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Nabiha started with us as a co-op student during her time at the University of Waterloo while completing a BA in Psychology. She returned for another work term with CHIRS before she graduated this year. We are happy to have her return for a third time as an employee in ADS! She loves her time onsite and will typically be found chatting with clients, helping out in the kitchen, or playing a nice game of Crazy 8's or Kings in the Corner. Nabiha is part of some onsite program

Congratulations Ciara! "Ciara often gets there early to scope out the mall and the situation in terms of what's accessible, where the food court is, etc. She has a keen eye for looking at where clients may wander off to. She's just generally very helpful in the program and I wanted her to know that she's appreciated." -Munir, Team Leader for our Mall Hop Program

Congratulations Domenic! Domenic was instrumental in initiating some of the sports and summer outings this summer. He always shares his fantastic ideas with great enthusiasm. Everyone had a great time, thanks Domenic!

by Amanda M Client vs. Staff Baseball Game On Tuesday, August 25th, staff and clients came together for our annual Client vs. Staff Baseball Game under beautiful summer skies. (Thanks for playing along, Mother Nature.) After suffering their first-ever loss last year, the clients arrived determined and ready to reclaim the title, with an extra incentive on the line: a makeover for the captain of the losing team, Andrew for the clients and Dave for the staff. The staff started

By Delaney H (ADS Co-op student) 📸 On August 12th, our photography group took a trip downtown to capture the local art scene of Graffiti Alley. The vibrant alleyway acted as both a gallery of artwork to explore and the perfect background for our photoshoot. This summer, the photography group has been building their urban composition skills by applying principles like: the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing for city environments. From the mesmerizing photos they’ve ca

Congratulations to Christine for being the mentor of the month for July! Christine is a huge help behind the scenes in the kitchen, making sure everyone has a clean dish to use! Christine hardly ever misses a shift and is a very reliable, integral part of the CHIRS clubhouse. Thanks for everything, Christine!

When you come to the Club, you never know what might be happening. Our ADS Student Dharini organized several weekly themed events such as: Friendship Week, Lucky Week, Mental Health Awareness Week, ABI Week and Eco Action. Our other ADS Student Delaney recently ran some jewelry making in the club. We have puzzles, games, music, and a great menu with amazing prices.

We have started some super fun new programs for the summer. Basketball with Munir on Mondays, Walk this Quay with Lisa on Tuesdays, Bowling with Emma and Rachelle on Wednesdays, our Thursday outings and City Hop on Mondays. At the Club, our students are sure to keep you engaged with upcoming Eco Week events, some beading, karaoke and more.

Congratulations to Dora for being awarded our Mentor of the Month for May 2026! Dora did some amazing work helping out with our Arts & Appies event. She was an integral part of the night, coming up with creative, tasty appetizers and delicious desserts! Most attendees favourite snack of the night seemed to be her bacon-wrapped potatoes, everyone wanted seconds and thirds! Thanks so much for all of your help Dora, and congratulations on your achievement!

by ADS Students Delaney and Dharini, photos by Lorraine On Saturday, June 6, CHIRS hosted its Annual Family Picnic – a day filled with fun, laughter, and great food! This year's theme was "Decades". Clients, staff, and family members were transported through time as they experienced music, dances, and entertainment from different eras. The day was packed with exciting performances and activities. Dave had everyone laughing with his hilarious banana-filled skits dressed as El

by David S On Sunday, June 7, our CHIRS band, The Kensingtons, performed at the Taste of North York festival that was held at Mel Lastman Square. In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, we were invited to perform several original songs written by members of our community. These songs reflected some of their personal experiences and journeys living with a brain injury. I want to take a second to recognize all of the members of the band who performed the songs: A

On June 8th, a flag was raised for Brain Injury Awareness Month. It is a month that is dedicated to raising awareness about Brain Injury and the challenges people face. Some of our CHIRS community joined members from BIST (Brain Injury Society of Toronto) at City Hall to proudly watch the flag being raised.

Using Creativity to build a life that both accommodates and inspires. Victoria O. received a severe brain injury in 2004, which, among other challenges, resulted in significant loss of vision. Since then, she has applied her strong creative instincts in a practical way to build a living space that works for her. For example, in her kitchen, everything used to be white, but, with her impaired vision, she found that uniformity made it more difficult for her; how can you find th

by ADS Student Dharini From Monday April 27 – Friday May 1, 2026, CHIRS staff and clients came together for a meaningful and sustainable Restyle Boutique event, focused on community and self-expression, organized by ADS staff members Dharini and Tasia! Over several weeks, staff and clients generously donated used clothing and non-clothing items, helping others refresh their Spring wardrobes at no cost. The basement space at Head Office was beautifully transformed into a welco

by Tasia D Our podcast group recently listened to CHIRS community member, Prateek's, podcast: You in my shoes with SATYA BRATA DAS The podcast group really enjoyed the experience. Most of the group found it relatable and liked how it shared supportive, useful information while offering a different perspective. The topic itself stood out as interesting, and many felt it could be especially helpful for people in the brain injury community. Some members shared that the content w

Check out MOST of our artists with their work! On Thursday April 9th, the clients and staff at CHIRS came together to celebrate Arts & Appies Evening, a magical evening of expression and creativity. This special event truly demonstrated how the power of art brings people together, with the room radiating energy and appreciation for one another. The incredible turnout of friends, family, and supporters made it clear how meaningful this event really was. For Arts & Appies, th

From Monday March 16 – Friday March 20, CHIRS staff and clients embraced the spirit of gratitude, connection, and good fortune as they celebrated Lucky Week! This was a fun-filled week that encouraged everyone to pause and reflect on everyday moments in life, big or small, that make us feel lucky and grounded. Our Club at Head Office was transformed with bright and festive décor, including shamrock and rainbow paper chains created by clients. To further spark reflection, clie

Arts & Appies is a showcase event of performances and creative work, ranging from music and dance to visual art and photography. It’s a chance to connect, support one another, and celebrate the incredible creativity within our community. Alongside outstanding talent, participants and guests will enjoy a selection of appetizers and refreshing drinks! Date: Thursday, April 9th, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Location: CHIRS Head Office, 62 Finch Avenue W With all this bein