Local dignitaries incliding Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie, and North Battleford Coun., Thomas (Bill) Ironstand join CFS Executive Director Kim Morrison, clients and community partners in celebrating the grand opening of the new space on Tues., Sept. 10. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

CFS opening

A ‘special space’: Catholic Family Services celebrates grand opening

Sep 11, 2024 | 4:57 PM

A gust of wind blew tinfoil filled with Indigenous medicine from a little table following a smudging.

The ash from sweetgrass, tobacco and sage scattered along the sidewalk in front of the Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords during the grand opening of their expanded community hub, Kim Morrison took it as a sign.

“Even the Spirit’s excited today,” said the executive director.

Clients of Catholic Family Services speak amongst themselves during the grand opening of the new space on Tues., Sept. 10. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Staff, community members, clients and local dignitaries gathered to officially open the new space with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

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“For the first time in the history of Catholic Services since we started in 1991 and since this building was donated to us, we occupy the entire space,” she said, speaking to the audience.

“Our services to the community have grown to such an extent that we are able to be supported and maximize that space to grow out into the community.”

The organization services over 4,000 people throughout the year and prior to the hub opening, to get to different programs, clients would meet at different locations and would often have to walk some distance for services like independent living and community programs.

“There’s a home here for clients to come to and to leave from at the end of the day,” she said, adding they now have a van that will help shuttle people.

Clients, staff and community partners enjoy the new space during the grand opening of the new space on Tues., Sept. 10. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The new space, which had input from the clients themselves, is bright and airy, boasts stimulus-free quiet rooms and more space – the latter of which was something client Delilah Sopiwnyk loved.

“In that space over there, it was very tight quarters and on Fridays we play (Dungeon and Dragons),” she said.

“When we were playing, we couldn’t play anything else,” she added.

Since coming to CFS, she has had the chance to learn to sew, wood carving and has developed a social circle.

According to Coun. Thomas (Bill) Ironstand, the organization is one that is needed in the community.

“They’ve created a safe space for their clients to feel even better, they have their own lockers now…and that makes a person feel that they’re important. That they’re not just here doing a program, they’re important to the service provider and they’re important to themselves,’ he said.

“That’ll make our communities better.”

Joanne Ross cuts the cake during the grand opening of the new CFS space on Tues., Sept. 10. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Ames Leslie, Mayor of Battleford said now that the organization has a larger space, the communities will see “tremendous benefits.”

“When you can create a place where people who need special treatment feel safe to come, they’re going to come more often,’ he said.

“They’re going to have pride in that, they’re going to have comfort in that.”

The expansion does something else, said Morrison.

“It becomes their special space to reflect their connections, their friendships and their building connection to the community.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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