Renfrew – Several parents who depend on Community Living staff to provide care for their adult children with special needs showed up in force last week at a large rally and called on the provincial government to help end the strike that has had a negative impact on the quality of care their children receive.
The strike at Community Living Renfrew County South has entered its third month, with workers demanding retroactive pay and pushing back against scheduling changes. Close to 80 of the staff members of OPSEU Local 472 were joined by about 30 family members and clients last Thursday night (July 23) in front of Renfrew Town Hall to draw attention to the lack of quality care being provided to the developmentally challenged adult client.
The staff walked off the job on May 25, joining a broader provincial push for better social services funding and 6.5 percent retroactive wage adjustments following the repeal of Bill 124.
Shannon Waddell, spokesperson for the striking workers, again called on management to come to the bargaining table to resume negotiations.
“We are here today to tell management and the Doug Ford government to help end this strike so we can provide care to our clients.
Ms. Waddell said although the clients may be receiving temporary care from outside workers, the level of care is far below what they have been accustomed to, and far below what the vulnerable adults require and deserve.
“Indoor day programs remain closed, and while Community Living Renfrew South has used outside replacement workers to fill in, families are telling us that our vulnerable clients struggle with the disruption to their daily routines,” she said. “Our clients need a consistent routine, and they are not receiving that level of care.”
Huguette Shouldice travelled from Ottawa to Renfrew to show support for the striking workers. Her adult daughter, Jennifer Roche, who is legally blind and developmentally challenged, has been directly affected by the labour disruption.
Mrs. Shouldice said the temporary replacement workers are not providing the same level of care she received for several years from the permanent workers currently out on strike.
“My daughter has been so sad since this strike started and she misses her regular workers very much and I am asking the Ford government and the local Community Living to help settle this strike,” she said. “The workers my daughter currently has don’t care for her the way her regular workers did. She tells me it feels like she is in jail.”
Ms. Roche, who lives in a residential home with other clients, described her life since the strike began.
“The curtains are always closed, and we can’t go out to the Day Program like we used to and I miss my friends I used to see when we would go to the Day Program,” she told the Leader.”
Murray MacDonald of Renfrew is another parent who addressed the gathering and told the crowd how the strike has impacted the life of his daughter.
“I want all the staff who are on strike to know that we support you and we know how much all of you care for our children,” he said. “You all know Judy who is standing here beside me and Judy wants her regular support workers to be able to help her every day. I am not getting any younger and I worry about what is going to happen to Judy once I am gone. The support she is receiving today is nowhere what she needs to live a happy life.”
Charlene Riopelle, a mother of a developmentally challenged adult son, and founder of Renfrew County Voices, said the strike has carried on far too long and the management of Community Living needs to come to the bargaining table and end it.
“This has gone on far too long and it is the clients who are suffering and not receiving the level of care they deserve,” she said. “Myself and other families support the workers and they are more than just support staff. They are like family members and our children miss them and that is why we are out here today to show support.”
The unionized social workers have been picketing in communities across Ontario since late May and have been without a contract since 2024.
By Bruce McIntyre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jul 29, 2026 at 08:46
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