HISTORY
Born in a city that had ambitious dreams, Vecova’s origins are rooted in a desire to create an innovative organization.
Vecova began as an organization giving persons with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and become part of the broader community. An organization where university scholars could learn from persons with disabilities and those who support them about vocational and rehabilitation theory, and turn that into practice.
The disability sector experiences a significant change, where community living and education is seen as a right for all persons of all abilities.
Disability maverick Christine Meikle approaches the University of Calgary to develop a program to train persons with developmental disabilities through research-based services and programs. The concept for The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute (VRRI) is envisioned.
The organization is incorporated on July 19, 1966.
The National Centennial Project in Mental Retardation provides $7 million to 13 projects across Canada, including Vecova, to celebrate the Centennial of Canada’s Federation in 1967.
The organization is incorporated on July 19, 1966.
The ground breaking ceremony for the facility is held on May 30, 1968. Important dignitaries and key people in the disability sector turn the first sod and bury a time capsule.
Vecova becomes the first affiliated institute of the University of Calgary and Dr. David Gibson (center) is appointed as the organization’s first Director.
Vocational contracts secure two-thirds of Vecova’s workshop space upon opening to provide the manufacturing, assembly, packaging, repair and maintenance of a variety of equipment.
Vecova and the Calgary Public School Board develop a pilot project to provide vocational training for students with disabilities.
Vecova opens a gas station to serve the community and bridge the gap between persons with and without disabilities.
The Adaptive Functioning Index (AFI) is developed as a practical assessment technique for measuring social knowledge and practice of clients.
Vecova develops new programs, including premarital counselling, sex education, home living skills, alcohol moderation, a room and board placement and more.
The official opening of Vecova’s leading-edge facility is held on October 5, 1970. The facility includes sheltered workshops, a residence, greenhouse, cafeteria and dining room, recreation rooms, and an accessible and therapeutic swimming pool.
“I think this is one of the nicest things to walk into a building and see a greenhouse.”
– Christine Meikle
A Social and Education Unit begins to provide trainees with instruction in reading, language development and pre-number skills.
A 53-week course for training future rehabilitation personnel begins at Vecova. Students attend from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
Vecova begins to operate an onsite Container Refund Depot.
Vecova develops a driver training course for persons with disabilities in collaboration with Mount Royal College and the Chinook Driving School.
Vecova presents on the organization’s programs at the Third International Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the Hague.
Vecova partners with the Calgary Police Service to train cadets on practical experience in working with persons with disabilities.
A new 8,000 sq. ft. wing is added to the facility and is named after Vecova’s first chair of the Board of Directors.
Vecova begins to consult with the Banff, Canmore and Exshaw School District to develop comprehensive programming for persons with disabilities in the Bow Valley Corridor.
A separate company is formed to purchase and manage residential properties for Vecova. The organization purchases our first group home.
A separate company is incorporated to manage the operations and related activities of the organization’s stores, shops, depots, manufacturing, trading and commercial businesses such as the Container Refund Depot.
A separate company is incorporated to manage the operations and related activities of the organization’s stores, shops, depots, manufacturing, trading and commercial businesses such as the Container Refund Depot.
A resource library is developed in the west section of the organization’s observation area and is maintained by volunteers.
A community awareness program is developed to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities and to introduce resources to the trainees.
A new bottle depot is built onsite with a shop front and warehouse.
Vecova launches The Journal of Practical Approaches to Developmental Handicap to present, scrutinize and discuss disability research in a permanent and transparent forum.
The City of Calgary begins to provide ongoing funding to Vecova’s Recreation Centre.
Vecova celebrates 10 years of programming, demonstration and research in the disability sector with a conference and the launch of a new book.
The United Nations proclaims 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP). The slogan of IYDP was “a wheelchair in every home,” defined as the right of persons with disabilities to be fully included in their societies.
Vecova receives a grant from the Alberta 75 Fund to investigate adaptive equipment for persons with a physical disability.
Vecova implements the Individual Program Planning (IPP) system for clients. This program includes setting goals and objectives, and ensuring staff accountability.
Vecova closes its onsite residence to further invest in providing housing supports services that keep persons with disabilities in the community.
Mr. Gerrit Groeneweg was appointed as the first full-time Director of Research for the organization.
“We are duty bound to abandon our success and respond to the challenges to move forward into sometimes unfamiliar and occasional unfriendly areas.” – Dr. James L. Mosley, Board of Directors
Three new homes open to provide improved living support services to 18 individuals.
Vecova leads the way in new approaches to integrate persons with disabilities into meaningful and competitive employment in the community.
Vecova research publications and manuscripts that have been developed since 1969 are inventoried.
A Consumer Advisory Board of elected representatives from each Vecova service area is established to inform service delivery.
Vecova’s Recreation Centre moves towards the concept of ‘reverse integration,’ where the needs of the community are met in an integrated environment.
Vecova divests several residential properties to meet the changing needs of persons with disabilities and holds discussions with the municipal, provincial and federal governments to advocate for alternative and affordable housing within Calgary.
Vecova establishes an employment placement opportunity with the Banff National Park forestry crew.
Vecova contracts with an external firm to evaluate the organization’s research activities and reaffirm Vecova’s role as an agent of change in the disability sector.
Vecova launches Bridges, a magazine aimed at bringing disability forward into day-to-day conversations.
Vecova develop a ‘Home Safety Assessment Tool’ to determine whether an individual with a disability has the knowledge and skills to avoid or handle common home emergencies without support.
Vecova’s first ever award-winning float participates in the annual Stampede parade.
Vecova celebrates its 25th anniversary of opening doors in knowledge, understanding and practice among professionals, families and the community in supporting persons with disabilities.
