Pegasus Community Project

Pegasus is a grassroots organization founded in 1994 by a small group of women to address a community need – adults with developmental disabilities who were finishing school had few options for continuing to learn and to adopt adult roles in their community. Increasingly, these citizens and their families lived in fear of finishing school instead of looking forward to building their futures.

The founding members, meeting for the first few years in Marie’s dining room, overcame many obstacles as they created a service organization that really works for people. Their families and friends, and the wider community, offered growing support as Pegasus gradually became a full fledged member of the Toronto developmental service community. They formed key partnerships, notably with Parks, Forestry, and Recreation, City of Toronto.

These intrepid volunteers who formed the Founding Board of Directors were Sally Grieve, Allison Masters, and Janice Murphy, who lent their skills and uncommon commitment along with Margaret Ewing, Barbara Johnson, and Marie Perrotta, who additionally were experienced parents of young people who needed support.

Pegasus was driven by the philosophy that all citizens are entitled to the opportunity to participate in the life of their community, to make their own contributions, and to grow as individuals. Pegasus from the start put structures and systems in place that would facilitate inclusion, support families, and support participants to make personal choices and plans for their lives.

A warm community welcome gave Pegasus the opportunity to play a role in strengthening our community, showing that society is more robust when its members know and understand each other.