Selkirk Support Centre - Selkirk, Manitoba

ara S.

first off: despite that the hours posted on google and on their website (when i originally checked) stated it's open til 1:30 or 3 or whatever, this place closes by 11:30am.

second: there are many rules for eating the 11am lunch. so if your eyes are bigger than your belly and you accidentally take more than you can eat, you will not be permited to eat there for the week or something like that if you throw the excess out, as another rule is that you are not permitted to take any food home. * i have no idea how the food tastes as the wonderful volunteers at the soup kitchen in the area provide a much more comfortable and less oppressive environment, along with tasty lunches

and lastly: i was spoken to as though i'm mentally challenged and also witnessed one of the workers who runs the centre speak to other folx in a disrespectful way, as though they were mentally deficient or otherwise unworthy of being treated like everyone else who didn't have a mental illness, and this happened on more than one occassion. in one instance, a client needed her bangs trimmed and asked the worker to do it, the worker said no in what i can only describe as an unnecessary condescending tone. it irked me and i immediately offered to cut her bangs. as i had no scissors, we were going to arrange a day to do it, when the worker, again in an unnecessary tone, almost mean-like, stated "not here you won't". so, while it was ok for the worker to cut a clients' bangs in the support centre, it was NOT ok for a fellow client to do it in the support centre, and apparently we needed to be spoken to as though we were preparing to do something wrong.

i have now fled this "support centre" 3 times as quick as i could, due to my cptsd being triggered by this workers' disrespectful words and vibes. the one time i felt comfortable there was when this worker wasn't working.

the centre itself houses many books, games and puzzles, and a tv is always on. one is permitted to use the washrooms but clients are NOT permitted to spend more than a few minutes doing their business and then take the time to wash-up as otherwise they will be told "i'm going to need you to not spend so much time in there. that's not what it's for..." by that worker.

the centre also provides the daily newspaper for clients to read, which is why i would go there. but the library provides even more to read, plus there's the added bonus of the librarians treating me, and everyone else, with respect.

Geannine G.