Garth Homer will be closing the doors on its Darwin Street centre to open new chapter at SJ Willis School
29 September 2025
Kevin Steeple, Garth Homer Society’s (GHS) Executive Director, Client Services has been spending a lot of mornings in reflection lately. One of GHS’ longest serving employees, he’s starting to pack up the office he’s had at GHS’ Darwin Street location for the past 24 years. “It’s a big change, not just for us, but for the surrounding community as well,” he says, “This building's been here a long time and our folks have become a part of the neighbourhood whether through paper routes or just heading to the bus throughout the week. Our move is going to be pretty noticeable.”
By mid-to late October around 200 clients and staff will be calling SJ Willis School their ‘home away from home’ for the next several years so that construction of a new Garth Homer Centre for Belonging can start as part of the Nigel Valley re-development project in Saanich. GHS is a unique partner in the development project as it’s the only organization building a multi-use building with public amenities, and doing so on the parcel of land that it currently occupies.
It's why the move is necessary and the reason behind SJ Willis School’s selection. Built in the 1950’s as a high school, the building had the space necessary to accommodate modifications to washrooms, a parking lot for GHS’s fleet of 20-plus vehicles and fully fenced green spaces for clients to enjoy. GHS will occupy almost the entirety of the school’s first floor (around 32 thousand square feet) except for the gym. Aside from the abundance of space Steeple says what is key about the SJ Willis location is that it provides community integration, something the new Garth Homer Centre for Belonging will feature as well, “Because it's a shared space there are events that happen there during the day, like Community Living BC, Garth Homer, and Kardel have a floor hockey drop-in program and there are big meetings hosted at the site. The rhythm and hum of the rest of the school’s activities offer community inclusivity for GHS clients.”
To make the move as seamless as possible for clients and their caregivers, Steeple says ongoing communication with those affected has been occurring for months. Care has been taken to ask affected families and caregivers what they would like to see their family member to be able to transition successfully and documented that feedback. “We know moving can be one of the biggest stressors in life, so we’ve provided tours of the new location to anyone who has asked, worked directly with HandyDART to do all the rerouting to SJ Willis, are planning an open house and maintain an open-door policy when it comes to questions and concerns.” He acknowledges that one of the issues GHS is being proactive in addressing is the unhoused population that frequents the Blanshard/Topaz Park area. “We're working with the school district, Commissioners and our facilities team to get people to understand that the space is not the right place to congregate,” Steeple explains. “The conversations have been respectful and we’re seeing less and less loitering on the property.”
Having a supportive partner in School District 61 has helped make the leasing of, and move to, SJ Willis particularly smooth according to Steeple. “They’ve been fantastic. We gave them a tour of our current building, they saw what we do, who we are, and who we support, and they saw how our model is the perfect fit for a school setting,” he explains. “They saw what we at Garth Homer know. The folks we support are such wonderful people. They give you a whole new perspective on life that you simply can’t ignore. I think the school district is equally excited to have us at SJ Willis as we are.”
With the final count down to move-in just weeks away Garth Homer staff are not just focused on their future at SJ Willis but also on honouring the Darwin Street building that will be demolished. Farewell ideas include inviting GHS alumni back, inviting artists to use the building as a canvas and hosting a laser tag game in the auditorium and throughout parts of the building. “Darwin Street has always been a place of a lot of fun, memories and growth,” reflects Steeple. “I’ve had the luxury of observing and being part of some of that growth that has been fairly significant since when I first got here. The trajectory we’re on now is pretty amazing and yeah, the future is pretty bright.”
