MOOSE JAW — One local employer has been recognized for its ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and employment opportunities for residents of varying abilities, and now staff at the Kinsmen Café are getting ready to prominently display the award at the restaurant.
The award was officially received recently at Moose Jaw’s city hall and staff got together to share their thoughts on Oct. 8.
“The Kinsmen Café won the Creating Opportunities in the Community award,” announced Mariah Horsnall, a program co-ordinator with Moose Jaw Families for Change who runs the café.
“That really aligns with what we do here, as our goal for the café is to provide meaningful employment and opportunities to individuals living with varying abilities,” she said.
The Kinsmen Café is run by Moose Jaw Families for Change Inc. which was officially formed in January 2000. Today, Families for Change manages the café as well as the Kinsmen Inclusion Centre, the Supported Independent Living Program (SILP), and the Imagine Employment Program.
“The Kinsmen Café provides job coaching and job readiness skills for people with varying abilities, (and) they ensure that anybody that does come in the doors… feels welcomed and supported…,” Horsnall explained.
Horsnall said she first learned of the award when representatives of the city phoned her to declare the nomination.
“I think it took us all by shock,” she admitted. “I was very excited for all the staff here because they work very hard and they deserve that award and recognition form the community.”
After learning that they had won the award, the café’s staff went to city hall where Mayor Clive Tolley and members of city council presented them with it.
“We’re going to hang it up on the wall, but I think just the community awareness of what we do here was nice,” said Horsnall.
At the same time, full-time employee Chad Neal was presented a second award — the Advocacy Award — in recognition for going above and beyond with both customers and in coaching the café’s participants.
Neal started work at the Kinsmen Café through the Families for Change employment program, as has been the story for many who now work at the restaurant. “He goes above and beyond with the customers (to) create that welcoming environment,” Horsnall said. “He (also) goes above and beyond with job coaching our participants.”
When asked where the award was displayed in the café, Neal said you won’t find it in there. “No, it’s actually in my room on my wall. I’m very proud of it.”
The ongoing work at the Kinsmen Café helps individuals break down barriers to meaningful employment. One of the café’s servers, Janine MacFarland, was diagnosed with spina bifida and would normally have great difficulty in the role as she is confined to a wheelchair.
To overcome this, her coworkers help push her wheelchair when she’s serving tables and the café’s maintenance worker crafted a customized serving tray to facilitate her job duties.
“(My coworkers) help push my wheelchair while I’m carrying stuff, say coffee or whatever…,” MacFarland said. “We’re all about breaking down the barriers.”
One of MacFarland’s coworkers, Jillian Murray, is a part-time server at the café.
“I really like working here… because it’s very inclusive (and) my previous job was not that way,” Murray said. “It’s very inclusive and, for the most part, the customers are very understanding. I think that, at a lot of other places, they would not be.”
The Kinsmen Café’s Imagine Employment Program currently employs 19 individuals and allows them to gain job readiness skills, job coaching, and these residents learn how to cook, clean, and to utilize those skills in their daily lives.
“Our meals might take a little bit longer to get out because we’re in the back teaching somebody that maybe has never cooked before how to cook, so they can take that skill and maybe gain employment in the community…,” Horsnall said.
“I just want to mention that the award is a great tribute to the Kinsmen Café’s staff’s hard work and dedication — not only to our participants in the employment program, but to our community and partners as well.”
The Kinsmen Café is located at 431 Fourth Avenue Southwest and can be reached at 306-690-1484. For more information visit MJFFC.com/Kinsmen-Cafe or MJFFC.com.
