On the evening of Thursday, Oct. 8, the parking lot at Regal Motors in Rosetown will smell of grilled burgers rather than new-car polish. The dealership is hosting a community barbecue from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with proceeds going to the Wheatland Regional Centre.
The barbecue is the closing act of a larger effort called "A Day for Wheatland." Earlier that same afternoon, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Wheatland Regional Centre opens its doors at its building on 2nd Avenue East for an open house and fundraiser, giving Rosetown and area residents a chance to meet the people involved, learn about its programs and see how the organization helps adults with cognitive disabilities build skills and take part in community life. Then the crowd is invited to move across town to Regal Motors for the barbecue.
For Ironside, lending the dealership's lot to the cause was not a hard call. "I love the Wheatland Centre," he said. "I mean, they've been a part of our community forever, so we're always looking for ways to give back."
The fundraiser grew out of a partnership tied to Rosetown's Harvest Festival. Regal Motors had long hosted a pancake breakfast during the festival, but the event was eventually taken over by the Co-op while the dealership underwent a renovation. Looking for another way to stay involved, Ironside asked what else the dealership could do, and a barbecue was suggested. "And so I said, well, what else can we do?" he recalled. "And so they presented me with a barbecue. And so I was like, well, no problem."
The next question was where the money should go. When Wheatland Regional Centre was proposed, Ironside said there was no hesitation. "When they said, well, the Wheatland Centre is requesting that you work with them, it was that's a no-brainer," he said.
That answer reflects a lifetime in one place. Ironside has spent his whole life in Rosetown and has been at the dealership for more than 30 years. "This is my town," he said simply.
His regard for the people at Wheatland is just as plain. "They're just second to none," he said. "They're beautiful people. They're always smiling. They're always great for the community." Asked whether he had a personal connection to the centre, he was direct: "So no, I do not have a personal attachment to them. Except that I love them. And that's all."
The organization he is raising money for has been a pillar of Rosetown since 1967. Wheatland Regional Centre serves individuals in the community and surrounding area with varying abilities, offering a weekday day program that runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a focus on life skills, social engagement, physical and mental health support, outings, crafts, and art and pet therapy. It also operates three group homes in town, two of them staffed around the clock, and runs the SARCAN depots in both Rosetown and Biggar. Beyond that, it operates Prairie View Park, a campground with more than 35 sites, and the Prairie View Trailer Park with 23 sites, whose revenue helps fund its programs. The organization employs more than 30 full- and part-time staff, plus casual workers.
Government funding covers the basics, but not everything. Executive director Lana Hamilton has said fundraising helps pay for needs that fall outside provincial or other funding, such as improvements to the homes where participants live, a backup generator for residents who rely on electric lifts and oxygen machines during power outages, exercise and medical equipment, and recreational opportunities. Wheatland vice-chair George Bessey, who has been involved with the organization for about 25 years as a board member, executive director, industry coordinator and campground manager, points to transportation as another pressing need, since vehicles must be bought, maintained and replaced so participants can get around and join in activities. "It's the people," Bessey said of what keeps him involved. "It's providing a service to the individuals that we have in our care and making sure that they are taken care of and have a good life."
The stakes are personal for local families. Lisa Wood, whose autistic daughter Kelsey attends the day program, said Wheatland gave her peace of mind and helped Kelsey become more outgoing and independent. "It means everything to our family," she said. Shelley Grieve's brother, Blake Kowitch, has lived for decades at Wilson House, one of the group homes, and her family's connection reaches back to Wheatland's earliest years, when her parents helped establish local services beginning with the Opportunity School. "He's just an ordinary person like you and me," Grieve said of her brother. "He's got all the same needs and wants and emotions. He just has trouble communicating them and he just needs support in his daily life."
That is the community Ironside is inviting to the dealership lot. "Come out to support the Wheatland Regional Centre," he said. "Been a part of our community forever." He hopes the centre remains part of Rosetown for many years to come. "They're great for our town," he said. "They're great supporters. And we're happy to have them." For a business that has spent decades selling cars in a small prairie town, the barbecue is one more way of giving back. "We're honoured," Ironside said. "And it'll be fun to have the Wheatland Centre hosting our barbecue."