Grace Haven opens new home

News — 18 August 2010

Grace Haven has put down some roots in their new home on Cecil Avenue in Dryden.

Finding themselves in a crunch for time, the group contacted the church communities after many unsuccessful attempts at a new location. The Lutheran church came back with full support, and offered Grace Haven it’s new home.

The Schmidt family who owned the former home of Grace Haven, as well as Lutheran church members, helped develop the program in the beginning.

“We actually came full circle again to the people who helped us begin,” says Carmelle Noiseux, Manager of Grace Haven Community Care Centre.

With the new location, the room is dedicated to the organization, with large windows looking out into the field to give the clients a feeling of being in the country.

Grace Haven has access to the entire facility when not in use by the church, including a large kitchen and dining area, as well as a gym in the lower level. The church houses very long and wide hallways, which enables better access to wheelchair clients, as well as providing a warm environment to do a walking program in the winter months.

Some clients are feeling a little homesick of the former location on Schmidt Crescent with its homey feel and flower gardens, but over all, they have adjusted quite well to their new surroundings.

With a circular driveway, large parking lot and multiple washrooms, the Lutheran Church is feeling like the perfect place for Grace Haven to call home.

“It’s been wonderful so far, the church has been very accepting of us, and we feel pretty welcome there,” says Noiseux. “The church had a camp a couple of weeks ago, and it was a nice atmosphere because we could go into their chapel and listen to the kids sing or do their show and be part of what was going on there.”

By Ally Dunham

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