Powell River Employment Program (PREP) Society’s “funding guru” is taking her retirement this month. With it executive administrator Margaret Leitner closes a chapter on her life at one of the region’s most low key but most influential community agencies.
Leitner has been quietly working on a wide variety of social initiatives throughout her career at the society since 1991. Sifting through her files, Leitner revisited more than two decades of social developments in Powell River, from essential building blocks like the Career Link employment agency to memorable touchstones like the film Defining Diversity, Creating Community.
The name PREP is misleading. The society is about much more than employment. It has been operating in Powell River as a non-profit organization since 1984 providing administration for a wide range of community-based services and programs. PREP Society is described as an umbrella organization, but it appears to be more like a garden, nurturing health and social programs in Powell River. Some of the PREP Society’s projects, such as Powell River’s first recycling program in 1993, were handed to agencies and continue to grow outside the garden. Others, such as the recent Community Adult Literacy and Learning Centre, are kept close.
Leitner has seen PREP playing a significant role in reaching out to the community and identifying short and long term needs. “As we move through life we need certain things,” she said. “The society is creating a better, more liveable community.”
The PREP board identifies needs in the community in a number of ways. Many times a “community needs survey” is conducted and the results later direct programs. Sometimes an opportunity comes to us from a member of the community or a grant that fits a need, she said. “It is so important to work with the community and community partners,” she said, “ not just go out on your own.
“Everything I have done with PREP has been an education,” she said. “I never knew what recycling involved until I got involved. And I didn’t know anything about making a film when we began Defining Diversity, but suddenly I was a producer. We found so much talent in Powell River: it was really a Powell River driven project.” The learning workshops that have evolved from the film make it one of Leitner’s favourites. “I feel that it has a long lasting impact.”
Leitner works with grants and funding from a wide range of agencies, from the health authority, and social ministries to build programs the community has identified. The projects are diverse and include, for example, the Powell River Food Security Project which was started in 2006 to promote awareness and increase food security in the region and to strengthen community capacity. Another project, Sunshine Coast Treatment Services, has been providing methadone treatment services for people addicted to heroin since 2002. The Community Resource Centre, established in 2007, provides drop-in and structured programs, and volunteer opportunities for all community members, particularly those who may be “marginalized”.
“Family Place is one of the best projects we have started,“ said Leitner. “It is also one of the worst funded. The program empowers parents to be the best that they can be, she said, adding that “it is a wonderful support for all families because everybody needs support sometimes.” Although the need for it was identified in 1989, it took five years to raise enought funds, she said. Family Place opened in 2004 in Town Centre Mall and has been a place for parents and children to gather and learn ever since. “It just celebrated its 10th anniversary and I hope it has 10 more years ahead,” mused Leitner.
Some of the PREP programs link together. People who use Powell River Immigrant Services may drop in to Family Place, or use the Community Adult Literacy & Learning Centre. Babies Open New Doors (BOND) is always full, and families from BOND will grow into Family Place.
For an organization that has been behind so many social benefits in our community PREP has a very low profile. “That hasn’t bothered me,” said Leitner,” the most important thing is what we do, and being efficient and effective and well run. That has been my major concern.”
Leitner looks back on her decades with PREP with satisfaction and says this is a good time for her to leave. “There is nothing big on the horizon, and summer is a slower time.” She hands the reigns to Lyn Adamson who will become executive director of PREP.
