The Pembina Counselling Centre (PCC) is celebrating 25 years of bringing a listening ear to the region, with plans to expand to Crystal City later this year.

"We are very glad to create a safe place for people to talk about their concerns," Executive Director Paul Penner says. "So they can ask the questions they need to... when people ask the real questions, the answers come a lot quicker. For us to be a part of that is very meaningful." 

Over 300 were in attendance at the Winkler Mennonite Church Thursday.

In the last year alone the PCC booked 3,000 appointments. Over 300 new individuals started their journey with centre in 2016 as well.

From young children to seniors, counsellors walk through individual's experiences of stress, grief, abuse, addictions, reconciliation and anxiety, among many others.

The Morden office opened in 1993, followed by the Winkler office in 2001.

A new location is planned for Crystal City in 2017.

Currently the centre includes five counsellors, five support staff and six board members.

At the sold-out fundraiser dinner on Thursday, Wilma Derksen shared her and her husband's emotional journey to forgiveness through art.

Wilma and her husband Cliff's daughter Candace was murdered in 1984.

Wilma has also written a new book, 'The Way of Letting Go, 15 Steps to Forgiveness.'

 

Retiring Judi Heide with Board Chair Ed Klassen, Director Paul Penner.