The Moose Jaw Association for Community Living (MJACL) saw a big expansion of program interest during the pandemic as parents looked for ways to help their children be more active.
“We’ve been in Moose Jaw for a very long time – since 1966,” said Sharon Bourdeau, executive director of the MJACL. “It started off as a parents group, and still has stayed that way. Most of my board are parents of people with intellectual disabilities.”
The MJACL is a not-for-profit charitable organization whose goal is to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and to ensure that they are included, involved, and valued in all aspects of life. They seek to expand the range of choices and opportunities for the people they serve.
The MJACL is one of 14 branches of Inclusion SK. Inclusion SK was formerly known as the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living. Bourdeau said that the MJACL is also in the process of the name change – it will soon be called Inclusion Moose Jaw.
The name change carries emotional meaning. “Really, that’s our entire focus,” said Bourdeau, “is just to have people with intellectual disabilities being included into all aspects of life.”
The history of how people with intellectual disabilities have been treated is a tragic one. The practice for much of Western history was to put such children into institutions, alongside people with disabling mental illnesses. They would spend their entire lives there, with no educational opportunities and minimal interaction with anyone other than staff and doctors.
Bourdeau has always been an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities because she is also a parent to a child with a disability. “When I retired from teaching,” she explained, “we started to become a little bit more active in the community in addition to the advocacy and the parent support that we’ve always done.”
She’s volunteered with the MJACL for many years. As government support for persons with disabilities has improved, more opportunities have become possible. Their base of operations used to be a garage – now, Bourdeau is the full-time executive director, in addition to two other full-time employees. Last year, MJACL moved into their very own facility at 75 Ross Street.
That being said, MJACL itself has no core funding. They rely on grants – which must be regularly applied for – and fees for services.
Bourdeau said that parents were clamouring during the pandemic for some way to keep their kids active, get them out of the house, and let them play and interact with others. There were difficulties with the various public health restrictions, of course, but they were able to stay open. The last two years have seen a tremendous boom in participation numbers.
Susan Kellock, MJACL’s program manager, said that “We have anything from exercise, arts and crafts, we do science. We play games with them, we do music, and then we do have outings. And we utilize different areas in the town. So, swimming and hiking and seeing the library, seeing the museums.”
They also have programs focused on youth and young adults which increase independence. The Connection of Friends program for ages 18 to 35 teaches personal care, positive social awareness, community safety awareness, healthy nutrition, and how to use recreational facilities.
Most of their seasonal workers are hired for the extremely popular summer programs. Last year, they had about 35 summer support workers.
Bourdeau is retiring soon – for the second time. She just began advertising for her position. She said she’s been very happy with her work, with the MJACL board and employees, and with the results of their programs. The board members are “such a good group of people, who are very dedicated and committed not just for their own children, but for the good of all children in Moose Jaw with disabilities.”
“I’m very proud of them,” Bourdeau added, “and I know anybody coming in is going to be pleased to work with them as well.”
For program details and registration, email mjacl.executivedirector@gmail.com.