Seeing the pure excitement and joy that sailing brings to people of all abilities is what floats Brooke Jangula’s boat. As the sailing school manager for the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club she’s on a mission to make sure sailing is accessible to the disability community. “Anyone can go sailing but it often goes unnoticed in the disabled community,” she notes. “Wheelchair basketball, and hockey are sports that are recognized as being accessible but sailing goes under the radar as a viable choice for people with varied abilities and needs.” Garth Homer Society’s Crystal Mackenzie agrees. The coordinator of this new program for the Discovery team says her goal is to find activities that in her words, “ Help clients live their best life. We look for outings that work on their skills and abilities, teach them new things and build excitement so that they want to come to the program every day.” The chance to sail was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up plus it came with a ringing endorsement from a longtime Discovery participant. “It was actually a client who’d been out on the water pre-COVID who remembered the experience, and loved it so much, that further prompted me to reach out to Able Sail Victoria to see what could be arranged.” The group provides accessible sailing opportunities for children and adults living with disabilities in Victoria through “experience sails”. Sailors can take in the scenery, watch for wildlife and enjoy time on the water, while specially trained staff control the sailboat. They are welcome to learn about sailing or just enjoy the ride. “We had eleven clients sign-up and ran two one-hour sails,” explains Mackenzie who said a few caregivers also participated, in part to ensure sailors with anxiety around new people were comforted by a familiar face alongside them in the sailboat; a Sonar that is bigger than other models, more stable and the perfect vessel for learning. Jangula, a sailing instructor with extra training geared to teaching disabled sailors rode alongside in a Zodiac safety boat. “We now have four instructors at the club who have completed Sail Canada’s “ Coaching Athletes with a Disability ” training which is a requirement for working with Able Sail sailors,” she explains. Considerations Jangula and her colleagues are mindful of include ensuring there are cushions onboard for those who might be susceptible to pressure sores, being aware of medication schedules especially during a long sail and even voice modulation to accommodate those who are hard of hearing or others who are startled by loud noises. “We can make all kinds of accommodations and are looking at installing a lift on our dock in the future for sailors in wheelchairs,” says Jangula. “Our goal is to get as many people on the water as possible and to spread awareness about the joys and sensations of sailing. I love sparking a light in a new sailor and the excitement that comes from feeling the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and the smell of the ocean.” For Mackenzie simply seeing the excitement on the faces of the Discovery sailors following their excursion made all the planning and coordination necessary to successfully pull off an activity that hadn’t been tried for years worth it. “Everybody loved it. They talked about it for weeks and weeks after, so it was a hit for sure. They want to do it again.”
The vibrant spirit of the Garth Homer Society's ArtWorks program is back again in the community, as our talented artists have contributed a beautifully painted piano to Oak Bay's popular "Arts Alive" program. This initiative brings music and art directly to public spaces, featuring pianos decorated by local artists for everyone to enjoy. The Garth Homer Society's involvement marks their first entry into this cherished municipal program. Dedicated artists from the ArtWorks program collaboratively transformed an 1896 piano, infusing it with an Art Nouveau style inspired by natural elements like botanicals and animals. This unique piece, described as a "Symphony of Us," showcases 17 distinct artistic approaches unified by a common palette and features hidden "easter egg" surprises from each artist. The community has the chance to see and hear this incredible work of art at various pop-up piano concerts across Oak Bay. These events provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the creativity and dedication of the Garth Homer Society artists firsthand. For the full story and more details about the free pop-up piano concert series in Oak Bay, you can visit the original Oak Bay News article here: Free pop-up piano concert coming to Oak Bay's Loon Bay Park
Pride Month celebrates the diversity of identities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities, both of whom fight for autonomy in love and life. Yet, disabled people often face assumptions that their romantic preferences don’t matter—whether it’s others infantilizing their desires, dismissing their attractions, or acting as if they should settle for any partnership. Pride Month reminds us that everyone, regardless of ability, deserves the right to love freely, without others imposing limits on their choices. Living with a disability can lead people to disregard personal boundaries in romance, as if disability negates the need for mutual attraction or respect. This mirrors the way LGBTQ+ relationships have been historically policed or invalidated. Pride Month challenges these harmful norms, affirming that everyone—disabled or queer—deserves agency over their love life, free from societal judgment or control. Both movements share the same core truth: no one’s feelings should be dismissed because of who they are. Ava – LGBTQ+ & Disability Intersectionality Focuses on the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people with disabilities, including healthcare discrimination, employment barriers, and mental health disparities. Shares stats and allyship strategies. Why it’s great: Centers intersectional voices with data-driven insights.
