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October 19-21 CELEBRATING
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CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 75, No. 42 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023 | 403-783-3311 | WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM
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1983 - 2023
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1,000’s of To o ls o n S a le!
Community building at the core of Ponoka Rising Sun Club House’s mission By Mark Weber PONOKA NEWS
Through a range of programs and work opportunities, the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse offers a rich source of community connections. “We are a community-based, living skills program,” said Amanda Henderson-Kada, executive director. They also just marked an anniversary. “On Sept. 1, we turned 29.” Programs at the clubhouse are designed for those living with mental health issues or who are recovering from addiction. In the early years, the organization was run under the umbrella of Alberta Hospital Ponoka. By 2005, it had evolved into a notfor-profit organization. These days, it’s a busy hub of learning, engaging in employ-
ment opportunities around town, and taking part in all kinds of social activities. Programming and services are also open to individuals with mental disabilities and delays. “We work together on everything. We have a Monday to Friday meal program which is subsidized for our members. Everybody participates in that in some sort of fashion,” she said. “We also have ‘office days’ where members can help with paying bills, making calls to other members to let them know what our activities are this week, and doing some filing — different things like that. “Everything that we do really focuses on role modelling and self-sufficiency in the members’ own environments within the community,” she said. “We are also mandated and governed by a board of directors, and we have
members that sit as directors on our board as well.” Altogether, membership sits at about 120 these days. “We provide a work program here, too. We do recycling for residential and business blue box and cardboard pick up. We employ members to work with that program,” she said. As for the social side of things, members enjoy fun events from swimming and going to the movies to holding potlucks and playing games, she said. Other clubhouse features include Betty’s Book Corner, a serenity room, and the 53rd and Main Canteen Boutique. There is also time for empowering discussions. “We talk about topics sur-
rounding stigma. When we talk about stigma (in relation) to mental illness and recovering from addictions; we don’t reflect on it as a ‘poor me’ issue. It’s more about what is my responsibility, what I want people to know about me, and how I am not defined by my illness.” For Henderson-Kada, there is plenty that keeps her inspired from dayto-day, from working with the members to seeing the community’s solid support. Seeing members become more empowered is also a joy, she added. Members’ feedback over the years has been encouraging, too. “They say thank you for being here, that this is their family, and that they don’t know where
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they would be without the clubhouse.” As to engaging with other agencies in town, HendersonKada said the club joins a collaborative golf tournament each year. “We are always looking for volunteers for that. We also hold a casino once every three years, too, where we also look for volunteers.”
Meanwhile, the annual general meeting is set for Oct. 18 at the clubhouse, starting at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information about volunteering opportunities or about the organization in general, head to www.ponokarisingsun.ca or find them on Facebook.
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