness, Clean Water, Diversity, Inclusivity, Indigenous Canada, Indigenous Communities, National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Guest Spotlight, Inspiration

Too Many Indigenous Communities Still Lack Access to Clean Water. Will You Be A Water Protector?

Kwey–Hello, Water is sacred. We are made of water. It is our connection, our medicine. Water is life.  It must be guarded. It must be respected. But most of all, it must be protected.  Water is “Nibi” in the Anishinaabemowin language. Nibi is a gift. It is one that most...
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Siblings laughing and embracing, autism support, ABA Therapy, Autism, Awareness, Behavioural Therapy, Mental Health, Occupational Therapy, Ontario, Speech Therapy, Community Resources, Guest Spotlight

Accepting Autism: How to Move Beyond “Awareness”

“Autism” is a word that everyone has heard, but how many people understand what it means? Because it isn’t just one thing, and it looks different from one person to the next, many people find it difficult to describe.  In the past, April has been celebrated as Autism Awareness Month....
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Elderly woman partaking in sewing crafts as part of occupational leisure activity, Leisure, Occupational Therapy, Occupations, Therapy, Community Resources, Guest Spotlight

How To Use Leisure as a Therapeutic Tool

We think of leisure as free time that’s purely for enjoyment. There are no goals involved. But for an Occupational Therapist (OT) like myself, leisure activities have tremendous therapeutic potential. Let me tell you why. Leisure Is An Occupation First, let’s orient ourselves. When you hear the word “occupation” –...
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Brain x-ray scan, ABI, Awareness, Brain Injury, Occupational Therapy, Community Resources, Guest Spotlight

What I Wish People Knew About Brain Injury

As an occupational therapist, I have worked with acquired brain injury (ABI) survivors for almost 10 years now. I have worked with ABIs of varying types and severity and have learned much about gaps in ABI knowledge and support from the public’s perspective. For ABI survivors and their families, learning...
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Black male activist at a protest, Activism, Awareness, Black Community, Black History Month, Guest Spotlight, Inspiration

Black History Month Reminds Me of the Work That Remains

For me, Black History Month is a time to wonder what previous generations of Black activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Viola Desmond, Nelson Mandela, and many others would say if they could see the world today. Black people across the globe continue to endure the struggles and challenges caused...
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Spark Lifecare Campus, Caregiving, COVID-19, Frontline, Healthcare, Pandemic, Brad's Blog, Spark Updates

The Last 21 Months: A Letter to the Team

I sent this letter to the Spark team, to take stock of, and say thank you for what they’ve done over the last 21 months. Dear team, With the year coming to an end, and with our 10-year anniversary approaching, I’ve been reflecting on the last 21 months. If there’s...
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