EATING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Grand Re-opening Celebration of “Lunch on Clements”
Duncan, BC – March 2nd 2012 – Friday afternoon brought together a veritable who’s who of the Cowichan Valley for the Grand Re-opening of Lunch On Clements in Duncan. Mayor John Lefebure had the honour of cutting the ribbon while MP Jean Crowder and MLA Bill Routley showed their support by sending their representatives, Alistair MacGregor and Debra Toporowski. President Al Crisp and Executive Director Carol Stenberg from the United Way joined in the celebrations as well. “I really appreciate this facility. North Cowichan has had a long relationship with it over the years and this program is incredible for our community,” commented Mayor Lefebure.
First opened in 1984, Lunch on Clements is, undeniably, a unique dining establishment for lunch in the Duncan area. Meals are prepared with pride and enthusiasm, ingredients are purchased locally, and the folks in the kitchen whip up a new daily special for their patrons. What makes Lunch on Clements so special though, is the kitchen staff. They are all participants in the Clements Centre Society’s vocational training program for disabled adults.
After closing in 2010, Lunch On Clements is back by popular demand. “For the past year or two, whenever people dropped by the Centre, they would ask about Lunch on Clements“, recalls Doug Orr, Executive Director of the Clements Centre Society. “So now that we have the folks in place who are capable of sustaining the lunch operations, we thought the time was right to re-open Lunch on Clements. “ Trainees in the program receive hands-on support in developing vocational skills including cashier training, janitorial skills, customer service and, of course, food preparation in a well-appointed , VIHA registered Food Safe kitchen.
“It’s a great place and it really helped me over the years to make friends and cook really good meals. It has been good for my life skills at home and in the community,” says Laura Clement, a participant in the program. “Our trainees get so much out of this program,” adds Lisa Chileen, Day Program Coordinator, “and it is one of those win-win situations where the people in our programs are able to play a role in serving their community and in turn, the local community can enjoy a quality, home-style lunch for a very reasonable price.”
Within a stone’s throw of the new VIU campus and a short walk from the Islands Savings Centre and Cowichan Secondary, Lunch on Clements hopes to draw a crowd who might be interested in an alternative to the fast food lunch routine. They are encouraging potential patrons to “Eat Outside the Box” and give them a try before heading off for the regular burger and fries.
All lunches are less than $7 and are served from noon to 1pm weekdays. In addition to lunches, the kitchen provides catering and the dining facilities can be rented for private functions. For more information and menus, please visit the Clements Centre web site at www.clementscentre.org
November 27
Jess Horsing Around at the Autism Forum
DUNCAN - On November 17th, families and caregivers throughout the Cowichan Valley joined together for the first ever Autism Forum at the Clements Centre in Duncan. The forum was co-organized by the Clements Centre Society and the Ministry of Children & Family Development. Guests at the event were able to collect information from many local service providers, including support groups, therapists, educators, financial service providers and there were also presentations from the Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association as well as Island Kung Fu.
For many families who have a member diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum, there is often a feeling of solitude and a constant struggle to find out what can be done to support their journey through the experience of Autism. “It was great to see so many people take advantage of what was on offer at this forum”, commented Kate MacLeod, Behavioural Consultant with the Clements Centre and Co-organizer of the Forum. “This was an excellent opportunity to bring together the many families across the Cowichan Valley who are experiencing autism, so they could share their stories and to give them as much exposure as possible to all of the wonderful resources that are out there in our community.”
Ms. MacLeod feels that, judging by the number of people who attended the forum, the quality of the presentations throughout the evening, and the positive feedback the organizers received, this could become an annual event.
October 18, 2011
BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign
Nellie displays the 29 hats she knit for the BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign.
DUNCAN – Nellie Hyzeldoorn and Laura Clement from the Clements Community Living Services Program at the Clements Centre have spent the past two weeks knitting feverishly for the BC Purple Knitted Hats Campaign that is sweeping across the province.
The campaign is to help raise awareness about a program called the Period of Purple Crying, which was created to educate parents and caregivers about the normalcy and stages of crying in young infants, as well as the dangers of reacting to this crying in frustration.
Laura also knit some hats for the campaign!
The Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC program, at BC Children’s Hospital, hopes to collect over 2000 purple hats to be given to new parents in hospitals across BC, along with a booklet and DVD from the PURPLE program, during the week of November 22nd in celebration of National Child Day which is on November 20th.
As a child, Nellie learned the fine art of knitting from her grandmother. Now her fingers fly as she effortlessly crafts her 29th purple hat of the campaign. While some of the wool has been donated, Nellie has purchased much of the raw materials herself. She and Laura have produced a mound of hats that will be sent over to BC Children’s Hospital this week, in their fight to help extinguish the tragedy, heartbreak and loss of shaken baby syndrome.
