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Horizons Centre Wetaskiwin celebrates 40 years of maximizing abilities

Open house set for Dec. 12 from 1-3 p.m.
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Horizons Centre tree at Wetaskiwin Festival of Trees display at the Manluk Centre 2022 (Facebook/ Horizons Centre)

The Horizons Centre in Wetaskiwin is celebrating their 40th anniversary with an open house this December.

At the Horizons Centre individuals of different abilities and facing difficulties can participate in multiple programs that help them maximize their potential in the community and society. Some of these programs help teach skills for independent living, such as handling money and finances and working in the community to education programs.

Executive Director of the Horizons Centre Kathy McKinney says that a lot of the programs at the Centre are designed from an individual’s desire to learn something specific.

Some of the skill building programs include learning about recreation, volunteering, and employment prep.

Employment prep would help to develop or prepare skills that they may need for a specific job, resume building, supporting the individual in that job and helping them and their employer understand each other’s needs so they can work best together.

Some other programs include skills such as cooking, reading and budgeting.

One individual receiving supports from Horizons Centre is Curtis Boisvert. Boisvert has been a part of the Centre for 12 years and is currently employed in the community as well as being a regular attendee of self-advocacy groups including the Horizons Hurricanes and Central Alberta Advocacy Network (CAAN).

Boisvert says thanks to the Horizons Centre, “I learn new things, it helps get me out into the community and meet new people that I wouldn’t meet if I stayed at home in my room. If it weren’t for the Horizons Centre I wouldn’t have my job at Wanna Sign.”

McKinney states she is thrilled to see the progress Horizons Centre has made and its involvement in the community in the 30 years that she has worked there.

Over the past few decades McKinney says that a lot of the change came from, “educating the community or educating the people in the community about the abilities of people with disabilities.”

On Dec. 12, 2022 the Horizons Centre is holding an open house with ribbon cutting and cake to celebrate their 40th anniversary and is inviting the community to come see what the Centre is all about.

The open house will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.



shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca

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