Cosmo Industries recently recognized Al Anderson for a lifetime of leadership and advocacy for persons with disabilities. He was presented with the Howard Stensrud Spirit of Cosmo Award at a breakfast that took place, in his honour, this past November. Not only is Mr. Anderson a fixture on the sporting scene in Saskatoon, but he was also pivotal in developing organizations and facilities for persons with disabilities in the city and province. He was an early president of the organization now known as the Community Living Association Saskatoon (CLASI). Mr. Anderson also served the provincial organization, presently Inclusion Saskatchewan, for many years.
Additionally, Mr. Anderson was a founding member of Elmwood Residences and Cosmo Industries. As a member of the Riversdale Kiwanis Club, he helped launch the RIKI Walkathon, a milliondollar legacy supporting Camp Easter Seal. He later became a founding member of the Saskatchewan Institute for the Prevention of Handicaps, now the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.
While 328 people attended the fundraising breakfast hosted by Miners Construction, there was also a complementary event held at Cosmo with program participants. Everyone in attendance watched the live streamed event on Youtube while eating and getting their coffee or hot chocolate from Tim Hortons ‘drive-thru’ carts. Information on the Howard Stensrud Spirit of Cosmo Award is available at cosmoindustries.com . We invite anyone to complete a nomination for the 2023 award that will be presented in November of this year. The award is given to a person, group, or business that has enhanced the quality of life for persons with intellectual and related disabilities in Saskatoon and area.
The Heart of Cosmo is a new photo display of program participants at one of our entrances and it has been a big hit with everyone. Seeing familiar faces on the wall creates a sense of community and fosters a feeling of pride and connection to the group. The display helps create a sense of identity and recognition within the group, and it reinforces the idea that everyone is valued and has a place. This, in turn, increases the sense of belonging and ownership, as individuals feel that they are an integral part of the group and that their contributions are valued and appreciated.
Considering it an honour and a privilege to be named the 2022 Watrous Citizen of the Year, Debbie Farago has not only invested in the lives of those around her at Interlake Human Resources Corporation (IHRC) and SARCAN but her dedication to the betterment of community during her time throughout has been evident.
Receiving the citizen of the year honour at the Town of Watrous Christmas party Dec. 8, Farago was blown away when she found out she had been named as the 2022 recipient. “It was very satisfying and felt like a culmination of 24 years of work. It didn’t feel like it was just for this year but for my whole time with IHRC. It was a really nice way to leave and go into retirement.”
Growing up in Viscount before getting married and living on a farm for 27 years, Farago then retired to Manitou Beach. Shortly after moving to the area, Debbie felt she was not quite ready for retirement so she worked at the Manitou Springs Mineral Spa for a few years and then saw an ad in the newspaper about an opportunity to work at a new group home in Nokomis. Thinking she might like it, Debbie got the job in 1999 and two years later, was offered the position of manager at IHRC.
Over the next almost two and a half decades, Farago said with support from the board and staff, they were able to accomplish a number of things including moving their location onto Main Street
in Watrous, buying their own SARCAN to provide revenue, and seeing a group home soon to be constructed in Watrous.
“It was just really cool to go to work with people who are interested and they get what you have to give. It was just joy,” explained Farago who retired from her managerial position in May. “I was so fortunate to be able to do what I did. Not a lot of people find something that they really, really like to do. I found it late in life and it has been a real privilege to be part of the Watrous community and to run two businesses on Main Street and to contribute.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Angela Silzer and Margie Borsheim, two of those who nominated Farago for Watrous Citizen of the Year. In a portion of the letter, the pair, on behalf of IHRC, shared how Debbie is synonymous with the organization, first starting in January of 1999 as program staff before taking on the role of manager/executive director.
“Debbie is a visionary, a ‘can do’ person. Combined with her management and leadership skills, and her perseverance, Debbie is responsible for many of the successes IHRC/SARCAN agencies enjoys today.”
Originally published on December 19, 2022, in The Watrous Manitou News.Listing some of those successes during Farago’s time on staff, they included:
Obtaining the school unit building and renovating it into IHRC’s head office providing a safe and active environment for participants and staff;
Moving SARCAN from a shared back alley building into the Main Street building;
Initiating many specialized programs for IHRC participants; enabling participants to enjoy a more independent quality of life and become active contributing members of our community; Being a liaison with Winston High School and their special needs students; and
Adding to the IHRC head office building and the building of soon to be Watrous Group Home.
“Debbie has been a true champion and advocate for persons with intellectual disabilities, doing so in our agency’s service areas and at the provincial government level. Also over the years willingly pitching in IHRC and herself personally for the good of the community regardless of the mission.”
Loving her time with IHRC, Farago shared she was proud to have been able to make a difference. “Generally we provided a really successful service with so much joy involved. Our days were good days and I am very proud of that. Our clients’ days were good and fulfilling as well and none of this could have been done without the support of the Board and the staff.”
“Debbie has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to our IHRC organization, to our participants’ lives and to the community at large.”
A dream to live in the area and to have been able to have a fulfilling career later in life, reflecting back, Debbie said, “It is really more than you can ask for and I really enjoyed my job a lot.”
Interlake Human Resources Corporation and SARCAN Recycling are pleased to announce Angela Silzer (below, right) as our new Executive Director. Angela has been with Interlake for over 21 years and is excited to serve the agency in this new capacity. She is looking forward to all that the future holds for our people and our organization as a whole in this new chapter.
A Prairie-based Conference around Supporting the Sexual Health and Wellness of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Their Networks
October 2022 marked the first annual Sexuality & Disability conference, an event centred around supporting the sexual health and wellness of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their support networks.
