enVision will begin construction on Reimer Avenue later this month

Local community organization enVision is set to begin construction on a new home for 'Edith's Place' near the end of this month.  The satellite program of the Martha P. Rempel Centre has outgrown its current space and Associate Residential Coordinator Susan Carr says they recognize that.

"We've done a small program at the main office with a piece of space that we had available that we've outgrown so, now we need to build this new building of 3,000sq. ft. to accomodate the needs of the individuals that we support.  The people that we support at the Martha P. Rempel and Edith's Place require a lot of individual supports so, there's a lot of sensory/physio needs, a lot of people with unique disablilities like autism, so there will be some sensory rooms.  We've taken a look at the actual environment and we recognize that people with disabilities need to have environments that stimulate or don't stimulate because a regular room can sometimes be over-stimulating for someone with autism or Aspergers."

The building will cost just over $1 million dollars to construct.  Carr says they are starting a fundraising campaign Thursday to help offset that cost.

"The money for the building is actually coming from our own revenue and obviously, each person we support gets a per diem, which we get from the government.  But, that just covers the costs of the staffing supports.  That's why we're fundraising for this project and we're hoping to raise $80,000 towards the cost."

The fundraising campaign begins with a lunch/supper special at a local pizza outlet and then continues into the community with a door-hanger campaign.

"We're going to be coming around the community.  You will find a door-hanger on your door.  We're not going to be knocking at the door this year, we're going to be trusting that people will support us by mailing a donation or stopping by the main office to visit and drop off your donation for a tax receipt.  That's how we begin this project."

Carr is quick to point out that past community support has been tremendous and she says she hopes the community responds once again.

"The thing we always need to do is turn to the community for financial support as well as volunteer support.  Obviously, our needs are growing and we need to meet the needs of the people we support because those people have unique capacities and needs."

Carr says they hope the new building will be completed and up and running sometime during 2012.