At the Garth Homer Society (GHS) the ancient practice of yoga is being combined with mindfulness themes in a Winnie the Pooh story by AA Milne to create greater connection between instructor Isabelle Desmarais and her students. “I use [the text] as a deep nugget to work with the different characters throughout practice,” explains Isabelle who guides up to eight GHS clients with developmental disabilities, once a week, to be in the moment while moving their bodies. “It’s about finding different ways to connect, so I use Pooh and his love of honey as a metaphor for finding the sweetness in one’s practice.” Desmarais’ love of yoga and its transformative powers started at age 15 and only keeps growing through working with a niche of clients who don’t have the same kind of access to yoga that others do. She’s been guiding GHS clients through their downward dog, child’s pose and forward folds since March, in a hybrid chair and mat format, and teaches at other non-profits like the Victoria Brain Injury Society and Our Place as well. Her own neurodivergence is what motivates her to offer a softness in practice not usually offered at more traditional yoga studios. Inviting students to communicate their needs enables the class to become a curated experience rather than one that moves through a set routine. “I like to stop or pause to ask how a pose felt and to encourage the class to let their bodies, and what feels right, lead the way,” explains Desmarais. As an example, a recent class focused on rocking, a movement Desmarais describes as soothing for all bodies but an especially natural motion for students with down syndrome or autism. She also offers techniques that ground the parasympathetic – or rest and digest- parts of the body. It’s a strategy that’s particularly effective for her Garth Homer yoga enthusiasts who she describes as the most diverse groups she has ever taught in terms of personalities and needs. “It's so beautifully challenging and very humbling as a teacher. I learn so much more, I think, from the support workers as well, about how to connect with these beautiful people,” Desmarais explains. Communication is also key as some students are non-verbal. Questions aimed at getting a yes or no answer, pointing to body parts and meeting each individual where they’re at help guide every practice. The power of choice also grounds her approach. “Not everyone has the luxury of choice in their day-to-day life and so in this space, they have the opportunity to choose what feels good”. It’s an approach that has led to a dance party at the end of class rather than the traditional shavasana that typically concludes practice. “Maintaining stillness can be challenging for the group but I’m already getting great feedback from caregivers who say yoga has helped with the ability to self-calm and sit still,” adding the studio is a place where students can practice and incrementally build up their ability to be in stillness. Desmarais is quick to point out however that working with GHS clients isn’t just about giving the power, benefits and healing properties of yoga to her students. She emphasizes that she receives much more in return commending everyone’s unapologetic way of showing up to each class. “It’s all pure honesty in that room, there are no masks or competition. Everyone is showing up as authentically themselves and I think that’s the true power of yoga.”
If you’re looking to soak up the sounds of summer, tickle the ivories, enjoy some art or all three at the same time then Oak Bay is the place to be from July through early September this year. It’s where you’ll find Garth Homer’s painted piano, and ArtWorks’ artists first ever entry in the municipality’s Arts Alive program. The popular Arts Alive pianos are painted by local artists and located in select outdoor locations around Oak Bay for the public to play from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Special pop-up performances by pianists are also in the planning stages. Times and locations will be posted at: Oakbay.ca/events “This year we have three new pianos being featured,” explains Andrea Pass, Oak Bay’s arts and culture programmer, who jumped at the opportunity to include Garth Homer artists in the program which began in 2014. “They truly embody a collective of community artists which is true to former Oak Bay Arts Laureate Barbara Adam’s (who started Arts Alive) vision of making Oak Bay a destination for arts and culture.” For the 17 Garth Homer artists, work on the piano began in April, when it was professionally moved into the back of the ArtWorks Government Street studio. Examining the piano’s form, playing the keys, exploring the inner workings, and just engaging with its physical presence in the studio was the first step in the creative process according to ArtWork’s studio and gallery coordinator Alison Duerden. Finding the date of 1896 stamped inside the piano then launched the research, brainstorming and collaboration among artists that determined the style in which the piano is being painted. “Art nouveau was the big movement of that time and matched a lot of what our clients voiced in terms of their ideas for the piano. A lot of their visions embraced natural elements, so botanicals and animals. It's a very flowy movement with natural lines and hardly any straight ones,” explains Duerden. The piano’s front panel is dominated by a large flower inspired by William Morris, a British textile designer who used flowers as his source of inspiration for wallpaper and tapestries. Surrounding that centrepiece is an owl, birds in flight, a cat, peacock, imaginary animals and sunflowers. “This is the first truly collaborative work our artists have done,” enthuses Duerden. “When you look at the piece, you’ll see 17 distinct approaches and brushstrokes united by a common art nouveau style and palette of dark green and different hues of turquoise.” Duerden adds there’s another special feature of the Garth Homer piano that’s as unique as the artists who have spent upwards of 500 hours on the project. “Each artist has hidden a little ‘easter egg’ surprise somewhere in their design that speaks to who they are as a person,” teases Duerden. “If you find a tiny cupcake hiding somewhere discreet then you’ll know for sure it’s our piano.” Taking great pride and contributing something, that is lasting or enduring to the neighbourhood is what she says has driven the artists from day one. “It represents more than just a painted piano. I think it serves as a reflection of the community and the individuals, like our artists, who make it unique,” says Duerden.
