The red brick buildings of Broadview Village lie sprawled along a busy street in Toronto, surrounded by a spacious lawn. Over the years, the city has grown up around this Salvation Army property. But many Torontonians who walk past the buildings every day have no idea what goes on there. Joanne Dickinson, program facilitator, points out that people often see the Salvation Army sign and step inside to offer their help, “but working with our clientele isn't on their radar.”

Broadview Village caters to adults with developmental disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, autism and physical health challenges. The goal of Broadview is to provide a home where counsellors assist residents in leading safe, fulfilling lives.

Active Life

Broadview Village is a home for those who desperately need one. In many cases, clients' aging parents can no longer care for them, and they benefit from the stability and support of a residential program. Once a vacancy emerges, between five and 10 people from the priority housing list are interviewed, and two or three of those are asked to return for a visit. “We look for a good fit between the resident and Broadview,” Dickinson explains. “We try to select the individual who is best suited to the program.”

After the decision is made, the future resident makes four more visits before moving in, gradually acclimatizing to the environment. “Transition is key for people with developmental disabilities,” notes Dickinson. Staff help new residents set up their rooms, and invite family over frequently during the transition phase.

Once they've moved in, residents join in the busy life at Broadview. During the day, they travel off-site to work or participate in day programs. One of these day programs—the Broadview Village Enrichment Program—is operated directly by the centre. Forty-three participants meet weekdays for a variety of activities, including crafts, music, sports, academics, baking and spa time. The goal is to develop the skills of the participants—teaching things such as typing, basic finances or handling confrontation—while at the same time providing a fun atmosphere.

In the afternoon, Broadview residents return to their homes, where they eat dinner together before an evening of swimming, movies, bowling or a coffee run. The village also hosts many special events, such as Broadview Olympics and Broadview Idol. Every year, the members of each “house” go on vacation, often on camping trips or to cottages.

Individual Abilities
Whenever possible, Broadview residents are encouraged to explore their unique interests. For example, Richard enjoys shopping at a local grocery store as well as bowling and going to the library. Another resident, Candace, takes the bus to a sheltered workshop each day.

While Richard and Candace enjoy a certain amount of independence, some residents are less able to express their needs. For some, physical disabilities or behavioural problems also factor into the level of assistance they need. To include everyone, activities at Broadview are tailored to allow different kinds of participation. For instance, when members of the day program participate in Meals on Wheels, each one does different things—packing up the meals, plotting out a route, ringing the doorbells of the houses—but they all work together.

Close Bonds
“One of the key things we do is to individualize,” says Dickinson. Every year a personalized program plan is developed with each client, in which staff and family or caregivers discuss his or her likes and dislikes, and goals are set for the year. For example, does this person want to take a particular kind of trip? Is there someone he or she wants to meet? “Staff ensure that the clients are aware of their options, and that activities are done with them and not for them,” says Muriel Scott, divisional program development manager, Ontario Central-East Division, and former executive director of Broadview Village.

Broadview by the Numbers
• Broadview Village is composed of eight different houses (five on-site and three off-site) with 68 residents.
• 135 staff members work at Broadview in shifts, with two or three staff members present in every house during waking hours, and one staff member overnight.
• In 2009, five staff members joined the Over 20 Club, celebrating 20 years spent working at Broadview.
• Each resident takes about two weeks of vacation a year, usually travelling together with others from their house.
• The youngest resident at Broadview is 24. Most are between 35 and 50.
• Broadview Village has had only two openings for new residents in the last two years.

Residents and staff develop firm bonds. They cook and clean together, celebrate birthdays together and become like family. Counsellor Tham Van Le jokes that he has taken on a number of jobs by working at Broadview. “Let me see, I'm a cook, an accountant, a friend,” he smiles. But the proof Van Le loves his job is in his longevity—he is one of several employees who have served more than 20 years at Broadview. “The best thing about working here is their sense of wonder,” he says about his clients. “It gives me hope.”

Strawberry Fair
As a former chaplain at Broadview, Colonel Tracey Tidd, territorial secretary for women's ministries, advocates for more Salvationists to get involved with ministry to people with developmental disabilities. “It can be difficult to make connections between places like Broadview and Salvation Army churches,” says Colonel Tidd. “Many people don't understand developmental disabilities and they don't know how to approach the residents.” But she believes it's important to involve Salvation Army corps in Broadview's work as much as possible, whether through joint services, performances by bands and choirs or simply visiting.

Fortunately there are a number of events that help to promote awareness and draw Salvationists together with Broadview residents, staff, family members and volunteers. The Strawberry Fair, held every June, is the biggest of these—a chance to celebrate Broadview and raise funds for its clients.

At this year's Strawberry Fair, live music was presented throughout the afternoon, with residents joining in the singing and dancing. A number of tables offered different items for sale, such as books, crafts made by the residents, barbecued food, clothing and baked goods. The Agincourt Community Church Band and the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Chorus both performed. Every year the fair is organized by the Friends and Families of Broadview Village, a group of volunteers comprised primarily of family of residents or past staff members. Some of these volunteers have helped out at the fair for 30 years.

“Volunteering not only helps others, but it gives us a great deal of personal satisfaction,” says Bonnie Evans, chair of the group. “It is a joy to see how happy the residents are on the Strawberry Fair day.”

Broadview's connection to The Salvation Army also endures through its Christian focus. The chaplain visits each house once a month, introducing a theme, such as the armour of God, through music, crafts and Bible games. At the day program, Christian education is held once a week, and grace is said before meals. Nicky Hall, day program co-ordinator, has noticed that prayer is a therapeutic tool for residents who have experienced stressful or upsetting events: “When you pray for someone else, it's about what you and God can do for them, not what they did to you.”

A Growing Village
Funding is always an issue for Broadview Village, especially as many of the residents age. Recently, Broadview has been saving up for a new elevator so that residents in wheelchairs can access activities in other houses. Increasingly, residents who are becoming less mobile depend on staff support during the day, a service for which Broadview does not receive funding.

Despite these setbacks, Broadview continues to expand. Several years ago the day program began offering some residents a one-week vacation to Jackson's Point Conference Centre, giving their families some time to relax. A weeklong after-school program for children with developmental disabilities was also launched, with 14 children participating. The enrichment program hopes to expand both of those initiatives in the future.

For 40 years, Broadview has seen many changes, but the focus is always the same. As Major Rex Colbourne, former executive director, puts it simply, “They try to be God's hands extended.”

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A History of Broadview

Just like the city around it, Broadview Village has changed over the years. The location was originally known as Chester Park and housed a mansion belonging to a wealthy neighbourhood family. In 1940, The Salvation Army bought the land and transformed it into The Nest, a home for emotionally challenged children.

In the mid-1970s, The Nest became a home for adolescents with developmental disabilities and officially became known as Broadview Village. When the first generation of teens reached adulthood, it was expected that they'd move on to other homes. As it turned out, the wait lists for such residences were growing longer and longer. And so the village became a facility for adults, officially changing its mandate in 1997.