It has now been seven months since Staci Walker stepped into what she calls her dream job, as executive director of Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc., a role that has her responsible for all aspects of the organization's operations.
Two years ago, this former Nova Scotian moved with her family and established a life in the prairies, setting up home in Biggar. With a strong educational background and expertise in the financial industry, Walker ventured on a different path, taking up the job shortly after the amalgamation of Wilkie Independent Living Services and Biggar Community Connections, which took place on April 1, 2013. This movement of joining the agencies was "for the ability to be a louder voice for our residents with the government and communities," says Walker.
Prairie Branches is referred to as a CBO - community based organization. The non-profit organization, who's funding mainly comes from the Ministry of Social Services, Community Living Service Delivery, is set up in the communities to care for and enhance the daily lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This care comes in the forms of group homes, seven in total, as well as day programs, supportive living and support for employment possibilities with the clients.
The organization is spread out through several neighbouring communities. Along with residential group homes in Wilkie, Unity and Biggar, there are also semi-independent living homes in Kerrobert, Luseland, Wilkie, Unity and Biggar. And with 106 staff members, people Walker says, make a positive impact in the lives of clients every day, the service is larger than many expect.
As a non-profit, the organization does fundraise to help promote quality of life for their clients. Currently, the community of Biggar is in need of a new wheelchair accessible van. An application has been submitted to the Kinsmen Foundation, which has supported WILS in the past. The van is required for the use of transportation to medical appointments and social outings, something which Walker emphasizes, enhances clients' daily lives.
As one of the programs, the Wilkie Day Program, now housed in the old St. George School building, provides an interactive lifestyle, promoting comfort, safety and growth, for the clients who travel from the local group homes to take advantage of the different activities available to them.
What used to be classrooms, now are areas in which the clients participate in a variety of activities. There are arts and games rooms, work areas where clients can create items they can sell and sensory rooms. These rooms house different pieces of equipment that are geared to support the needs of some of the clients. They can enjoy the bubble lights, used for visual stimulation or the hammock that gives them the opportunity to experience "cocooning." Sensory mats have music and vibrations.
"We work towards each client maximizing their individual potential and accessing supports available to them," says Walker, "We are community based and strive always to have our clients be seen as the valuable members of the community that we know they are. Each one of them has gifts to share with their communities and I feel privileged to be able to work with them."
With the responsibility of all the communities, Walker shares her time between Wilkie, Unity and Biggar, supporting and promoting the agency. "We are happy to be part of the communities," says Walker, "and we thank them for all their support."
