Fighting for PADDLE When the Province Looks Away

PADDLE is a community-based day program in North Bay that supports adults with developmental disabilities. It’s a lifeline for families, a space of independence for participants, and a model of care that should be celebrated.In this episode of Echo Essentials, we sit down with executive director Megan Johnson to talk about the growing funding crisis, what PADDLE does every day, and why people across the North are stepping up to keep it alive.BayToday Letter to the Editor: https://www.baytoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-paddle-program-at-risk-as-province-denies-core-funding-115452430:00 Intro3:30 What PADDLE actually does and who it serves6:00 The funding crisis and what’s at stake10:15 The reality of long waitlists and systemic gaps17:00 What community support looks like in action24:40 Why charity alone isn’t enough32:00 Outdated policies and real-world consequences41:00 A call to action for the province and community