History of HACL

The Halifax Association for Community Living (HACL) is a volunteer- directed, not-for-profit organization seeking to ensure that persons challenged with an intellectual disability take their rightful place in the community.

Our organization started in 1958 under the name Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded. In 1987, nationally, the association adopted its current name of the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL). This name symbolises progressive trends towards people challenged by an intellectual disability. HACL is part of this progressive, national movement, which has Provincial offices and local chapters in every province and territory across Canada. It is one of Canada’s largest voluntary organizations.

The HACL has adopted the national symbol, which illustrates energy, direction, a sense of purpose and commitment to our goals. It is intended to represent a positive direction; to suggest group dynamics and collective action.

Our Board of Directors consisting of 8-10 members from the community guides HACL. HACL currently provides two distinct programs that we are very proud of: (1) The Halifax Developmental Preschool and (2) Family Support Program. A Committee whose Chairperson represents the programs at Board level oversees the programs.

The goals, priorities, and issues that confront HACL, have changed radically over the past years. However, the dedication directed to providing needed resources, programs and information to people who are intellectually disabled and their families have continued to evolve to meet current needs. With the help of our community partners, HACL continues to accomplish an important goal. We continually raise public awareness to the valuable contributions that every person can make to the community by focusing on the ability and capacity of our families. We believe that all persons have unique abilities, skills and the right to be valued as accepted and contributing members of their community. Collectively, our objective is to promote and achieve the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of community life.

The mission statement of the Halifax Association for Community Living is:

“We believe that all people should be accepted as responsible, contributing members of their family and society.”

The Halifax Association for Community Living is a very unique organization. We are the first group in the Halifax Regional Municipality to provide services to persons with an intellectual disability from the age of birth to adults. Over the years, we have evolved to respond to ever-changing family needs and our two programs are currently unmatched in the HRM. It offers a spectrum of life-long support services to families faced with extraordinary circumstances that come with having a family member with an intellectual disability.