For many years, the Woodshop was a traditional type of day service at The Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI), offering hobby and project types of activities for adults with intellectual disabilities. It was a safe place where individuals could come and participate at their own pace on various projects, connect with friends, and learn about woodworking equipment. Over the years, individuals constructed birdhouses, wooden toys, cedar fencing, salmon boxes and cedar outdoor furniture.
Over time, the individuals, support staff, and the collective families became aware of the potential for positive growth. They considered moving towards an employment-based program as the expertise and skills of the individuals developed.
In 2008, the BACI Board of Directors declared their commitment to supporting individuals in finding real work for real pay. With a new vision in hand, and the knowledge that Woodshop participants could produce a product that would meet a market demand, the program was redesigned with a new purpose. After some small market research, we realized that we already make a quality box, and all we required was an opportunity to expand on the idea. We reconfigured our Woodshop to produce cedar boxes for a variety of different packaging needs. We currently are showcasing our Specialty Wine and Spirits Boxes.
The products we create will enable individuals to make a fair wage for the work that they do, and that is a great fit for all that we do. It will also help people develop broader skills that can be transferred to other paid jobs in the community.