Members of the Arborg and Bifrost-Riverton community held a celebratory retirement party last week for Riverdale Place Workshop’s long-time manager, Alex Janower, whose dedicated service to and advocacy for workshop participants spanned 38 years.
About 75 people attended the celebration at the workshop, located just west of Arborg. The event included speeches, gift presentations, musical entertainment and cake and refreshments.
Riverdale Place Workshop is a not-for-profit organization that cares for and provides social and employment opportunities to adults with intellectual challenges through a day program, and also serves the communities of Arborg and Bifrost-Riverton through its curbside recycling program, which keeps thousands of kilograms of recyclable materials out of the local landfill and employs a number of workshop participants.
In addition to caring for Arborg and area’s most vulnerable citizens, Janower guided the workshop through some tough times over the course of his career, enhanced workshop participants’ experience through the provision of a new vehicle to take them on social outings, and fought for the continuation of government funding in order to ensure participants’ inclusion in the community.
Janower said he was hoping to retire “quietly” but the workshop board insisted on giving him a party.
“It was a very touching event and I felt honoured. I really appreciated it,” said Janower a day after the June 19 celebration. “I’m sad to go. I didn’t realize that retirement would be so difficult. It was a tough decision to make, but there comes a time for everybody.”
Pastor Dani Caldeira from the ConneXion Church, who attends the workshop once a month to provide music lessons to participants, “secretly” had participants learn Janower’s favourite song, Stand By Me, and they performed it for him during the party, he said.
Workshop board member Val Klym helped organize the party with board chair Norma Smolinski and other board members, and also acted as emcee for the event.
“Alex has done an awesome job at the workshop and through some difficult times such as COVID and the funding difficulties of the recent past,” said Klym a day after the party. “He’s very dedicated and caring, and he’s touched a lot of people’s lives at the workshop.”
Workshop board member Larry Speiss, who paid tribute to Janower at the party and spoke about the history of the workshop, presented a plaque to Janower on behalf of the board, said Klym.
The Happiness Minstrels, with pastor Dani Caldeira, performed three musical sections, and guests and participants enjoyed three different flavours of cake, iced tea and coffee, said Klym.
The retirement party included tributes from local, provincial and federal dignitaries.
Arborg mayor Peter Dueck said Janower is an inspiration to the community for his devotion to and focus on serving others and promoting the inclusion of those with intellectual challenges.
“Alex spent 38 years serving the clients, managing staff and creating a caring community that celebrates value and ability over limitations,” said Dueck. “It seems to me that one thing all community builders have in common is the endless focus on serving others, and Alex lived and modelled this well.”
On behalf of Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson, Tammy Axelsson presented Janower with an honorary plaque that thanks Janower for his “tireless dedication” to the workshop and “steadfast advocacy” for adults with intellectual disabilities. Janower’s efforts have “enriched countless lives and left a lasting legacy of compassion, dignity and inclusion in our community.”
Bifrost-Riverton reeve Brian Johnson also paid tribute to Janower and presented him with a retirement gift on behalf of the municipality.
And on behalf of Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman MP James Bezan, Klym presented Janower with a certificate commending him for his 38 years of service.
Janower officially steps down at the end of June, and workshop staff member Susie Johnson will be taking over as manager.
Janower said he’ll be available as a volunteer to help the workshop transition or to provide advice if needed.
