PHOTO BY MATT PREPROST Enlarge Image

From left: Jackie Safonovs, Susan Morgan, and Lana Noonan, of Equal Opportunities West, which moved into its new location at 851 Cavalier Dr. in mid-December.

A St. James-based organization that helps people with disabilities is on the move.

Equal Opportunities West moved into its new digs at 851 Cavalier Dr. in mid-December, the result of a growing clientele base and too little of a space to accommodate them all.

"We had physically grown out of our other space (at Portage and Moray)," said executive director Susan Morgan, a Headingley resident. "We were just crammed in there."

The organization, started in 1979, offers living and employment support programs, primarily for people with intellectual disabilities.

The organization deals with about 90 clients from across the city, many from St. James and Charleswood.
"It’s about giving people tools to have a full life," she said.

The new building, formerly a coffee shop, is three times the size of the old location and is already giving the organization new opportunities to build its programming, Morgan said.

The space includes a new kitchen for a healthy eating program and a laundry service for clients to learn how to wash clothes properly, she said.

"I think everybody in this field does their best, but I think there’s still a huge demand for services out there," Morgan said, noting remaining in the community was the organization’s goal.

"I don’t think there’s traditionally been many (services) in this area of town, so people are finding out they don’t have to go downtown or to other areas."

The move has also opened the door for Equal Opportunities to grow its e-waste recycling program.

The program — which has recycled 17 tons of material from computers, flat screen TVs, and VCRs since October 2010 — is designed to give clients hands-on training, teaching them how to use tools, keep a workspace clean, take direction, and how to get along with coworkers.

Cash made from the program is funneled back into the centre’s recreational and lunch programming, and some clients even earn a small wage.

"If there weren’t organizations and programs like this, we’d have people sitting at home, being bored, getting into trouble," Morgan said.

"When people aren’t active and aren’t busy, their health deteriorates and other problems arise."

Lana Noonan, a Fort Rouge resident, said the organization helped her get a job at a grocery chain seven years ago.

She came back in spring 2010 to learn new skills to get a job working in a hotel or a senior’s care home, and to give back to the organization.

"My journey in life is to get a new job and continue to mentor people," said Noonan, 43.

"They helped me, so it’s my turn to do my share. I got a full life here."

For more information, visit www.equalopportunitieswest.com.

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matt.preprost@canstarnews.com