Oak Bay Grads Forge Futures

Meghan celebrates two years working at Malahat Skywalk, with support from Garth Homer's Employment Services team.

By late October clients and staff will be calling SJ Willis School their ‘home away from home’ so construction of a new Garth Homer Centre for Belonging can start

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.

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.