Winder Inclusive Communities Service
Beaumont Seniors Christmas Party 2018
On Tuesday December 18, 2018 several WICS customers and staff headed to the Town of Beaumont to host a Christmas party for the residents of Chateau Vitaline. This was our first opportunity to do a community project in Beaumont and we were very excited for the opportunity to give back to the community and share some Christmas cheer!
Residents of Chateau Vitaline participated in Christmas Bingo for prizes and seemed to enjoy the Christmas snacks that several local businesses donated. Many residents also participated in making an ornament for their Christmas tree. WICS customers and staff loved hosting this event and enjoyed being able to give back to a population that we don’t often get a chance to engage with!
WICS would like to extend several notes of appreciation to those who made this wonderful event possible. Firstly, we want to share a very special thank you to the residents and staff at Chateau Vitaline for allowing us to come in and celebrate the Christmas season with them. Secondly, WICS would like to send out a huge thank you to Sobeys, McDonalds, and the No Frills in Beaumont for being so generous with donating all of the food! Lastly, a big thank you to Beaumont Councillor Martin Stout for taking time out of his day to come and socialize with the Chateau Vitaline residents and staff as well as WICS customers and staff.
ETS Stuff-A-Bus Campaign 2018
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On December 1, 2018 WICS customers and staff once again participated in the Edmonton Transit System (ETS) Stuff a Bus event. We volunteered our time and friendly attitudes at multiple Save-On-Foods locations around Edmonton.
WICS staff and customers collected cash and food donations from patrons and moved the non-perishable items into the bus for stacking. All was done with friendly smiles and a positive attitude. Everyone had a great time!
WICS participants were some of the many volunteers that helped raise 27,694 kilograms of non-perishables and $22,030 in cash for the Food Bank and individuals within your communities!
ETS Stuff a Bus has been operating since 1995 collecting monetary donations and non-perishable food for to the Edmonton Food Bank during the Christmas season. Since the ETS Stuff a Bus began, they have collected over 500,000 kilograms of food and $460,000 in cash donations to help feed Edmontonians in need. This campaign also provides supports to the Strathcona Food Bank (with Strathcona County Transit) and the Parkland Food Bank.
RCMP Safety Class 2018
On October 20, 2018 WICS Customers and Staff attended a workshop at the Strathcona RCMP detachment. During the class we were taught the importance of knowing when to call 911 and when not to call 911. We also learned a brief history of the RCMP, what tools RCMP members carry on their belts, and tips about personal safety. A special thank you goes out to Constable Chantelle Kelly for making time in her busy schedule to teach the class!
Disability Employment Awareness Event (DEAM) 2018
WICS was one of many participating organizations to celebrate the proclamation of October as Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). The proclamation was held at the Alberta Legislature Grounds on October 1, 2018. DEAM recognizes and celebrates the contributions and abilities that individuals living with disabilities bring to employers and the workplace! Minister Sabir kicked off the event with a speech, followed by several other speakers, including advocates and inclusive employers. The snow and cold didn’t slow anyone down from celebrating inclusive employment!
Annual WICS BBQ 2018
On September 20, 2018 WICS had their annual Customer BBQ! Our customers, some of their family members and our staff met up at Whitecroft Community Hall in Sherwood Park to enjoy a great evening together! Although it was too cold to be outside, it was a great time to socialize, sing karaoke, and eat some delicious homemade burgers.Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a great night!
Beaumont Fall Awareness Day
On September 6th, 2018 WICS attend the Beaumont Fall Awareness Day. Attending this event allowed WICS to build connections with other community organizations and bring awareness to Beaumont about WICS. We handed out popcorn which was a big hit! Also a big thank you to Fountain Tire and Coloniale Golf Club for donating items for door prizes!
Meet and Greet with Minister Sabir
On Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Community and Social Services Minister Irfan Sabir and Annie McKitrick, the MLA for Sherwood Park, stopped by the WICS office to talk with staff, customers, and guardians about the current PDD (Persons with Developmental Disabilities) program. The current government has committed to a review of the $853 million program. Minister Sabir answered questions about the timeline and details of the review. An audience was given to those individuals impacted by the current PDD program so they could voice any comments or concerns.
ETS Stuff a Bus Campaign
ETS Stuff a Bus has been operating since 1995 to encourage non-perishable food donations and monetary donations to the Edmonton Food Bank right before the Christmas season.
On December 2, 2017 WICS customers and staff again participated in the ETS Stuff a Bus event. They went to Save On Foods locations around Edmonton to donate their time and friendly attitudes to the cause. They interacted with shoppers at the doors to inspire people to donate however they could, collected and moved non-perishable items into the bus for stacking, and collected money from patrons. All done with a great mindset, friendly smiles, and fun!
WICS staff and customers were some of the many volunteers that helped raise 29,823 kilograms of non-perishable food and $19,098 in cash! Thank you WICS for donating your time, effort, and charisma to help the Food Bank and individuals within your community!
Money Mentors Workshop
On November 23, 2017, a Workshop by Money Mentors took place at WICS. This class educated both customers and staff on Financial Literacy, Credit Counselling and Money Coaching. This interactive session between the money mentors presenter, Linda, and participants focused on the skills and knowledge that will help them make informed financial decisions and gave them a better understanding of all the products and services that impact a person’s financial well-being. The presenter shared information and distributed a list of resources and services that Money Mentors offer.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Money Mentors for educating us on financial literacy and the fundamentals of budgeting.
Annual WICS BBQ 2017
On August 31, 2017 WICS customers and staff had their annual BBQ! It was a great evening to socialize, play bocce ball, and eat some delicious burgers. Staff and customers met up at Centennial Park in Sherwood Park, while Buddy and Laurie Winder cooked up hamburgers for everyone! Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a great night.
FASD Awareness Day 2017
On September 6, 2017 WICS customers and staff set up a booth at the Baseline Farmers Market in Sherwood Park to raise awareness for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The group set up a Spin the Wheel To Win with prizes being generously donated from business in Sherwood Park and surrounding communities.
This community event allowed WICS to spread the word about FASD, its cause, and how it can be prevented!
A big thanks to all the businesses that donated prizes: Care4U Beauty Inc., Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, Arizona Tanning Inc., Swiss Chalet, Binh's Nail 270 Baseline Road Sherwood Park, Hey Cupcake, Common Ground Community Cafe, Beyond Board, Mongolian Indulgence, Average Joes, Mellisa Toennies Your Pampered Chef Extraordinaire, Michaels, Booster Juice, A&W Canada, ATB Financial The Meadows Branch, and Home Depot in Sherwood Park
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