It was back slapping, handshakes and big smiles all around when Santa Claus (a.k.a. Devinder Shory – MP for Calgary Northeast) announced that the government of Canada was cutting a cheque for $240,000 to support Potential Place Society – a collaborative initiative to help people with disabilities to secure employment. Mr. Shory stated that the government is committed to helping those seeking to break free from the cycle of homelessness and poverty and that this investment was only a small segment of the $1.9 million the government has earmarked for helping the homeless in the next five years.

Shory stated that, "through this investment, 20 Canadians with mental health disabilities will gain the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market and to maximize their potential and independence."

The strategy is to provide essential job and life skills training, job matching, work experience and long-term support in order to integrate individuals into the workforce. "In this we believe that all Canadians will benefit and together we will make a difference," Shory said.

The three principle players that have pooled their resources for the past two years to see this project come to fruition are Potential Place, The Dream Center, and The Community Kitchen. Gord Young, director of Potential Place, admitted that they realized they were addressing mental illness with only limited success and they could not be effective alone. Young stated that, "we didn’t have all the pieces and needed the ‘big guns’ found in government funding. We also need to think like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who relied on both the one with the brains and the one with the big heart."

"We would like to thank the Government of Canada for its support of this innovative and collaborative project," said Gordon Young, Executive Director of Potential Place Society. "Moving Forward has the potential to become a model for helping those with mental illnesses to regain self-respect and renew their sense of hope through attaining meaningful work opportunities."

Potential Place offers innovative job supports for those with mental health disabilities. Pictured (L-R) Joe Kronstal, Director Citizens Services;
Gord Young, Potential Place; Marilyn Gunn, The Community Kitchen; Jim Moore, The Dream Center and Amanda Osborne, Project Manager.
- photo by Peter McManus

Marilyn Gunn, representing The Community Kitchen, in existence for 19 years, chimed in with a hearty amen as she echoed that collaboration was close to her heart and that they can now, "run with the dream and make it a success."

The real story though is the courage and frank openness found in Victor Szabo who suffers from dysthymia – a disorder he has lived with most of his life. He believes it stems from his birth as a twin where his sibling was stillborn and he wasn’t told that he was a twin until he was 20 years old. He had always sensed a feeling of detachment and this contributed to his bi-polar personality. "Psychiatry has to put you into a box but unfortunately there are variations on the symptoms," Szabo lamented.

Szabo continues by stating that, "the problem is not so much keeping a job but maintaining your health." In his case he felt responsible for raising his two children which put pressure on himself. The more he felt responsible the more the pressure mounted resulting in more depression – a vicious cycle that landed him in the hospital.

Szabo also disclosed that seeking employment or finding housing includes confession of a mental illness which limits your job prospects and usually puts you at the bottom of the list. It places a giant question mark over your capability to be a productive worker. These are stigmas that society needs to understand. Even during interviews you question yourself with self doubt. But people need to recognize that employment is what we need.

Fortunately, there are businesses like Canadian Natural Foods, Good Earth Café and Home Start that recognize the good that can be achieved by hiring those suffering with mental issues.

Potential Place Society will help us redefine our focus and most importantly give us support. Currently there are 20 people in the project that basically look after their own needs. It is not like the Drop In Center. We are responsible and we have staff guidance and help. Szabo closed by stating that this gives him hope. Hope in the New Year – what a wonderful life.