Forty years ago a compassionate group of people saw a gap in their community and decided to try and make life better for everyone. The Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services provincial non-profit society was formed in 1972, with the ambition to provide homemaker services to community members. From their humble beginnings of a single service, the society has grown to include over 20 programs and services designed to help make life better for the residents of the Slocan, Trout and Arrow Lake areas.
June 20th marked the 40th anniversary of the ASLCS, which Tim Payne, the executive director, acknowledges as a significant milestone. The society hosts an annual appreciation, but in light of the anniversary the societies staff decided to do something special right on the front lawn of the service building.
“We wanted to give something back to the community” Payne smiles, “and get in touch with some of the staff and directors who started all of this.”
Mayor Karen Hamling kicked off the festivities by thanking all of the hard working members of the society who “obviously care so much about their community.” Hamling also spoke about her days working at the Nakusp hospital and praised the ASLCS inceptive homecare service for playing a part in the noted drop in admissions.
After Hamling’s address, Payne enthusiastically invited the hungry crowd to indulge in a free lunch of hot dogs and burgers prepared by the Nakusp Rotary Club. As community members enjoyed their food Winlaw resident Allan Pusey entertained with his sultry acoustic guitar set and the kids took advantage of the colourful array of activities.
“The seniors, kids, music, demonstrations – this party has something for all ends of the spectrum, just like the society” Payne comments amid the hustle and bustle.
The ASLCS also took advantage of the celebration to showcase two new additions to the society – a new bus and a proposed portable shredding service.
The sharp looking – bus, parked proudly in front of the service building, will continue the society’s regional transportation service which provides mobility to the general public. The shredding service will be available to businesses and residents who require a confidential shredding service. A business class paper shredder and trailer have been acquired under the umbrella of the ASLCS, and shredding jobs will be completed by local special needs adults along with their job coaches.
