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VIDEO: A sneak peek into the new Adult Enrichment Centre

The centre specializes in behavioural treatment plans and one-on-one and group day programs for young adults with developmental disabilities

When Joanne Bouchard decided to expand her centres for young adults who have a developmental disability to the Sault, she didn’t have to look far for one of her first employees.

Bouchard is the founding director of two Adult Enrichment Centre locations in Sudbury and is preparing to open the doors to her 244 Second Line location this Monday in a building which formerly housed a daycare centre.

The Sault Centre will initially support five workers, but using her experience with the Sudbury Centres Bouchard said that number could grow up to 12 employees.

Bouchard also believes in developing students seeking to break into the developmental service industry through co-op placements.

“I am a firm believer of it. I have already hired three students from the Cambrian College program. We get to mould them,” said Bouchard.

One of Bouchard’s former co-op students from Cambrian College’s Developmental Service Worker (DSW) will be amongst the first employed at the Sault centre.

With no DSW program offered in the Sault, Kelsey Jensen moved to Sudbury to take the two-year program.

Her final co-op placement landed her at one of Bouchard’s centres in Sudbury.

“I just loved what they were doing there and really wanted to do my placement with them,” said Jensen.

During one of her workplace evaluations, Jensen was surprised to hear of Bouchard’s expansion plans.

“She was just mentioning to me they were expanding and moving to the Sault and I was like, ‘I’m from Sault Ste. Marie,’” exclaimed Jensen.

With a large open space and enough property to build a garden, Bouchard said they were lucky to find such an ideal location.

"For our day program service [this] is just wonderful,” said Bouchard.

The first Adult Enrichment Centre location opened its doors in 2014 when Bouchard identified a need for the service in northern Ontario.

“What we came up with is that there are a lot of individuals who are on a wait list for day program services,” said Bouchard.

The centres specialize in behavioural treatment plans and one-on-one and group day programs for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Programs are individualized, and can include sports and recreation, academics, computer skills, arts and crafts as well as cooking cleaning and personal hygiene, among others.

Opening Monday with a handful of clients, Bouchard encourages those interested in the service to make an appointment to view the operation once it is open.

With her graduation in June, Jensen is facing a job in her selected field straight out of school.

“Kelsey has proven she will be a good asset to our team and our clients are going to be lucky to have her as a DSW here in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Bouchard.

The work is challenging, said Jensen, but worth it when she sees the progress made by the clients.

“I know this is the field for me. I love coming to work every day,” said Jensen.


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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