Community Living Chatham-Kent is showing off its newly renovated space on Park Ave. in Chatham with an open house Thursday afternoon.
Program Director Brad Verfaillie says they changed the building into a more recreational space after provincial officials directed them to shut down the sheltered work program.
"We've added an arts and crafts room, more computers... we've added some rooms where people can learn activities... some pool tables and shuffleboard," says Verfaillie. "We also continue to have a small cafeteria that people participate in just to keep up their skills with respect to food preparation."
Verfaillie says the feedback so far from the people who chose to stay has been very positive.
"The people that are participating in the program are rather enjoying the new opportunities that they have," says Verfaillie. "Some people have left for competitive employment and are now working competitively and some people have chosen to pursue other interests."
The open house will run from 3pm to 6pm at 1099 Park Ave. W in Chatham. Following the open house, from 6:15pm to 7:15pm, the Respect Revolution will be performing outdoors at the facility.