Agur Lake Camp Society (new window) recently opened an office in downtown Summerland (new window). The camp is located 20 km west of Summerland (new window) and offers barrier free wilderness camping for children and adults with special needs and their families. The Society was recently provided with a wage subsidy to enable them to hire an office manager; a critical position for the survival of the camp.

Agur Lake Camp Society is heavily run by volunteers, so obtaining funding for a paid position is challenging. Fortunately Mindy Rollins, Job Developer at the Neil Squire Society, heard of Agur Lake Camp’s (new window) need for assistance, and offered them the opportunity to participate in the Neil Squire Society’s (new window) wage subsidy program called Working Together. Neil Squire Society (new window), whose partner office is in Penticton (new window), strives to eliminate barriers to those with disabilities in the work force by providing employers with a wage subsidy, and assistive technology services. Mindy connected Agur Lake Camp Society (new window) with potential job candidate, Mirjana.

Mirjana was looking for meaningful employment. She has a visual impairment (new window) so is unable to work on the computer without the proper assistive technologies (new window). The Neil Squire Society (new window) provided Mirjana with the perfect opportunity to find employment because they offer assistive technology (new window) services and will set up a computer workstation to meet the needs of the individual. The wage subsidy program gave Mirjana the opportunity to find employment, as well as provided Agur Lake Camp Society (new window) with the right financial assistance to hire the perfect office manager.

Mirjana is not only excited to have a job, but she is delighted to be working at an organization that provides individuals with disabilities with the comfort and accessibility to explore and experience nature. Agur Lake Camp (new window) is pleased to have an employee who not only knows how to run an office, but who has firsthand experience of what it is like to have a disability. This dove-tailing of needs and skills makes for a perfect fit. “Mirjana is a breath of fresh air. It’s been 6 months of a lot of work for a few board members to carry the society. With Mirjana in the office and taking care of day to day administrative duties we are better able to focus on needs of the camp and opening in May. Thank you again for putting us together” says Carla from the Agur Lake Camp Society (new window).