CASE Member Spotlight
Inclusion Hudson Bay
For the French version of this post, please click here. | Pour la version française de cet article, veuillez cliquer ici.
Inclusion Hudson Bay, a branch of Inclusion Saskatchewan, is a non-profit organization that works with individuals with differing abilities and their families. They started in 2019 to offer a lifeline for families in rural Saskatchewan, bringing them together to support one another.
Previously, families and individuals in Hudson Bay had to travel 2 to 3.5 hours for support outside their community. In 2022, Inclusion Hudson Bay bought an old hall with a kitchen and, consequently, had their own space to add more programs for families.
Employment Training to Make Dreams Come True
Inclusion Hudson Bay hires individuals with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and first-time job seekers for their Monday kitchen, a community restaurant. They train and coach employees to serve homemade breakfast, lunch, and supper specials. The restaurant is known for its cinnamon buns and white chocolate raspberry scones! Currently, they employ five individuals on Mondays.
Watch this video (posted on Inclusion Saskatchewan’s Facebook) in which Shilo Knutson talks about how Inclusion Hudson Bay connected her with other families and helped her advocate for her oldest daughter.
Job coaching also extends to jobs in the community. They currently support seven individuals and eight employers in their community with a job coach. Skills training is provided through Saskabilities Job Skills for Success and the CPR + AED Basics Toolkit, which prepares learners with differing abilities to take the CPR exam with less stress and more confidence.
In this family-centred organization, they are passionate about helping job seekers find a job that matches their interests. Individuals work in the kitchen building confidence. The employability skills training helps job seekers identify what they like or don’t like, their strengths, and the work they would like to do.
Inclusion Hudson Bay then reaches out to employers in town to make dreams come true, which they can proudly say they have. They support the job seeker and the employer for as long as needed. They meet both the job seeker and the employer where they’re at, building a rapport with them and, in time, slowly leaving them feeling confident with one another.
Staying Healthy Supports Work and Living Independently
Staying healthy mentally, physically, and financially is also important for successful employment outcomes and living independently. Inclusion Hudson Bay also offers monthly cooking classes to build confidence and knowledge on healthy eating and kitchen awareness. They prep, cook, clean, and eat together, building social interactions and friendships.
They support their job seekers with cleaning coaches to help with time management while working and maintaining a home. Individuals also receive assistance with budgeting their income for household bills, groceries, and saving for unexpected expenses. All these challenges can be shared and overcome with support.
Inclusion Hudson Bay is a volunteer-run non-profit. In 2024, they were able to hire one employee to support job seekers through funding from the Supported Employment Transition Initiative (SETI) administered by the Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC).
“There is so much passion and desire to grow this program in our small town, and we are honoured to be part of their lives.
“To see the growth, confidence, smiles, and pride brings tears to my eyes and gives me the energy to keep going.”
Shilo Knutson, President
Inclusion Hudson Bay
Goal: Be a Hub for Employment and Friendship
Ultimately, the goal for Inclusion Hudson Bay is to be a hub for individuals with intellectual disabilities, a place to go for both employment support and relationships and friendships. A summer program was started to provide support and summer fun for children and youth. Staff were hired to take individuals out once a week during the summer to do all the activities they would like to do and to celebrate their best day. They have supported 30 individuals for the last six years.
In 2024, they received the SETI grant and were so excited to hire their first employee. They are currently looking for a second employee since they have more job seekers than one job coach can manage. What a wonderful problem to have! And they are just starting.
“We feel we have had an amazing first year and have surpassed many of our initial goals.”
They look forward to developing more relationships with businesses in town and to supporting many more individuals through the summer program for children and through the process of adulthood. All the families want is to support their children in finding and retaining employment, living independently, enjoying social interactions, and being able to live their best life in their small town with confidence and with joy.
For more information about Inclusion Hudson Bay, visit their Facebook page.
To have your organization’s great work featured on a national level on the CASE blog and in our newsletter, reach out to: