Proposed retreat for first responders gains support, while RM prepares to vote on land use application

Arsenal K-9 donated a total of $2,000. For every training package sold, $100 went towards the project donation. The business also held a raffle and had a number of donations from local businesses.

Reflecting back on his own situation, forced to leave work due to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Arsenault explained he fought for years with the workers compensation board (WCB) to get help but there was no help around. In th end he found himself suffering at home alone.

“I didn’t do anything. I was stuck at home, had no outlets, so I think that took a toll,” he said.

A picture taken last year of project co-founder Jeff Reeder, at the well secluded site. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Michelle McKeaveney has been involved with the project since day one and told paNOW the funds from Arsenal K-9 will help people attend the current day retreats, where meals are provided.

With respect to next week’s public hearing and council’s subsequent vote, McKeaveney said she trusts that the RM council will respect the landowner’s right to do with their land as they wish.

“I don’t think anyone should have a right to dictate who is allowed to come to someone else’s property. If we had to phone the RM to say who can sleep over at your house, I think the RM would be inundated and that’s absolutely ludicrous,” she said.

Despite the group’s good intentions to provide a support for first responders such as correctional officers, police officers or fire fighters, McKeaveney acknowledged there has been some backlash from neighbours and some inaccurate information about the project posted to social media.

“We’ve heard our demographic should be closer to town because they are crazy or they are unstable. We find that very disheartening,” she said.

McKeaveney added other people have suggested the first responders should be able to afford their vacations.

“This is not a spa. This is simply a place to rest. We have seven chairs, we don’t have jacuzzis. We dont require it and we dont need it,” she said, adding the most disheartening part is seeing how much people have benefitted from just a short stay.

A gofundme, created by a local fire fighter, has to date raised over $6,700. McKeaveney explained they initially set out to raise $350,000, but have since lowered their plans to something more modest and are focused now on buying two portable dwellings, which run in the area of $52,000 each and will be purchased through CORCAN at Saskatchewan Penitentiary. CORCAN is a rehabilitation program of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). It contributes to safe communities by providing offenders with employment and employability skills training while incarcerated in federal penitentiaries, and for brief periods of time, after they are released into the community.

“So it’s really inmates and the government investing back into the people that worked there, so it’s really a brilliant partnership,” McKeaveney said.

Jeff Reeder, co-founder of the project and director of equine operations, hopes council and local neighbours can see the project for what it is.

“It’s not intrusive. People have the right to find recovery and nature based healing and that’s what we are there to provide,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Proposed retreat for first responders gains support, while RM prepares to vote on land use application

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