Mackenzie Society that supports people with disabilities in Preeceville, Sturgis and Canora has announced the closure of one of their group homes in Preeceville. Group Home 3 in Preeceville that is home to 3 individuals with disabilities. I was Residential Supervisor there from 2014-2020. The group home was a beautiful home until various floods resulted in extensive mold damage. This was reported to management throughout the years- including having an emergency oh/s meeting - as the mold was causing health problems for staff as well as participants. A reputable company was brought in to test and provide recommendations. The oh/s committee was refused the report and the entire thing was brushed under the carpet. This was then reported to public health. Public health suggested it get cleaned up. The moldy contents - wallboard and insulation was then taken out of the basement, transported through the home (not sealed) and taken to the landfill. This resulted in multiple staff being sick due to the mold now being disturbed. This was how it was cleaned up. Unfortunately the mold on the joists remained, including the mold throughout the insulation. The issue was then met with resistance when health concerns were brought forward to management. As a supervisor, I took my job very seriously. I was responsible for the health and safety of staff as well as the clients but every time I brought this major concern forward, I was meant to feel like my concerns weren't valid, understood or taken seriously. Oh/s records will show exactly how many times this was reported to management - with no resolve. These reports were signed off by management - so pleading ignorance is not an option. As far as I know, the mold issue continues in that home. When first reported in 2018, if remedial action was taken - staff would have felt valued by providing a safe work environment, clients would be safe and not have to breath in mold, and I would've felt supported in putting staff and clients health first. ***Please note, the Ministry does yearly inspections of the group homes as well. Throughout the years, I personally pointed out the mold - only for it to be belittled and not even recognized. 

In 2020, I could no longer work for an agency that I didn't believe in. My health was suffering, my family life was affected. Morally I knew that this was wrong, and I tried every avenue to get staff and clients help. I must add throughout this time, I was also "investigated" by management on very serious allegations. Turns out, when you take a board member with you to the investigational meeting - the investigation was dropped and you receive an apology letter. It's common knowledge with staff that if you question anything, or voice concerns with management you will be targeted. Staff are the backbone of that agency. They are consistently brought in for investigational meetings, undervalued, and told if they dont pick up shifts, group homes will close. This again can be proved with written documentation that staff have received from management as of lat

As far as a supervisor position since I left - please not I left of my own free will and was not dismissed*** There was a supervisor that worked in group home 3 after I left that shared responsibility with another group home in Preeceville. So, stating group home 3 was without a supervisor since I left is not truthful. I personally know 2 internal applicants that worked in that home that have the skills and knowledge to be employed in that position. I've heard of others - however I personally do not know them.

Another thing to note - each group home is to have a supervisor. Throughout my years, the supervisors worked great as a team. We would meet to discuss concerns and how to address things management was demanding we implement- even though we all knew certain things were wrong and not in our staff or clients best interest. Unfortunately, all of this took a toll on us supervisors. There is now only 1 remaining of the original 5. Again, the targeting, investigational meetings and belittling takes a huge toll on your mental and physical health as well as your self esteem, confidence and self worth.

In saying all of this - I think its important to realize I have absolutely nothing to gain from this - aside from finally being able to publicly voice my concerns and being able to advocate one last time for the clients and the staff at Mackenzie. If you know a direct support worker at Mackenzie - outright ask if they feel valued, supported, encouraged by management; if they've been offered the training that to make them flourish, if they receive any type of praise or recognition from management. Ask if they know who the board members are; if they can talk to those board members (I was told my actions were inappropriate when I brought a board member to my investigational meeting - that the board is not involved in "day to day operations of Mackenzie"). Talk to the clients; ask them if they can attend the day program; ask them how their work environment is (public gets to see the nice offices in the front - not many see where the clients work); ask them if they like Mackenzie now.

Finally, think about how you would feel if you were a client in group home 3 where this has been your home for many years. Where you feel loved and supported by staff, you feel safe only to be told you have to move. I wonder if the clients have any choice or have been involved in this major decision. I wonder if their opinion or feelings were taken into consideration. My heart hurts thinking about this. These clients deserve better. This staff deserves better. Tax payers dollars fund this agency. Everybody has a right to voice their concerns and should voice their concerns. My concern is that 4 other group homes have no supervisor presently - if this is the true reason group home 3 is closing - will the others close as well? Major changes need to happen or potentially Preeceville and Canora clients could be forced from their homes; staff will be out of a job. This doesn't need to happen. Please, contact MLA Terry Dennis, go to the CUPE website and sign the petition, organize a public meeting. There's power in numbers. I don't know anybody that would be ok with what is happening. This is not right and has to stop. The people responsible for the bleak outlook for the agency need to be held accountable financially.

Please note - I am prepared for the backlash of creating this petition. Could I have done it 2 yrs ago? No because my voice was taken from me, I was fearful of the consequences. Morally I can no longer hold onto all if this without bringing my concerns forward. I do have protection under the whistle-blower act, as well i have not breached confidentially by naming names. I just need people to recognize the seriousness of this.

Please note current staff and clients of Mackenzie have signed this petition. That should be proof enough i speak the truth.