It’s high school graduation season and for four Oak Bay High grads their transition to adulthood is being helped, and shaped, by a one-of-a-kind job readiness and work experience program called Future Forge. Specially designed for graduating students with diverse abilities, it provides eight weeks of instruction with Garth Homer Society’s Lifestreams’ ( Lifestreams Learning ) vocational counsellors to build participant’s skills in areas like resume building, job search strategies, interview practice and professional letter writing. Helping the students recognize their individual strengths, and teaching them about worker’s rights, responsibilities and workplace safety, are also covered to help with career exploration. And while career planning in high school isn’t a new concept, what is different about Future Forge is its emphasis on hands-on training in the community and using Garth Homer’s established network of employers to help graduates find jobs. “The idea is to empower individuals for independence,” explains Adrian Benedek. “The goal is to shift thinking from what now? to I can contribute to my own support ”. Gaining some independence post high school is particularly important for young people with diverse abilities who receive funding supports through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) until they turn nineteen. When adult support services are needed, there is a new application process, and the transition is not always a smooth one. “It can sometimes take a person a few years to access funding, and unfortunately not everyone qualifies,” he says. It's why Future Forge targets students while still in school. “We can make a huge difference for young people by helping them find purpose and a means to contributing to their independence rather than waiting until adult identities have been shaped,” explains Benedek. Oak Bay High’s student inclusion department head Tessa Kubicek agrees, “The program is an incredible opportunity to bridge the transition from high school to adulthood by immersing students in their local community as they build towards their employment aspirations.” The Future Forge program is funded by GHS and donors ( Garth Homer Foundation & Garth Homer Society | Garth Homer Foundation ) and community partners with a contribution of $1,000 from Oak Bay High. What started as a pilot in 2024 has now produced two semesters of successful participants. Jamie Turner is one of them. After graduation he hopes to work in the food service industry and has already honed his kitchen prep skills at a Saanichton area restaurant. Work placements arranged by Future Forge gave him further exposure to customer service and commercial baking through the Royal BC Museum, 4-Cats Art Studio and Save On Foods.
