New multi-use space will help Inclusion Selkirk clients and be a great local space
The Gaynor family once again has made a generous donation to our community. Last week they gave $1 million to support Inclusion Selkirk’s new multi-use building which will be located beside their current Wishme business on Eveline St.
“We are very happy tonight to make an announcement of very generous support from two people who likely need no introduction, Jim and Betty Anne Gaynor. Jim and Betty Anne have supported many endeavours in the community and we were so excited to announce a $1 million donation that is moving us along in our journey of Eveline phase 2,” said Richard Hodges, chairperson of the Inclusion Selkirk Board.
At the same announcement event, the design for the building was explained to those in attendance. It will contain a café on the main floor that will be connected to Wishme which will be available to rent out to host community events. The second floor will host offices for the Inclusion Selkirk staff as well as a large accessible meeting space which again will be available for the larger community to rent. The third and fourth floors will have eight accessible suites. Finally, there will be a rooftop garden space for use by residents and available for events.
Maria Freeman, Inclusion Selkirk’s executive director, suggested events like a rooftop jazz night where musicians played and attendees enjoyed the view of the new Eveline streetscape as well as the Red River could be on the menu.
Inclusion Selkirk is an organization that walks alongside individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families to create an inclusive community.
At the meeting, Freeman explained a little bit more about the organization and how this building would add to the work they are doing in our community.
“We are a large diverse group of people. We work with people from all over the Interlake area, and we’re a large employer with over 125 staff,” she said.
She then explained how as one of the largest non-profits in our region they are mainly funded by the Department of Family Services through the Province of Manitoba.
“Our funding does not cover capital projects. But if you’ve been around Selkirk and Inclusion Selkirk for long enough, you’ll know that we usually figure out a way to make things happen,” said Freeman.
She attributes this success to a community that stands behind the work that they do.
“So, we like to make things happen in our community, by being active in our community. Building an inclusive community means that we need to look at the goal of an inclusive community. We know that the foundation of building an inclusive community is relationships and belonging. Some of our services are invisible to the larger community, there is no signage on our homes, no signs on our vans telling you who we are, and staff do not wear identifying uniforms. We are in the community working alongside people, building relationships and connections,” she explained.
This project is just that an inclusive space that will serve the community at large as well.
This announcement is actually phase two of the project as the renovations and improvements to the Wishme building were phase one.
In honour of the generous donation made by the Gaynor Family, the building will be named the Gaynor Family Inclusive Centre.
Jim Gaynor came to the front to explain why they wanted to make such a generous donation after being the owners of the grocery store that was where the Co-op is now.
“One of the reasons we’re here this evening is thinking back to the warmth that we received and the support our business enjoyed over all those 24 years. I think it’s reasonable and indeed the correct thing to do to come back to the community and see what we can do to assist in creating a better community, not that Selkirk isn’t gorgeous already,” said Gaynor.
There was also a second donation made by the family of Terry Gunter. To learn more about their generosity stay tuned as that story will be in a future edition.
