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Making great STRIDEs in Halton by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 7 | Thursday, October 3, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com For 30 years, STRIDE (Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments) has been helping those with mental illness get back on their feet. STRIDE is a non-profit organization that provides job opportunities in Halton for people with mental health and/or addiction challenges. Founded in 1983, the organization was established because a significant number of people were being accommodated in community settings rather than psychiatric hospitals, says STRIDE South Halton manager Mark Cox. "A lot of them wanted to find employment, they wanted something to do during the day. They just wanted the dignity that comes with being employed," said Cox. "That's when we got involved in our employment connections program that helps people find jobs in the community." When STRIDE first opened in Oakville, Cox said it was just a "small operation" on Kerr Street and shared space with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Halton branch. STRIDE now has sites in Oakville, Acton and Milton. "Our client base, instead of just being a handful, is now several hundred a year. We started off just doing the packaging and assembly and now we're doing transitional training for jobs in the community and employment connections," said Cox. Support offered by STRIDE includes a worksite-training program or social enterprise and an employment connections program. As part of its social enterprise, the Oakville facility on Wyecroft Road handles packaging and assembly for more than 40 companies including Tim Hortons, Bell Sympatico and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. "People come in and get paid piece-rate. Jobs come to us from local suppliers and big chains, but also a few individuals in the community that have their own companies," said Cox. The organization currently has a roster of 40 adults and 40-50 youths in the employment connections program. The social enterprise has 75 participants, 35 of which are working on any given day, Cox said. "The worksite is trained to simulate a real work environment and the objective is to get people ready to go to jobs in the community. Sometimes they do transitional employment where we have (local) contracts to cut lawns (or) move furniture," said Cox. STRIDE currently has a six-month waiting list for those wanting to use its services. As see STRIDE on p.8 Mark Cox, manager of South Halton STRIDE (Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments), notes there are locations in Oakville, Acton and Milton. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre NOISY WORKPLACE? If you have spent your working life in noisy areas, you may be eligible for full coverage. Even if you are now retired, you may apply for benefits if your hearing was damaged due to long term noise exposure in the workplace. We are authorized vendors for WSIB, DVA, ADP, ODSP and NIHB. We are experienced in the application process with a very high success rate. The first step to better hearing is a hearing test. HEARING SCIENCES If you've forgotten what fair, professional service feels like, call us and prepare to be amazed! SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Call (905) 465-3277 (EARS) to book your complimentary hearing test ($60 value, Age 55+) BRING THIS AD FOR A COMPLIMENTARY HEARING TEST ($60 VALUE. AGE 55+) NEW OWNERSHIP: OAKVILLE 2419 Marine Drive Driven to exceed your expectations. Ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Claims Experience" by J.D. Power. To get your quote visit an RBC Insurance Store, call 1-877 ROYAL 4-3 or go online at rbcinsurance.com/exceed ® At Prince Michael Dr. off Dundas St. E 905-257-8200 At the Olde Oakville Marketplace 905-815-8121 At Appleby Line near Dundas St 905-332-2551 I HOME I AUTO I LIFE I HEALTH I TR AVEL I BUSINESS I RETIREMENT I TM ® / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. RBC Insurance ranks highest in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 Canadian Auto Claims Study SM. Study based on 2,458 total responses, ranking 8 insurance providers. Excludes those with claims only for glass/windshield, theft/stolen, roadside assistance or roadside assistance claims. Proprietary results based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed April-June 2013. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com. Home and Auto Insurance is underwritten by RBC General Insurance Company.