Discovery
 The Discovery team serves clients who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally by providing many opportunities for self-expression and personal choice.
By determining the individual needs of a client Garth Homer Society staff build a program of activities, individualized support and positive feedback to help the client build self-esteem, reduce anxiety and maintain emotional health. In Discovery, we put an emphasis on fun, high energy programs that encourage participation leading the clients to experience an improved quality of life.
| Sign of the times |
Mar. 10, 11 - 10:47pm |
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A key part of the Discovery Team involves using as many ways to communicate as possible. Every week William, Deanne and Peter dismantle barriers to communication when they arrive at Torquay Elementary School to teach sign language to the students. Assisted by Virve, their community support worker they demonstrate the sign language hand positions and engage the children with questions they can answer by signing. The Discovery Team appreciates the warm welcome they have received from Torquay students, teachers and administrators - the sign language visits have become a highlight of our week. |
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| Carving out success |
Mar. 7, 11 - 11:13am |
 
The artistic spirit lives in everyone and Discovery clients are no different. David and Chris find their expression in a rock carving program at Studio 4114. Both men are mentored by Sculptors Alistair Green and Garry Curry who lead the Vancouver Island Society of Disabled Artists and as you can see David and Chris take their work seriously.
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| Fun and flying high at the Luxton Fair |
Oct. 14, 10 - 6:40pm |
 
Every year the Discovery clients look forward to the Luxton Fair. Everyone is so excited to see old friends, tackle the rides and of course enjoy the popcorn and hotdogs. The food was first on the agenda and then off to the rides.
Some clients are thrill seekers and want to hit every ride while others are content to just have their one ride on the carousel. This year was great as it was Sam’s first fair with us and she shocked staff as she pointed to the fastest ride and said she wanted that one! Kevin and Penny, who are normally quite content with the one carousel ride even tried out a new ride this year. The beaming smile coming from Kevin’s face as the Bumble Bee ride rose up in the air would warm anyone’s heart. As we left the rides, we stopped by the face painting booth and everyone picked a design and sported their new colours with pride.
This outing wouldn’t have been possible without all those people who worked together to open up the grounds a day early. We are so appreciative of the small gestures made by Luxton staff such as taking the time to help boost clients up onto rides or being patient because someone got scared and wanted off. Our thanks as well to the Belmont High School kids who volunteered to be ride along buddies. The smiles on everyone’s faces showed just how much it meant to them to have this special day.
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| Summer Adventures a Great Success! |
Sep. 27, 10 - 1:29pm |
 The Summer Adventures program ran from the end of June until the middle of September where I took three clients twice a week to the wheelchair accessible fishing dock at Elk Lake.
It was a great outing where the men had opportunities to fish for rainbow trout and bass. We didn’t catch anything but we got a few bites and got to talk and swap fishing stories and tips with the friendly folks who fish there regularly. The people we met at Elk Lake were very kind us, giving me a great deal of helpful advice about what kind of gear to use. On a couple of occasions a fisherman named Jim gave Kevin and William the opportunity to net some large rainbow trout as the fish were reeled in.
The folks at the dock were quite impressed with Kevin who over the duration of the program brought in three large trout with the net because Kevin did not bump any of the fish off of the hook or accidentally drop any into the lake.
Good job Kevin and thank-you for the opportunity Jim! The fishing program will resume next Summer.
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| Helping Mary's Horse Sanctuary |
Aug. 9, 10 - 12:17pm |
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Earlier this month we were so happy to be able to present a cheque for $710 to Mary at Mary's Horse Sanctuary. We couldn't have done it without the support of the Glanford Bottle Depot which designated us "charity of the month", allowing customers to divert their deposit money towards this cause. (Kelly Gorman from Glanford Bottle Depot is pictured here presenting the cheque to Kaye Kennish and Virve Hiltunen from GHS.)
It's impossible to describe how grateful Mary was to receive this donation. The Sanctuary is perpetually underfunded and the money came at a crucial time. The Sanctuary has just accepted a new horse "Splash" who had been regularly beaten and left tied up suffering from a terrible sunburn. (William is pictured above making the donation to Mary's Farm)
The time spent at Mary's Sanctuary is so important for clients as they learn new skills, commitment to a task and feel the joy of helping others.
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