Ed Dovick, Executive Director, Thunder Bay Ontario March of Dimes: The Warehouse Project — it came about because we had some idea that it would be good to do some more laidback kinds of social interactive kind of programs with people that aren’t so structured like the regular employment services programs we have.

We had the space and we decided to do it. And then we got some money from the ministry, and did some improvements to the building, and here we are now.

The programs that are running are part of what we do with other organizations. So the Canadian Mental Health Association runs a yoga program every Monday, Willow Springs Creative Centre, so they do an arts program once a week, the Learning Disability Association has a once-a-month drop in. So what we’ve done is offered our space for use and we don’t charge for it, and people are more than welcome to come and use the space if they have a program idea.

Susan Ward, Counsellor, Thunder Bay Ontario March of Dimes: People are coming through our doors, and they’re isolated, they’re disabled, may have many factors that are impacting on their life. So March of Dimes is a place of refuge, where people can come and have their needs met and more than anything, be treated like a human being.

Wesley Coates, Student, Ontario March of Dimes Achieving Success Program: My name is Wesley, and my disability is Asperger’s syndrome. I’m shy I guess, and then I get comfortable. I went to ODSP to see about a job program and they told me about the March of Dimes and March of Dimes told me about this Warehouse thing.

Karl Bengtsson: Wesley is an individual who … has had large social barriers his whole entire life. He came into our third week of Achieving Success. And so I’ve had a really good chance of watching him grow socially, job wise, working on his motivation, working on how he interacts with individuals, what’s appropriate at job sites.

Right now we’re actually starting Wesley up with a new placement. But I really think Wesley’s ready to succeed. And he knows what he wants; he wants to work. He’ll do great.

We’ve had some groups which have larger barriers, more developmental barriers and social barriers. So what we’ve been able to do is encompass social activity time for these individuals who are primarily coming out of very solitude lifestyles. It’s just a chance for them to come together and build those relationships and just real quality of life achievement for them.

Susan: There’s room for everybody and there is no age barrier; all walks of life and all types of talents and abilities. It’s just very harmonious. Friendships are formed and people no longer feel that they’re alone. And it’s a very gratifying situation for all of us.