2018 was an extremely busy year for staff and clients at Blue Sky Opportunities in Altona, according to general manager, Richard Neufeld.

General Manager, Richard NeufeldNeufeld took some time at the organizations' 41st annual fundraising banquet on Thursday to update donors on the past year.

"We're still learning about our new recycling program, even though it's been going on for a year-and-a-half because we're doing so many things differently than we did before. That's been a big learning curve," he said.

The year also saw 4 individuals enter the day program following high school graduation.

"That's been very interesting getting to know new people and trying to understand their needs, and working to try to help them fulfill their goals and aspirations," noted Neufeld.

Looking ahead, he said the hope is to tie up the loose ends of the recycling plant project and move on to something new.

Neufeld explains the organization's infrastructure is beginning to show its age, and he expects another capital project in the next 5 years or so to replace at least one of the homes used to support adults with intellectual disabilities. Blue Sky Opportunities currently operates 10 in Altona supporting adults with intellectual disabilities.

Meantime, Neufeld is working at the provincial level to try and improve supports for staff and clients at Blue Sky Opportunities and at similar organizations in Manitoba.

He is currently campaigning as part of an Abilities Manitoba initiative to improve wages for direct support staff.

And while he can't say much about the initiative quite yet, Neufeld is also working with a provincial committee to update day-program supports in Manitoba with a focus on getting as many people gainfully employed in the community as possible.