Vecova partners with the University of Calgary to employ persons with disabilities to manage campus recycling needs.
ecova works with self-advocates to develop a Consumer Charter of Rights for persons with disabilities on how they want to receive services.
Vecova is awarded the baggage cart retrieval contract at the Calgary International Airport (YYC).
Vecova develops a Plain Language Translation Service to create easy and accessible information for adults with low English literacy.
Vecova seeks advice from clients, families, staff, board members, funders and other stakeholders in the community to direct the course of the organization into the year 2000 and beyond.
Vecova completes the development of the organization’s first Medication Administration Manual and Course.
Vecova develops the organization’s first Abuse Protocol Manual to provide additional training to employees on abuse and how to respond quickly and appropriately to abusive situations.
Vecova is contracted to provide Medication Administration training to the Calgary region. More than 220 individuals participate in 18 successful courses.
Vecova is designated as an official Lifesaving Society B.O.A.T Test Centre to support the Canadian Coastguard’s new introduced laws, standards and licensing restrictions for watercraft operation.
Vecova’s final sheltered workshop closes on March 31, 1999 and marks the end of an era in service delivery.
Vecova are contracted by the Alberta Persons with Developmental Disabilities Board to conduct a satisfaction survey with all funded service consumers, their families and guardians on what they think of the organization’s current services and the Board’s activity.
Vecova develops a series of innovative educational strategies and tools with a team of persons with disabilities to increase the awareness of persons with disabilities about the consequences of smoking.
Led by Dr. Susan Carpenter, Vecova becomes home to the Arnika Centre, which diagnoses and supports persons with a disability and a mental health issue.
Vecova partners with Woods Homes to create a program for young people with complex needs who are entering or experiencing difficulties with adult disability services.
Vecova proposes a series of integrated workforce strategies to solve labour market challenges in services to persons with disabilities in collaboration with the Alberta Association of Rehabilitation and the Government of Alberta.
Vecova are now the only facility in Calgary with a publicly accessible therapeutic warm water pool to promote good health for Calgarians of all ages and abilities.
Vecova continues to plan for a new facility that reflects the success of the organization and its consumers, where individuals feel proud to receive its services and supports.
Vecova partners with the Calgary Board of Education to provide work experience opportunities to students in the Adapted Learning Program
Dr. Robert Sainsbury is recognized by Volunteer Calgary and CFCN Television for his ten years of volunteer service as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors.
Vecova’s oldest and most established social enterprise receives the CA/CMA Ethics in Business Award for its commitment to uncompromising ethical behaviour while exceeding customer expectations in service delivery.
Vecova designs an innovative fitness program for adults with developmental disabilities in partnership with the University of Calgary.
Vecova partners with University of Calgary graduate students to develop and implement a comprehensive leadership development program for the organization’s employees.
Vecova develops an online tool that allows community disability organizations to track their own workforce information, as well as obtain critical and current labour force data for the sector in collaboration with the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Council of Disability Services.
A group of Calgary youth with developmental disabilities participates in the video production Guard Against Bullying.
Vecova begins to provide services to persons with disabilities in the Bow Valley Corridor. The first satellite office opens in Canmore.
Vive Vecova launches, an inheritance and legacy program to honour supporters who have made provisions for Vecova with a gift, bequest, life insurance, annuity stocks and bonds or trust agreement.
The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute (VRRI) becomes the Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research (Vecova). Vecova ventures forward in rethinking disability services and how to meet the changing needs of persons with disabilities.
Vecova collaborates with Dr. Nancy Marlett of the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services to transform the role of patients in health care and health culture through engagement research.
Vecova prototypes the use of SmartHome Technology to enhance the quality of life of individuals with complex needs in collaboration with the Government of Alberta and several Calgary disability service providers.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights contracts us to support the development of a story on disability rights advocate Leilani Muir.
Vecova’s Bottle Pick-Up Service is launched, a social enterprise that supports the organization’s mission by employing individuals with barriers to employment such as a disability.
Vecova partners with Trico Foundation to be a host site for the Social Enterprise World Forum.
Vecova is one of five Canadian groups invited to tour the United States to share perspectives on disability issues and inclusion by the U.S Embassy in Ottawa. This tour is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
Vecova creates a new program to support children and youth with mild to moderate motor delays and disabilities to assist them in developing the capacity, skill and confidence for community sport, fitness and recreational activities.
Vecova’s Bottle Pick-Up Service introduces a text message sign-up notification system called ALICE to support scheduled pick-ups, free supplies and tax receipts.
Vecova launches a prototype of a new centralized customer service system to better support the needs of Calgarians and those in Vecova’s surrounding communities who are looking for services and supports.
Vecova launched a new technology-based Consumer Management System that supports the organization’s ability to collect, organize and store information, support person-centred planning and measure program outcomes.
Vecova organizes and participates in Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) as a proud member of the Calgary Employment First Network (CEFN).
Vecova’s Bottle Depot adds TOMRA’s Sorting Solutions to its facility, allowing us to prepare persons with disabilities for automation within the industry and to continue the organization’s trend of innovation, leadership and inclusion.
Vecova advocated for and participated in the introduction of Bill 5: Act to Strengthen Financial Security for Persons with Disabilities, which allows families, guardians and AISH recipients to set up trusts to provide for persons with disabilities without negatively affecting a person’s eligibility for the AISH program.
The Government of Alberta awards us a one-year pilot to produce the Employment First program in the Rocky View School Division to prepare youth with disabilities for employment. (Formerly called the Youth Transition and Work Experience Supports Program)
Vecova celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a series of events to honour the past and prepare for the future.
Vecova launches the design for the new Centre for All Abilities.