Woodbridge man dedicated to improving life for people with disabilities

“He makes sure we are all kind to each other and we are all friends.”

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 14, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Spend a bit of time at Woodbridge’s Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre and chances are pretty good you’ll encounter someone whose life has been touched by Charles Camilleri.

In fact, if you’re there almost any day of the week during the day, you’ll likely meet the man himself.

Twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays, he runs Hangin’ Out Together, a free drop-in program for people 16 or older with special needs.

Participants play billiards, table tennis, foosball, backgammon, chess, checkers, or simply relax and read a newspaper.

Often, they sit down and chat with Camilleri about what’s going on in their lives.

“It’s like a family,” said the 71-year-old father of two. “We celebrate everybody’s birthday with pizza and cake.”

While there are many regulars, Camilleri is always asking others to join them.

If he spots someone milling about in the hallways, Camilleri zips over in his motorized wheelchair and invites them to come inside the meeting room to have a cup of tea or coffee.

Hangin’ Out Together runs at the community centre from September until June.

During the summer hiatus, Camilleri organizes group excursions for attendees to places such as Niagara Falls and the 30,000 Islands.

Camilleri launched the program in 2005 after a woman told him she had to drive her son to Maple because she couldn’t find any programs for people with disabilities in Woodbridge.  

He responded in characteristic Camilleri fashion: “Let’s start one next week.”

Though the program didn’t come together that quickly, it was up and running within the year. And it’s been going strong ever since.

Camilleri not only runs Hangin’ Out Together, he organizes the annual Christmas fundraiser that makes it possible to offer the program for free.

This year’s instalment - complete with supper, Santa, a raffle, a silent auction and a dance - takes place at Da Vinci Banquet Hall Wednesday, Nov. 23.  

When he’s not running Hangin’ Out Together, Camilleri plays bocce at the community centre three days a week with local seniors, another program he founded.

Tuesday nights, he’s at the Woodbridge library matching wits with other chess aficionados at the drop-in program he’s run there for seven years.

Camilleri is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities.

He’s spearheaded at least a dozen accessibility improvements at the Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre alone.  

Maria Grazia De Silvi has attended Hangin’ Out Together with her 38-year-old son Robert for about five years.

She considers Camilleri a superhero - “Wonder Man.”  

Returning to Canada from Italy after many years, De Silvi had no idea where to take Robert, who has Down syndrome, to socialize and keep active.

They were at the community centre asking about programs he could sign up for when Camilleri spotted them and told them about Hangin’ Out Together.

“The heart of the program is him,” De Silvi said. “He makes sure we are all kind to each other and we are all friends.”

Robert attends another program twice a week, but he most looks forward to seeing Camilleri.

“Here nobody judges you,” De Silvi said. “It’s very friendly and we help each other in any way we can.”