About JBACL

James Bay Association for Community Living provides services and supports to individuals with an intellectual disability and their families, throughout James Bay area. Founded in 1979 by a group of residents concerned with the lack of services available locally.

Our Services Find Us Here

Our Story

James Bay Association for Community Living is based in the small muskeg town of Moosonee. Established in 1979, we are somewhat of an outpost providing services and programs across the northern fringe of Ontario for individuals with a diverse range of developmental conditions. We are the smallest and most isolated Association for Community Living in the province, there being no all season road linking us to the network of southern highways.

Our logistics are challenged by our geography. A seemingly simple task such as taking someone to a medical appointment may, depending on the season, entail a trip on either a helicopter, a small plane, a boat, or perhaps a ski-doo taxi. For groceries we rely on regular shipments delivered by the Ontario Northland Railway.

The winters of the north are long and can be brutally cold afford some welcome opportunities, the simplification of travel being one. The ice roads connecting neighbouring communities make travel less arduous and, for as long as our roads are paved with snow and ice transport is smooth, clean, and dust free. Social activities also pick up during the frozen months as visiting friends and neighbours is that much easier.

Two people stand next to a black helicopter on a grassy area under a cloudy sky. The individuals are casually dressed, with one wearing a bright yellow jacket.

Three individuals in yellow vests stand together around a wooden table in a communal space, smiling and engaging with each other. The background features a kitchen area and various posters on the walls.

Two individuals are raising flags on a pole in an outdoor setting, with a green pickup truck visible in the background. The scene captures a moment of flag-raising, likely during a ceremony.

A customer interacts with a clerk at a service counter in a retail environment, with various items displayed on the shelves in the background.

A person is shoveling leaves in a dusty outdoor area, with a parked car and wooden planters visible nearby.

Two women are seated at a table in a bright room, writing in notebooks. Boxes are stacked in the background, suggesting an organized workspace.

Who We Support

100% of the people we support are members of First Nation communities in the James Bay region, ranging from Moose Factory to Peawanuck. All of our programs are tailored to the personal and cultural preferences of the individuals we support.

Working In The North

Our location away from black top highways, public transport, shopping malls, and the general convenience expected in road access communities makes recruitment and retention of staff an interesting exercise. That being said, our current team emanate from a broad spectrum of cultural backgrounds, having successfully transitioned from urban centres in the south to a quieter life beside the Moose River. It has been our experience that if a person travels north for employment but does not like what they see or experience upon arrival, then they will soon be gone. In contrast, if a person adapts to, and enjoys a northern life, chances are they will remain and flourish. So it has been for many of our present staff.

Challenges aside, our provision of care and support for individuals in the developmental sector continues to be a rewarding and worthwhile occupation. We remain committed to offering consistent service and creative solutions.