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SmartCL branches out with business

If you live in Sicamous, it’s likely you know Brandon Scott. And if you’ve bumped into Brandon lately, you’re sure to have noticed a change.
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Good work: Brandon Scott clears tables at Tim Hortons as Mike Viala scrubs in the background. Scott is a client of SmartCL

If you live in Sicamous, it’s likely you know Brandon Scott. And if you’ve bumped into Brandon lately, you’re sure to have noticed a change.

Brandon’s father, Rob Scott, says his neighbours and pretty much everyone who knows Brandon have commented on the newfound happiness that emanates from the young man. This is due largely to two things: Mike Viala and Sicamous’ business community.

Viala is the liaison officer with the Sicamous-Malakwa Adult Resource Training for Community Living Society (SmartCL). His job is to help SmartCL clients like Brandon integrate with the community through employment. Tim Hortons and Waterway Houseboats have both taken Brandon on, and  the results, says Viala, have been excellent.

“They’re very keen on having a chance to see how the work is done first, so they’re not taking the risk of hiring someone and worrying they may not be able to keep them,” says Viala, who works alongside Brandon at the workplace, but not for him. “So far the results have been very good; they’ve been extremely happy with Brandon’s work.”

The addition of Viala is just one of the changes SmartCL has undergone since it formed in 2006 with the goal of fostering independence in adults with special needs while helping to improve their quality of life. Smart Shredders is the latest initiative to help meet that end.

“What we’re going to offer is either in-house shredding for commercial or personal documents, or we can pick up the documents and shred them offsite,” says Rob, a co-founder of SmartCL.

Smart Shredders will employ SmartCL clients, and in turn allow them to experience what Brandon is currently enjoying.

“He’s so happy now,” says Rob. “He’s got something in life worthwhile doing. He’s happy going to work.”

Anyone wanting more information about Smart Shredders or SmartCL may contact Rob at 250-836-3366.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor of the Salmon Arm Observer, Shuswap Market, and Eagle Valley News. I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to keep our readers informed and engaged.
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