The spotlight was shining on two organizations last week during a luncheon hosted by the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon was in celebration of Small Business Week.  

Bev Wiebe, Central Station Executive Director shared with the local and regional business community what Central Station does, and why they exist. 

“In the last year and a half, we've been focusing on refining what our focus should be and came down to developing partnerships as a key component, a key pillar. Providing a really safe and comfortable community space is a huge pillar. Providing a voice for the voiceless. People that maybe don't have a voice or have lost their voice. As well as focusing on safe, affordable housing. So, those four pillars are ones that we want to remain true to and put our focus on.”   

“Wiebe says they have found that a lot of community members will come through the doors looking for resources or looking for help in some capacity. She said these people have “lost their voice.” She said they don't feel like they’ve been heard, they don't know where to go, and maybe just don't have the courage.   

“So sometimes it's about offering resources. Sometimes it's about sitting and listening to their stories and sharing it on their behalf.”  

Wiebe noted there are currently 91 families on a wait list for affordable housing in our community. She adds that's why it's so important for them to champion the voices of the families that are sitting on that wait list, and go to the city, developers, and the community to say, 'how are we going to fix this?'   

"To do that on their own, it's not always easy. And so, we collectively as an organization want to provide that voice for them, where we see that need."  

Meanwhile, Central Station has been named the 2022 PW Enns Non-Profit of the Year. 

"It's an incredible honor to be recognized as the non-profit for the year," said Wiebe. "It's an honor being selected for one, and also just have the opportunity to share why we do what we do, and what we're doing in the Community. I think a lot of people hear the the name Central Station, but don't necessarily know what we're doing or what the benefit is for community members, so it's a value valuable experience to be able to share that with people attending the gala as well as just with the community at large." 

This year's PW Ens Business Award recipients will be recognized at a gala on November 9th. 

Megan franklin, the owner of Frank + Olive, a wellness collective in Winkler was also invited to share with the business community during Thursday's Small Business Week luncheon last week. 
 

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