Giving thanks to those that have helped Wayfinders Wellness Retreat grow its place in the community, You and Yours Painting owner Omid Hedayat received the organization's Community Appreciation Award.
Calgary Police Services Det. and Wayfinder co-founder Paul Wagman along with two other members of the group were on hand Jan. 25 to give thanks to Hedayat for his support of the retreat located at the historic WineGlass Ranch, just southwest of Cochrane.
It was humbling to receive the award, Hedayat said, explaining how his work with Wayfinders has transformed the way You and Yours Painting engages with the community. He said he is hoping to continue working with the Cochrane community and is currently exploring ways to work with lower-income seniors and continue volunteering.
Hedayat connected to the retreat through Wayfinders member Bob Dolan. Hedayat said he was compelled to work with the retreat because of its focus on aiding first responders and military members who are healing from post-traumatic stress disorders.
“What the first responders do, both military and police, EMS – there’s no real way to pay them back either then saying thank you to them on the street,” Hedayat said. “This was a really meaningful way for us to say that.”
Wayfinders Wellness Retreat is centred on providing peer-to-peer support and resources for help with mental health.
Hedayat has played a critical role in helping with the restoration of the original homestead, which serves as a base for the retreat. During the restoration of the WineGlass homestead, Wayfinders has emphasized working with and supporting local businesses.
The ranch is quickly becoming a welcoming and peaceful retreat for Wayfinders members, Wagman said, largely because of the support it has received from local businesses.
He added the retreat recently received $9,000 in new appliances from Bowest Appliances, including a fridge, stove and deep freeze, for the ranch.
Wayfinders also received $2,000 from the Canadian Walk for Veterans to help repair eavestroughing on buildings at the ranch. He said the need for the retreat grows each day as the traumas faced by first responders continue to increase. It has been thrilling seeing the space slowly transform into a welcoming oasis focussed on helping those in need heal from the wounds inflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder.
“We’re using it now, we’re using it almost on a daily basis,” Wagman said, adding he is grateful for the continued and growing support Wayfinders has received from the Cochrane community and local businesses.
He explained the support from community members like Hedayat and You and Yours Painting bolsters the spirits of Wayfinders members as they work to restore the ranch.
“It’s important that we’re keeping this moving quickly, this can’t sit idly, we want to build on momentum,” Wagman said. “It’s important we want to get this, not just nicely useable, we want it to feel warm so it's a real treat [and escape] for some of the horrible, horrible things we’ve had to see.”
Wayfinders continues to expand the programs it offers. A recent addition has been the monthly drum circle.
Visit wayfinderswellness.ca or Wayfinders Wellness Facebook page for more details.