Since February 2024, Ryan has been building his career at Country Grocer Royal Oak with the support of Garth Homer Society’s Employment Services program. He works in the Produce department and also supports the Garden Centre during the spring and summer months, and has found a welcoming, inclusive workplace that matches his career goals. “I feel confident that there is help from Employment Services when I need it [especially] if there are any changes at work. I know I have employment support in my back pocket.” Ryan says the positive environment at Country Grocer, along with the people he works with, make all the difference.“Shaun is approachable and really cares… he encourages his employees to reach their full potential at work. I feel appreciated… and I enjoy working with such a nice team.” For Country Grocer’s general manager Shaun Erdei, working with Garth Homer Society reflects a shared commitment to creating an inclusive workplace that focuses on kindness and respect. “From the initial contact and interview through the first shifts, with hands-on support in the training process, everything has gone as well as can be expected. Beyond that, there have been several check-ins with our employee and [GHS] has kept in contact with me as well to ensure things are continuing to work out.” It’s gone so well that Ryan has branched out from his initial position in the Produce department to also helping out in the Garden Centre during the store’s busiest season. This move reflects both his versatility and attention to detail. After quickly absorbing his training, Ryan became self-sufficient in his role and was soon trusted with tasks that require a careful eye — the kind that can be easy to overlook but make a big difference to the team. His contributions have been appreciated across departments. “Ryan’s versatility coupled with excellent attendance, adherence to company policies and strong work ethic have made him a value to the team,” says Erdei adding that his experience with GHS’ Employment Services program has not only been positive but everything an employer would hope for. At Employment Services, we’re grateful for our ongoing connection with Country Grocer Royal Oak as an employment collaborator and for their continued commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. For more information about Garth Homer’s Employment Services program, contact: Angela McKinnon, Employment Services Supervisor: AMcKinnon@GarthHomerSociety.org
For 36 years the Times Colonist 10K run has attracted running, walking and community enthusiasts to take to the streets in celebration of connection while raising money for charity. This year, the Garth Homer Society (GHS) will be out in force; the embodiment of the run’s 2025 theme - ‘Where Everyone is Welcome’. The team, the Garth Homer Gazelles, is 16 participants strong and will be easy spot, wearing custom white and black trimmed pinnies featuring a hand-drawn gazelle logo created by one of the organization’s Art Works ( Artworks ) program artists. It’s the first time GHS has fielded a team of staff, families, and most importantly, clients who will be cheered on from a tent set up 30 yards from the starting line. Participation in this year’s event was an easy sell for 53-year-old Martin who will be assisted in his wheelchair during the 1.5 K run/walk by his caregiver and cheered on by his family. A resident of GHS’ Heron House ( Residential ), Martin is a community booster who participates in a number of James Bay and Victoria area events like the Pride parade and Canada Day festivities. A brain injury survivor from the age of 17 years old, Martin is blind and non-verbal but also very competitive says Heron House’s Manager of Residential Services, Selena Bewsky who has known Martin for three years. “When I told him it was going to be a race and asked who’s going be number one, he right away started hollering and sticking his finger up in the air like number one because Martin likes to win.” Receiving an official race number, t-shirt and noise makers sealed the deal for Martin who thrives in community. “Martin doesn’t like his disabilities to get in the way of him being able to be out", explains Bewsky. “He’s not one to sort of hunker in if you will.” Its why you’ll find him at the park, enjoying the grounds at the Legislature, taking in the sea air along Dallas Road or on his customized bike. It’s all about quality of life says Bewsky, “He goes out on the regular, he goes to music therapy on the regular, adaptive language classes on the regular and has taken a turn on stage as part of a theatre group.” Bewsky believes Martin’s enthusiasm stems from being an inherently social person and wanting to be included, adding because he was injured as a teenager, he might have memories of when he was of able body. While she’s careful about making assumptions about Martin she says his behaviours and means of communication through adaptive communication are telling, “He knows things that maybe others who were born with the developmental disability might not. He remembers having a girlfriend and driving a truck. I think that probably motivates his wanting to be involved because he remembers the time when he fully could, and perhaps still sees himself that way.” This year, Martin and the Garth Homer Gazelles are raising money for Help Fill a Dream ( Help Fill a Dream Foundation – Make the impossible possible ) and Threshold Housing Society ( Homepage - Threshold Housing ). Both organizations speak to GHS’ values and how Martin lives his life in creating, and being a part of, a world where everyone: has the right to participate fully in the community, deserves to feel valued for who they are, gets to make informed choices about what happens in their life, has the right to services tailored to their goals and has something to contribute to the community.