L-R: Ron Coristine of Community Living Chatham-Kent, Mayor Darrin Canniff, Councillor Karen Kirkwood-Whyte and Brett Gore of Community Living.

A special celebration at the Civic Centre on Tuesday marked the start of Community Living Month.

A flag raising ceremony was held over the noon-hour along with the presentation of awards and a barbecue.

The recipient of this year’s Joyce M. Carr Champion Award is the Churrascaria Steakhouse operated by the Machado family. The award recognized those businesses which hires individuals on the basis of ability through the JOBWORK Employment Services program.

Marie Letourneau and Angel Nahdee were the recipients of this year’s Rob McLandress Make a Dream Come True Fund awards. Each will receive $1,000 to attend events of their choice later this year.

Among the dignitaries on hand for yesterday’s celebration was Mayor Darrin Canniff, who said the contributions of Community Living and those it serves are among the finest he has encountered in Chatham-Kent.