Creative Options Regina, Inclusion Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon Sexual Health hosted the conference, a first of its kind in the province. The three organizations have a long-standing partnership as they work collaboratively on the sexual health and wellness curriculum, ‘ Tell It Like It Is .’
Tell It Like It Is consists of nine modules that cover a wide range of topics and concepts on relationships, dating, gender identity, sexual identity, personal hygiene, safer sex practices, consent, and much more. The curriculum considers the diversity of each participant, and offers simple and interactive learning activities. Tell It Like It Is embraces a sex-positive approach in which participants can explore and learn about sexuality and gender without judgment or shame. The program strives to ensure learners are receiving accurate sexuality education and the information that is required to support them in making informed decisions. Find the entire curriculum and additional resources on www.nevertmi.ca .
People with disabilities are often excluded from opportunities to learn about sexuality, and may not have had the chance to gain knowledge on sexual health. This lack of opportunity is partly due to the many myths, assumptions, and stigmas that exist, such as the notion that people with disabilities are asexual, don’t have sexual desires, or are not able to consent to sexual activity. Others believe that people with disabilities are ‘perpetual children’ and need to be protected, or that they will become more sexually aggressive and promiscuous if given information about sex. Creative Options Regina, Inclusion Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon Sexual Health are working to dismantle these assumptions and myths, and bringing the Sexuality & Disability conference to life is an integral part of this work.
The Sexuality & Disability conference took place on October 9th at the beautiful University of Regina College Avenue Campus, and was made possible through generous sponsorship from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute and from SIECCAN (The Sex Information & Education Council of Canada). Over 100 people attended the event, including caregivers, support workers, educators, researchers, students, social workers, parents, people with disabilities, and directors within community-based organizations. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Alan S. Martino, an Assistant Professor in the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies program at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Martino shared his research on sexuality and disability, sexual fields, and supporting caregivers. The conference also included Benjamin Bruce from the Centre for Sexuality, a Calgary-based organization, to discuss their community-driven sexuality and disability project. Kristyn White from Creative Options Regina and Kirby Brigden from Inclusion Saskatchewan also presented on the Tell It Like It Is sexual health and wellness curriculum. The day’s highlight was the advocate panel presentation featuring selfadvocates Brad, Serena, Heather, and Jasen, hosted by Natalya Mason. The panelists graciously shared their lived experiences involving sexuality education, dating, relationships, and topics they wished they had learned about growing up. When asked if people with disabilities are interested in sex and relationships, one of the panelists responded with a mighty “hell ya!”. The panel received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience, and each panelist received compensation for their time.
Besides showcasing speakers and advocates, the conference also highlighted organizations in the community doing incredible work. Munch Catering served lunch
at the event, a local catering company that offers training and employment to people with intellectual disabilities. Snacks and coffee were provided, courtesy of CORE Coffee, another local business specializing in vegan and gluten-free snacks. During the lunch and networking breaks, attendees could stop by any of the resource booths to learn more about the services that Creative Options Regina, Inclusion Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Sexual Health, Service Hospitality, and the Saskatchewan Presentation Institute offer.
The 2022 Sexuality & Disability conference encouraged attendees to work together to provide education and support, not just for people who have disabilities themselves, but to the people who support them. The event created a safe, inspiring, and hopeful space for attendees to ask questions, share stories, and learn from another. Collaboration and community are essential when upholding the rights that people with disabilities are entitled to. This includes sexual health, safety, partnering, parenting, and sexual education. The 2023 Sexuality & Disability conference planning is underway, scheduled for October 18th and 19th in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Tickets for the event will be available in August. Anyone wanting to know more about the Tell It Like It Is curriculum, the Sexuality & Disability conference, or information on supporting the sexuality of people with disabilities, are encouraged to reach out to Kristyn White, the Literacy Facilitator at Creative Options Regina, at kristyn@ inclusionregina.ca .
ELEVATE is an online leadership and professional development program that is designed specifically for boards of directors and executive directors in the nonprofit sector. This flexible interactive program allows boards to take the modules they want, when they want, as they need them. There are many topics covered in the 14 modules of ELEVATE – everything from roles and responsibilities of directors, to strategic planning and leading, to recruitment and succession planning.
Have questions about governance best practices and trends? Then ELEVATE is for you! Don’t wait – get your organization’s board enrolled in this easy to use program to elevate them to the next level of governance best practices.
For Regular and Associate SARC Members as well as Affiliate SARC Members with CLSD funding, ELEVATE is available at no cost to the organization through the COMPASS Training Package .
We are so happy to be planning our spring conference! This will be the first in-person spring conference since 2019, so you won’t want to miss this special event. Taking place at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre in Saskatoon, this conference will feature a variety of topics applicable to service delivery staff including direct support professionals, program coordinators, employment professionals, and many others! Mark your calendars for May 24 & 25; we can’t wait to see you! Watch the spring conference page on the SARC Learning Central website and our events calendar for more information in the spring.
SARC Learning Central has an events calendar that lists our training and professional development events that we coordinate throughout the year. Check back often – we’re always adding new and exciting professional development! Have an idea? Let us know!
The Gravelbourg Bon Ami, Inc. Group Home is receiving a HUGE makeover in January, 2023. Both bathrooms will be completely remodelled, and a new walk-in bathtub will be installed. While the bathrooms are being redone, the kitchen floors and entranceway floors are being replaced.
Before picture above
The participants are enjoying a getaway from the group home while the bathroom and flooring project is underway. The five residents are staying at the Gravelbourg Heritage Inn Bed & Breakfast for three weeks while the projects are completed.
We cannot wait to share more pictures once the renovation is completed!
