The kitchen at Harborview Training Center in Souris looks like any other, but it makes more than food. It is about providing a better life for islanders with intellectual disabilities.
When CBC News visited a week before Christmas, about 30 clients were at the center learning skills to become more independent.
Harbourview’s kitchen is always busy, often with dozens of recipes on the go. People cook here all year round, but December is very busy as the team work to fulfill festive orders for Christmas and New Year.
“We have about 150 dozen squares to make. We’ve already done some of the ordering of the cinnamon rolls and the fresh rolls for them,” said Judy Hennessy, Executive Director of Harbourview Training Centre. “Everybody has a job and we just put our heads down and we all chip in and get it done.”
Loretta Hennessy, who is 76, has been coming downtown to cook for decades.
“I just love working here. I don’t want to go anywhere else,” she said.
Last week Sarah McDonald was busy making peanut butter balls. (Laura Meader/CBC)
Sarah MacDonald is a customer who also enjoys working at the center. Last week she was busy making peanut butter balls.
“I make buns, I bake breads, depending on what they need to do … I can just sell products to people,” McDonald said.
She likes seeing how much the community enjoys what they do downtown, she said. “We sell it in the co-op. Everyone works together.”
McDonald recently got a part-time job at a local coffee shop “helping them make coffee” and is excited at the thought of making more money.
Someday she hopes to move into her own place.
Christine Chevery shows off some of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas characters she made at the Harborview Woodworking Shop. (Laura Meader/CBC)
“Some of the clients have a goal of living on their own, having their own apartment, so all the skills they learn here will give them the confidence to know they can do it on their own,” Hennessey said.
Wood shop as well as kitchen
The center also has a carpentry shop where customers repair old furniture, build new pieces and make a wide variety of wood products.
Christine Cheveri spends a lot of time painting in the workshop.
“It’s fun. It keeps me busy – I never run out of things to do.” I love it, I love coming here, it gives me independence and I can learn new things and do things I never thought I could do,” she said.
Much of their work in recent weeks has been building large wooden Christmas ornaments. Cheverie does everything from cutting the designs to painting the shapes.
“I surprise myself every day with what I can do, learning more and more things,” she said.
“Every day they come to work, there’s always something to do,” says Jolene Sharkey. (Laura Meader/CBC)
Harborview has expanded three times since opening in the 1970s. Customers are paid weekly for their work, with money from product sales plowed back into the activities. The nonprofit also runs a day program that includes client education.
The main goal is to give people a stronger sense of self-worth, center staff said.
“Every day they come to work, there’s always something to do — whether it’s sanding or painting, especially in the workshop or even the bakery, there’s always new orders to fill,” said Jolene Sharkey, who provides training at the center.
They just always find the right ones. You see them grow as people and become leaders. — Jolene Sharkey
“Everybody is willing to lend a hand and help when that needs to happen.” They come here, we find out what abilities they are capable of.
“They just always find a fit. You see them grow as people and grow as leaders.”
Cheverie is excited about Harbourview’s next expansion. There is a plan to build housing next to the centre, including a group home, residential care and a three-bedroom flat with support for people who have already shown they are ready for independent living.
“I’d like to get out, live on my own, become even more independent,” Chevery said.