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC ( Alzheimer Society of British Columbi a ), it’s estimated there are 85,000people living with the disease in the province. For people with intellectual disabilities, the diagnosis often comes earlier in life than for the general population. And for those with Down Syndrome, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease , one of the most common forms of dementia, is about three to five times greater than in the general population. Caring for those with dementia is a large part of what staff at the Garth Homer Society’s Pathways program do each and everyday. “Dementia is unfortunately a big part of our program,” says certified dementia caregiver Roslyn Wagstaff. She recently completed three months of specialized training and is now sharing her learnings with fellow caregivers. “It’s a progressive brain disease and not something [our clients] can help or will get better,” explains Wagstaff. “For some people it will progress quickly; for others …more slowly.” Wagstaff has been with Pathways since 2011 and was attracted to the program by her love of working with the elderly. Designed for older age clients with higher communication, behavioural or complex needs, Pathways adopts a “go with the flow” approach to programming. On average, Wagstaff and her colleagues care for six to eight clients with dementia attending the program. “Every day is a new day,” she says. “Actually, every hour is a new hour – you have to be flexible.” One of the greatest takeaways from her training was delving into the seven As of dementia: Anosognosia (loss of insight), Amnesia (loss of memory), Aphasia (loss of language), Agnosia (loss of recognition), Apraxia (loss of purposeful movement), Altered Perception and Apathy. “Everyone’s journey with dementia is different,” adds Wagstaff, noting one of her clients has recently started “sundowning” which refers to a state of confusion that occurs in the late afternoon and lasts into the night. “She gets picked up at 1pm but continues coming in the morning as getting into the care to come to the centre means she’s not sitting at home.” “She still has friends here. The feelings are there, even if she doesn’t remember people’s names.” The goal of Pathways is keeping clients coming to the centre for as long as possible. Maintaining cognitive skills is key. For many, that means playing games or listening to music on an iPad. One Pathways participant copies numbers off the stock exchange onto paper which encourages the fine motor movements necessary to write. Other activities like Gameshow Tuesday are designed to reach down into memories that are still there for clients. Patience, kindness and a good sense of humour are all qualities Wagstaff say are needed in large doses, not only for a certified dementia caregiver like herself but for those who care for her clients when they’re away from Pathways. She also stresses self-care, perspective and gratitude as tools caregivers should use for themselves. For Wagstaff, that means taking her dog for a walk after work. It’s time to herself that’s precious as when away from Pathways. Wagstaff helps support her mother-in-law who has dementia. “I get through by remembering the person she used to be and being thankful for the time we have together.”
“If these walls could talk” is the perfect idiomatic expression* to describe Garth Homer Society’s (GHS) new, temporary location that the Society is set to move into Mid-2025. Built in 1950, SJ Willis School at 923 Topaz Avenue has served as a junior high, high school, and continuing education centre for new Canadians and mature students. Its most recent large group of tenants were 800 students from Victoria High School who temporarily relocated to the space while their school (the oldest in the city) was seismically upgraded. Garth Homer’s need to relocate is similar to Vic High’s as plans to open a new Centre for Belonging at its current Nigel Valley location are Underway. “We have been searching for a relocation space for a long time,” says Geoffrey Ewert, Garth Homer’s CEO. “Many people told us it would be impossible to find a suitable space and we’re so grateful for a strong relationship with School District 61.” Recognizing that moving is one of the top stressors in life (preceded only by divorce and the death of a loved one) as anxiety can sometimes be triggered by having to adapt to a new environment**, Ewert says the move will be gradual and well planned for the 97 clients who are relocating. “An email communication has gone out to our community,” explains Ewert, adding that affected team coordinators have started planning, while all staff were notified in December 2024. In February, GHS management and team coordinators started taking trips to SJ Willis for on-site discussions related to logistics and required renovations. Ewert notes that care is being taken to ensure transition plans are customized for each program that will make the move. GHS clients will benefit from having extra program space at SJ Willis (31,800 sq. ft) compared to 24,000 sq. ft at the current GHS Centre site, plus access to a full-size gymnasium and commercial kitchen to accommodate programming and activities that currently run in the kitchen and auditorium at the current Darwin Street Location. “SJ Willis is a great fit for our needs because it is not situated on a busy road and the location is close to the current GHS Centre which mitigates any potential negative impact on transportation for clients,” adds Ewert. The former school also has ample parking with space for the GHS fleet and is large enough to accommodate the size of GHS’ operations. * an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up ** Cohen, S., Murphy, M. L. M., & Prather, A. A. (2019). Ten Surprising Facts About Stressful Life Events and Disease Risk. Annual review of psychology, 70, 577–597.
