[VIDEO]: Dignitaries, community celebrates the newest group home in Weyburn

The Weyburn Group Home Society held a grand opening celebration yesterday afternoon for their newest group home, which is located in The Creeks, a neighbourhood in the northeast end of Weyburn.

Tristan, Katlan, and Josh have lived in their new home since March of 2021, but the party had to be postponed due to COVID regulations.

Executive Director Colin Folk said it was an excellent turnout, and he thanked everyone for coming for tours, a barbeque, and speeches by dignitaries.

'As a government, we are committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities," said Education Minister Dustin Duncan, also the Weyburn Big-Muddy MLA, there on behalf of the Minister of Social Services, Gene Makowsky. 

"This home is another step in our government support of true community living. Because of our community partners like the Weyburn Group Home Society, we are closer to becoming more inclusive and accessible, where everyone has the supports that they need. So I want to thank the Weyburn Group Home Society and your board for your commitment and for the services that you provide here in our community. And I want to thank the staff for all the work that they do, but most importantly, I want to congratulate the residents on your new home, so Tristan, Katlan, and Josh, and Josh is not here this afternoon, but congratulations, and welcome home." 

Board chair for the Weyburn Group Home Society, Steven Schuck, said they were very excited to be finally able to hold the event in honour of their three supported participants having a fully-accessible home. 

"Our mission is to provide quality support services to meet the needs of adults 18 years of age or older with different mental disabilities, long-term mental illness, or acquired brain injuries. The society will support individuals to live independently as possible, and we strive to do this in the least restrictive and most respectful manner possible. The opening of our DeLaet Drive home has allowed us to provide supports to three more participants in our community, bringing our total number of supported participants in our agency to 70." 

"We would like to thank our funding partners from the Ministry of Social Services, CLSD Division, and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation for their continued support of Weyburn Group Homes Society, as well as all of our other programs in Weyburn."

"This beautiful home is wheelchair accessible, and can provide personal care supports for participants with mobility needs," added Schuck. "We're so pleased to be a part of the beautiful Creeks community. We look forward to being great neighbors for years to come."

Weyburn City Councilor Jeff Richards, who is also the Executive Director for the Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop, said our community is lucky to have this, "and for the people that live here, awesome. Couldn't be happier."

"Oh, it's beautiful," commented City Councilor Dick Michel. "It's one level, and it is just remarkable what they planned on here. Nice open spaces and it's just beautiful for everybody. And these are special people and they're taken care of well, and it's just fantastic."