A well-established Powell River bakery has won an inclusive employment award from Community Living BC (CLBC) and celebrated with cake on Thursday, December 6.
“We’re very thrilled to be recognized,” said Mark Dowling, owner of Rocky Mountain Pizza & Bakery. Dowling and his team at Rocky Mountain were chosen to win the Widening Our World (WOW) award which is given annually by CLBC. CLBC is a provincial Crown agency that provides a range of supports and services for adults with special needs.
Angela Seeley has been working at Rocky Mountain for the last 18 years. Seeley was placed there through the Powell River Association for Community Living (PRACL) employment program which connects adults with developmental disabilities with local businesses. Every Tuesday Seeley helps by cleaning the tables and shop, restocking and folding pizza boxes.
CLBC employees Caitlyn Sassaman, community relations, and Michael McLellan, a self-advocate project assistant, took the ferry from Comox to present the award at a ceremony which was attended by Seeley’s friends and family. Lila Tipton, executive director, Lynn Roberts, director of community services, and Lesley Thorsell, from employment services, were in attendance representing PRACL, as well as Meghan McAllister, a local facilitator for CLBC.
MLA Nicholas Simons, representing Powell River-Sunshine Coast, was unable to attend, however his constituency assistant Maggie Hathaway spoke on his behalf thanking Dowling for his commitment to the community.
The award is an engraved solid glass globe. Each year the WOW awards celebrate a different way of making people feel included. This year the award was given for people who believe in and support employment for adults with developmental disabilities.
“A lot of people want to work, but don’t have the opportunity,” said Sassaman. “This award is to recognize those employers who give a good example.” Sassaman said that out of the five employers being recognized with the awards, three of them are small businesses.
Dowling said he appreciates Seeley for her sense of humour and that he’s happy she has stuck around for so long.
“It’s about giving back and being a part of the community,” said Dowling. “It’s important because you want to include everybody.”
Employees at businesses were asked to nominate their employer if they went “above and beyond the ordinary in their job to create a welcoming workplace, where everyone feels valued and respected.” Seeley’s partner gave her the information about the WOW award last October and her mother helped her write the nomination letter.
Dowling has been more than just a boss for Seeley over the years. He has gone to PRACL meetings with Seeley and tried to support her emotionally when she’s had a rough day and celebrate with her when she’s had a good day. For Seeley, this is the best part of working.
“I like getting along with the others,” said Seeley. “We laugh and tell jokes—just getting along.”
Rocky Mountain was chosen out of 10 businesses in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, which stretches from Vancouver to Bella Bella.
