ExchangeVol32No2

BUSINESS MONITOR
Ann Bilodeau, Executive Director, KW Habilitation
NEW FACILITIES REPRESENT NEW VISION FOR KW HABILITATION
KW Habilitation has opened its new, $5.4 million facility at 99 Ottawa Street
South in Kitchener. It’s a superb new home for the agency – but according to
executive director Ann Bilodeau, the building is one of part of the story.
Bilodeau told Exchange,“We want it vibrant.We want our brand to be out in the
community so people recognize it, know who we are and build trust with us, because
we plan on being around for a while.”
KW Habilitation is a not-for-profit organization that exists to provide services and
supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities. The agency has
been around a long time, but folks who knew it in the beginning might have a
tough time recognizing KW Habilitation these days.
Bilodeau says,“We have a long history in our community.We started in the early
70s, very much as a traditional factory environment where the adults we supported
came to what was then called a sheltered workshop.”
Today everything has changed. “We have moved from that environment. With
technology, with us really supporting people getting paid jobs in the community,
the time of the sheltered workshop is no longer.”
That building is finally gone, replaced by a new facility nearby on the same 1.3
acre site. KW Habilitation celebrated the grand opening of their new home in September.
The exact location of the old building will not remain vacant, however – Bilodeau
says, “We are putting up a 22-unit affordable housing project – a very different,
creative, intentional community.”
The new home of KW Habilitation reflects the modern vision for the organization,
which according it its website, has over 500 employees, and provides services to
more than 1,000 individuals and their families.
Bilodeau says the new facility is designed to be “a hub” for the services provided
by her organization. “The intent here is to build on good citizenship, having people
connect in their community.”
She adds, “Community engagement goes both ways. People can come in, and
we can go out. You can do three or four different activities out in the community
– we have rock climbing up the road, we do Zumba class up the road.”
The new ION Light Rail Transit will be located nearby; that’s one of the reasons
KW Habilitation stayed on the same property. Not relocating also saved a lot of
money, and maintained their long-term public visibility. Says the executive director,
“We could not have asked for a better place. We’ve been here for more than
40 years, people know where we are.”
Looking around the area, Bilodeau adds,“Does this neighbourhood need to be
revitalized? Absolutely, and we think we’ve done our part. Our brand involves inspiring
abilities and enriching lives.‘Habilitation’ means good life.That’s what this
is all about.”
Photo Courtesy of University of Waterloo
Allison Kelly
sion might offer unique benefits that self-esteem does not. Self-esteem comes
from evaluating oneself as above average, and so may be limited in helping individuals
cope with perceived shortcomings.
“Regardless of their weight, women with higher self-compassion have better
body image and fewer concerns about weight, body shape or eating,” said Professor
Kelly. “There is something about a high level of acceptance and understanding
of oneself that helps people not necessarily view their bodies more
positively, but rather acknowledge their bodies’ imperfections and be okay with
them.”
The research results suggest that eating disorder prevention and health promotion
that focus on increasing young women’s self-compassion may be an
important way to foster healthier weight management across the BMI spectrum.
This study gathered data from 153 female undergraduate students and used
BMI calculations based on each participant’s self-reported height and weight.
The research team administered a series of questionnaires assessing levels of
self-compassion, self-esteem, body image, and eating behaviours.
The study appears in the September 2014 issue of the journal Body Image.
Funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council supported
the research.
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