"Care for companies"... Chaplain group reaches out to Yorkton

Yorkton's Chaplain Jim Pedwell is at the forefront of an expansion by a national corporate chaplaincy group into Saskatchewan.

Corporate Chaplains Canada (CCC) offers chaplain services on a contract basis to business entities of all sizes. Pedwell, who worked as chaplain for the Sunrise Health Region until that position was eliminated in 2010, has been hired as the organization's Saskatchewan area coordinator.

"It's the hospital's loss, but we see it as a way to build on what he's already done in this community," says Rodger Champagne, CCC's western Canada representative.

The nonprofit provides "care for companies," in Champagne's words. Affiliated businesses have access to chaplains on an as-needed basis for services such as stress debriefing, crisis intervention, addictions support, and marriage coaching.

"A lot of employers feel bogged down when their employee comes in with a problem," Pedwell says.

"Maybe they're not working to their full capability because they're distracted by a divorce or maybe their child is dealing with drugs. We do hospital visitation, prison visitation-whatever's needed."

"The main thing that separates us [from conventional counselors]," says Champagne, "is that it's face-to-face care." CCC and its chaplains attempt to "build relationships" with businesses and their employees.

The group's role as a third party is important in making employees feel more comfortable than they would with an internal counselor, notes Pedwell. "We're neutral. We're safe."

Employees can build on the trust relationship they have with their chaplain and invite them into other areas of their lives, he adds.

"We can help a family plan a funeral, officiate over the funeral, or a wedding."

And while his job is not to "bang a particular religious drum," the chaplain says he is prepared to discuss matters of spirituality with clients in a way that secular counselors will not.

"People will sometimes ask, 'Where is God in this?' We can talk about that."

Pedwell is a licensed counselor with training in grief and trauma intervention, but not all of the organization's chaplains have the same background. That, he says, is another important part of the group's philosophy: matching companies with the chaplain best suited to their needs. Finding and employing those chaplains will take up much of Pedwell's time as the organization's Saskatchewan coordinator.

Some situations require services that CCC is not suited to providing, such as long-term counseling.

In those cases, the organization draws on its network of local contacts to find the help required.

"We can't do it all, and we realize that," says Champagne.

All of the group's Saskatchewan operations will be coordinated from Yorkton in conjunction with the national office in Delta, BC.

Pedwell's work has already begun.

"I'm excited about this opportunity," he says, "because I see that there is so much to be done here in Yorkton."

Corporate Chaplains Canada will host a fundraising and informational evening at Melrose Place on Broadway Street on November 18.