More Training Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Barriers to Employment

With government support of $500,000, the Flower Cart Group in New Minas will help more persons with diverse abilities access employment training.

Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine, on behalf of Kelly Regan, Minister of Community Services visited New Minas today, Jan. 14, to announce government’s support of a new facility for the Flower Cart Group. The new building will allow the organization to expand services, ensuring that more participants have the support they need to develop life and employment skills. “We are committed to building a stronger Nova Scotia where everyone can grow and succeed,” said Mr. Glavine. “This important investment in the New Minas community will help persons with disabilities participate more fully in their community.”

The Flower Cart Group provides supportive employment and training opportunities to persons with an intellectual disability or barriers to employment through a variety of social enterprises and partnerships with local businesses.

The organization offers programming in two separate buildings, each at capacity. The new facility will allow the Flower Cart Group to double its space and increase its program capacity by about 30 new participants, and provide goods and services through a community space and a wholesale bakery that will supply goods both locally and provincially.

Quotes:

“We are very pleased to have the provincial government’s support. This investment is a key commitment toward our organization’s growth as we get closer to breaking ground. Our new facility will allow us to expand our programming and offer even more opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities in Kings County to participate in our community."

– Jeff Kelly, executive director, The Flower Cart Group

“I enjoy working at The Flower Cart Group because you can see how you’ve grown and you can see how different people are almost like yourself. I’ve changed a lot in three years because it gets me out of the house and you can learn different things. I’m very happy to be here.”

– Bonnie Wright, participant, The Flower Cart Group

Quick Facts:

• the $500,000 investment is part of a $5.8 million capital campaign to bring all the Flower Cart Group’s social enterprises together, under one roof
• Flower Cart Group was started in 1970 and now has over 200 participants
• Flower Cart Group works with local businesses to provide real wage opportunities and supportive employment through an on-site woodworking shop, bakery and packaging service
• Flower Cart Group receives $1,053,642 in annual operational funding from the Department of Community Services under the Disability Support Program
• Government is investing in helping disability service providers maintain or expand day programming services. A recent example is an $800,000 contribution to the Colchester Community Workshops for the expansion of its services

Additional Resources:

The Flower Cart Group: https://flowercart.ca/

Choice, Equality and Good Lives in Inclusive Communities : A Roadmap for Transforming the Nova Scotia Services to Persons with Disabilities Program: https://novascotia.ca/coms/transformation/docs/Choice_Equality_and_Good_Lives_in_Inclusive_Communities.pdf