by PAUL RAYNER

The Boissevain Association for the Handicapped is using the half-century mark to both celebrate the past and plan the future.

The organization used the month of September to mark 50 years in the community. However, it will be celebrated at a traditional annual event, at least to start.

“At this point,” explained Executive Director Jason Dyck, “we have now turned 50. We’re using our open house in November to really celebrate it. We hope to make it a year of celebration for us.”

Set for November 30, the annual open house will be a little larger than previous years. Dyck said they are planning an afternoon come and go event for the public, with a number of local crafters with tables and items to purchase at The Hand Crafter. As well, the Association will be holding a pre-Christmas baking and goods sale, including new items like concrete leaf stepping stones and good sales on shelving.

The Association had its beginnings in 1957, when a group of thirty concerned parents from the Boissevain area met at old Richview School. They were looking for opportunities for mentally challenged children in the community. This eventually led to the formation of a chapter of the Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded that September. The first classes were held in October 1957 in the old public school. A variety of homes housed the program until their new home, named Sunnyside School was officially opened on February 1, 1960 on Johnson Street.

As years progressed, more integration of challenged students with the mainstream occurred, due to their education being taken over by the Department of Education in 1967. The emphasis moved towards adults, culminating in the beginnings of the residential program, starting at Cook Street in 1968. As well, a workshop was begun in 1968, being moved to the old Town Hall in 1970.

A day program working environment was continued and moved to a new home on South Railway Street when The Hand Crafter opened in 1988. Its first identifiable project was the woven lawn chairs, expanding in different directions including the woodshop, added in 1994. As time moved on, different ideas came forth, such as Affirmative Enterprise projects to give opportunities for more meaningful employment. Different concepts were attempted, including glass crushing, but were eventually abandoned. Instead, the focus would shift to activity-oriented day programs on the one hand, and integration of individuals within the regular workforce on the other.

The residential program also expanded. New residences were added for individuals, including Aikman Street, Rae Street, Struthers and Johnson. By the late ‘90’s, the original Cook Street residence was getting old and there was a need for something more accommodating for seniors. Cook closed, and by November 2000, they had their new more accessible residence on McKay Street.

One issue from the recent past will be revisited soon. The Association has gone through a number of name changes over its history, and another more inclusive one was attempted in 1997. Dyck said they are planning to give that another whirl.

“There is a potential name change on the horizon. There is a push in the province to make names more neutral, less subject to political incorrectness, to avoid terms like ‘mentally retarded’ or mentally handicapped’. We want to focus less on the disability, have a more community oriented outlook.”

As well, Dyck said they would probably look to move away from the use of “Boissevain” in the title, as they serve more than this community.

“Being a part of Boissevain will never change,” Dyck stated, “but the name could be made less place-specific.”

There is no date set for the change, although they presently have one they are looking at and are waiting to hear back on whether or not it is available.

The Association will also be looking at the future of The Hand Crafter. Although production has declined, in part due to the inability to get frames for their famous lawn chairs and in part due to changing expectations, it remains open, and there are many options for the coming years.

“There was a discussion of shutting down the shop, but we felt it was too drastic. We need to examine what we want to do, find ways to inject new life into it. We do have a great facility. The emphasis could be less production per se and more encouraging individuals to really focus on what interests them and what they want to create. It still gives us the opportunity to build pride.”

Presently, the lawn chairs are continuing, although on a smaller scale, with the use of their existing frame stock. It might continue, if they either find a new supplier or they may even look at constructing them themselves.

Plans are afoot to use The Hand Crafter as a part of a year-long celebration, by having sales and invite outside artisans and craftspeople to participate.

Dyck said they would continue to work on their programs. They want to continue to build bridges with businesses in the community, having more individuals out working. As well, they want to look at what they provide per individual.

“We want to really enhance the type of services we provide, and make them more individually focused,” Dyck said, “for people who do not fit into structures. We need to change to accommodate people and their interests.”

To help this along, they want to take a look at their wage scales for their staff, to provide a better living wage for the people that make the services work.

Fifty years on, the Association is still vital although changing. To Dyck, the anniversary means something because of the community as a whole.

“The significance in this is that the community has supported us for such a long period. We are one of the oldest, and this community felt a need to support those who need extra support. We love the fact people in the community greet our individuals on the street. We have changed over the years but we have remained an integral part of a very supportive community.”