I have been at Chrysalis for 15 years now and in that time I have had the chance to work in many areas within this organization, experience a number of great things and meet a number of amazing people along the way. Serving in many different roles during my time here has given me an detailed understanding of what makes Chrysalis such a great organization, and at the end of the day, it all comes back to the individuals we serve.

Now that I am a part of Vocational Services, you really get to see the principal ?Change, Growth and Opportunity? really stand true. Vocational Services is all about creating opportunities for our individuals to get fair access to community services and providing them with the knowledge needed to succeed while in the community. Basically, giving them the tools they need to be more independent based on what goals they have set for themselves. Vocational Services provides our individuals with a role in the community, either volunteer or employment based. We try to find the best fit for our individuals and the business partners we have established throughout Edmonton. We have a number of staff who are dedicated to the well-being of all individuals accessing Vocational Services. Our staff are always around to support individuals within their roles and bring out the best of their abilities while in the community.

Over the years, I have seen some unbelievable improvements in a lot of the individuals accessing our services. There are times when people first get to Chrysalis, that expectations for what can be accomplished are very low. While things may look bleak in the early stages, you begin to see subtle improvements in people over time that eventually translate into great changes within their lives. It?s amazing to see how much hard work our individuals put into improving their situation. Once the changes start taking place, our individuals are seen more for their gifts and abilities rather than their disabilities.

One man I can think of in particular came to us with very little expectation as to what he could accomplish. Nobody really gave him a chance to see what he could do. He worked extremely hard while he was here and you could see that, while the bar was low, he was certainly going to surprise a number of people. Through Vocational Services, he was placed in an employment position and has held that same job for over 10 years. I always look forward to the Chrysalis Christmas Party to get the latest updates on how things are going with him and his job.
In my time here I like to think I have made a difference with some of the individuals whom we serve. While that is a nice feeling, it?s nothing compared to the lessons they have provided to me. Graciousness, perseverance, respect, patience are all valuable lessons that these wonderful individuals have passed on to me?I?m a better person today thanks to them.