Resident of Oakville group home at centre of strike by frontline workers has died, police say

A resident of an Oakville, Ont., group home that is at the centre of a strike by frontline workers died on Friday, Halton Regional Police Service says.

The death at the facility run by Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) is not considered to be suspicious but the coroner has been notified, according to Const. Jeff Dillon, spokesperson for Halton police.

CWSDS is a provincially funded organization that provides a supportive living community for adults with developmental disabilities.

Dillon said in an email on Friday that police and paramedics responded to a medical call for service at 53 Bond St. around 6 a.m. Friday.

Paramedics tried to save the person's life but the person was pronounced dead. Police conducted an investigation but there is "no indication of a criminal offence," Dillon said.

The death comes after the organization temporarily moved residents of group homes in Burlington, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Mississauga and Oakville into its main Oakville facility in October ahead of the strike.

Family members of those living in the group homes have written to Premier Doug Ford to ask that their loved ones be returned to their regular homes, to familiar surroundings and to daily routines.

The workers, represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 249, went on strike Nov. 19. The dispute centres on wage increases and working conditions.

In a news release Friday, the union local alleged that the relocation of residents with developmental disabilities from their group homes to a central facility created "high stress" for residents and workers.

“We have raised our concerns to management again and again. We raised these issues to the board again and again. We’ve called on the Government to act,” Julie Geiss, president of local 249, said in the release.

OPSEU President JP Hornick said in the release: "It is entirely on management to end this situation."

Hornick called on management to "get residents back to their homes and bring skilled, dedicated workers back to work where they belong."

CBC Toronto has reached out to CWSDS about the death but has not yet received a response.