Our New Elevator
New Elevator = Increased Independence and Freedom
November 12, 2015 – Chester, NS – Bonny Lea Farm celebrates the independence and freedom their new elevator has provided for wheelchair users and others within their organization with limited mobility.
“The new elevator demonstrates the commitment of Bonny Lea Farm and our supporters to independence and freedom,” commented David Outhouse, Managing Director of Bonny Lea Farm. “We also recognize that this project would not have been possible without the generous contributions of many people and organizations.”
Of the 45 participants at Bonny Lea Farm on any given day, five are wheelchair users. The old elevator was slow and cumbersome, requiring wheelchair users to have someone help them get the door open to get in and meet them on the other level to open the door for them to get out when going to their vocational programs in the morning or heading upstairs for lunch. The new elevator is not only faster and much easier to use, it can also accommodate a wheel chair user and one additional person.
“The elevator is great. I can use it by myself and it helps me get from place to place faster,” explains Valerie Roode, one of the people who uses the elevator a number of times every day.
The project, which began in early 2013, literally had to go through the roof to gain an additional three inches required to accommodate the new lift before being completed in August 2015. In addition to increasing the time required for the completion of the project it also meant that the organization had to find additional support to fund the rising costs. The project reached $120,000.
The organization is grateful to its original project donors and others who joined in to see the elevator project reach its goal. Donations were made in memory of Florence Bambury of Bridgewater and Audrey and Harold Clarke of Halifax, as well as from Fred Houghton; the Chester Basin, New Ross and Chester Lions Club; Bridgewater Lions Club; Edwards Family Foundation and The Windsor Foundation. Participants, families, volunteers and staff also raised funds towards the project through their participation in the Bluenose Marathon.
A unique charitable organization founded in 1973, Bonny Lea Farm is located on 80 acres in Chester, and provides residential and specialized programs and services for adults living with various disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments and other neurological and genetic disorders.
Bonny Lea Farm serves 45 adults from across Nova Scotia and beyond, in its residential and day programs and employs 70 full and part-time staff. Individual programs are tailored to individual abilities, needs and goals. Through the Centre for Independent Living participants develop life-skills and receive care and support in our 8 homes. The Day Program offers Vocational, Transition, Alternative and Seniors’ programs. While the Greater Achievement Centre provides individualized approaches to Physical & Speech therapies; individual and group counselling; Special Olympics and physical activities and community outreach, work and volunteer placements.
Bonny Lea Farm is funded through government grants, private foundations and continuous fundraising.
To download a copy of the press release please click here: Elevator-PR-Nov2015
