Celebrating 70 Years of Inclusion and Community

A version of this post was originally published in the Peak on May 23rd. 

This year marked a significant milestone for inclusion as we celebrated 70 years of community and service in the qathet region.

Established in 1954 by visionary parents, inclusion began as a bold initiative to educate children excluded from the school system due to their intellectual disabilities. These forward-thinking parents knew that with the proper support, their children could benefit from educational opportunities, like other children, and thrive in their communities.

“Children who had been bullied, segregated, and sent to institutions were given the opportunity for learning, socialization, and, most notably, hope,” says inclusion powell river Chief Executive Officer Ocean van Samang.

Since then, our mission has expanded to embrace individuals across all stages of life—from infants to seniors. We now manage 11 support homes and facilitate numerous programs that have transformed the lives of over a thousand people in our region, providing them with opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

Our services extend well beyond support for people with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays. We also proudly operate an outdoor eco-preschool, diverse youth programs, social enterprise Kindred ReBuild, and enriching activities and support for seniors. These programs are lifelines for many and pillars of a healthy community.

How Your Support Transforms Lives

inclusion is a non-profit organization that relies on government funding and grants to provide much-needed services in our community. We are also one of the region's largest independent employers, making our impact two-fold—we provide unique services and contribute to the local economy by providing skilled jobs, economic stability, and community growth.

“While we are grateful for our funding, not all our services are funded. Our social economy programs rely on short-term grants, and our Wish Fund for individuals is supported solely through fundraising,” said van Samang. “This is where your support can make a tangible difference, whether through monetary donations, donations of goods, services, or time.”

Donations and volunteers enable us to exceed expectations. They help us advance training for people with disabilities and provide essential resources for our individuals, like communication devices and exposure to new experiences.

They also offer opportunities for the individuals we serve and parents and caregivers to attend conferences and workshops. Services that support seniors in staying in their homes and staying connected are almost exclusively volunteer-run, and more time is always in demand and greatly appreciated.

Why Every Contribution Matters

Your contributions ensure that inclusion can expand its social enterprises, senior's programs, and Wish Fund for individuals and families. It enables us to enrich more lives and build an inclusive community.

Here's how your support makes a difference:

• Enhanced Quality of Service: Your donations allow us to provide superior care and innovative programs that adapt to changing community needs.
• Empowerment through Employment: We assist individuals often overlooked by the job market in finding meaningful employment and promote inclusive hiring practices among local businesses.
• Support for Families: We help families access essential resources and support networks for their children, enhancing their quality of life and integration into the community.
• Community Education: Additional funds would boost our efforts to educate the public on the importance of inclusion and how to create environments where everyone feels welcome.

Looking Forward

We believe in a community where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can participate fully and be recognized as valued members of society. Your donations will help fuel our ambitions for broader community outreach and continuous improvement in service quality.

  Make a donation now!  

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To acknowledge all the work we've done in the community over the years, we put together a special booklet titled, A Path to Inclusion. If you'd like a hard copy of this booklet, please visit us at our office at 106 - 7075 Alberni Street.