POP Celebrates 50 Years in Operation!

Porcupine Opportunities Program is celebrating our 50th year of operation in 2024! We held our 50th Anniversary celebration on September 6, 2024 at the Community Hall, and a great time was had by all.

We would like to thank our speakers: Tracy Slobodian (MC); Hugh Nerlien, MLA; Nick Wood, Mayor of Porcupine Plain; Melanie Weiss, SARC; Jason Kockay, Weyerhaeuser; Karl Galindez, Prayer Baptist Church.

From our beginnings in 1974 to our daily operations today, POP has been built by a great number of individuals that worked to get us here. We are so thankful for the parents and community members that filled the space in our community for individuals that would benefit from support, as well as the staff and residents that continue our story in the present day.

Porcupine Opportunities Program has grown to be an integral part of the local communities of Porcupine Plain and Hudson Bay, and we could not have done it without the following individuals:

• Founding Parent Group: Anne and Mike Kuzek; Sophie and Nick Kwiatkowski; Mavis and Mike Belchamber: Audrey and Don Leepart; Elsie and Joe Dobrowski; Mabel and Fred Seafoot; Phillipena and Herman Heine; Kathy and James Jamieson: and Marg Kraft
• Founding Board of Directors: Fred Seafoot, Herman Heine, Anne Kuzek, Mike Kuzek, Nick Kwiatkowski, Jim Jamieson, Kathy Jamieson. Other community contributors include John and Dorothy Gunderson, Merlin and Elaine Olson, and Marie Szylowski.
• Current Board of Directors: Tracy Slobodian, Tony Lau, Pat Morvik, Mary Ryhorski, Bonnie Hoffus, Mark Orendi (Town or Hudson Bay appointee), Agnes Ewen (R.M. Kelvington appointee).

Thank you to all of our current and past staff, residents, and families for playing such an important role in POP’s history.

Cheers to 50 years!