Building Community Through Inclusion, CAFFI hosts Mother’s Day event

May 8, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon Area Families for Inclusion (CAFFI) held a Mother’s Day Event this past Sunday, May 4, at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness.

The event included yoga for attending mothers, and, next door, arts and crafts for family members and children.

CAFFI is a group that strives to create a community where every individual, regardless of ability, is valued and supported.

The group advocates for children and adults with differing abilities.

Mike Brunetto has been involved with CAFFI for a long time and says that events like these are part of their bigger mission to get everyone in the community together.

“It’s just another way to keep people together, to remind them that we are trying to build a community,” said Brunetto. “We try to have something at least once per month, we know that it’s not that easy for families to come out. We have to be very selective about what we do just to have conversations, find out what families are up to, what are the challenges and what are the successes they are going through in their lives, and also making sure that families bring out their loved ones as well, and they get to spend some time with each other.

“I think the Mother’s Day event is just one of the stepping stones. The main message for me is that everyone who has critical needs should be here, everyone who is able and willing to help others should be here.”

Brunetto shared that these events help bring awareness to other areas where they want to bring attention to the community.

“Our target space that we want to grow is the complex needs for 18 [years of age] and over as they start to think about what life looks like in the community when they finish high school. It’s an area that we know is a gap, and so our job is to fill those gaps as much as we can,” said Brunetto.

Michael Fernandes, who attended the event with his wife and daughter, said that they come from Brampton because nothing suits their family’s needs where they live.

Fernandes’ daughter is 18 and her family couldn’t find anything for her age.

But, through CAFFI, Fernandes shared they were able to meet everyone and become a part of this community.

“I think it’s that special bond we have now as families coming together who have obviously exceptional kids,” said Fernandes.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about CAFFI can visit cafficonnect.ca/home.