Futuristic Industries is celebrating 50 years in Humboldt in many different ways, including this exhibit at the Humboldt and District Museum. (Submitted photo/Becky Zimmer)

By Becky Zimmer

Futuristic Industries turns 50

Everything golden as Futuristic prepares for 50 more years in Humboldt

May 29, 2023 | 8:00 AM

Futuristic Industries in Humboldt has a lot to celebrate this year.

The local service organization has been in the community for 50 years, offering support and opportunities to hundreds of individuals with disabilities during that time. According to their website, Futuristic’s main goal is to help individuals gain as much independence as possible through community engagement; money, reading, work, and communication skill building, training, recreational opportunities, and volunteering. Besides partnering with other businesses and organizations, Futuristic also offers many of these supports on site with day programming activities, their own workshop space that sees individuals build custom and catalog ready hand-crafted woodworking and their recycling program, which offers pick-up and shredding services to the community.

A lot has changed in 50 years, let alone the nearly five years that executive director, Ray Whitton, has been part of the organization. The work of the last few decades is just leading up to the work of the next five, he said.

“Those milestones don’t happen without, to be quite frank, the love and support and the work that goes on within this building, the staff, the support staff, the board of directors, and even our own community,” said Whitton.

The organizational focus of the last few years has been to get their individuals involved in the community, and Humboldt residents are seeing it, whether the group is crafting and reading with the students at HPS, or volunteering and partnering with other community organizations like Humboldt Sobeys, the Humboldt SPCA or St. Andrew’s Church.

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“These are folks that are actively giving back to the community that has supported them so well,” said Whitton. “But in addition, they’re actively involved in the community in other ways.”

Community coordinator, Stephanie Keller, sees the joy their individuals bring to any room, and members of the community that always get a smile, a wave, a high-five, or a hug when they see them out for their morning walks or cheering on their favourite Humboldt Broncos are the Elgar Petersen Arena.

Being a member of the staff, Keller said the work is very heart-happy work.

“Just doing music with them, you’ll see nonverbal people expressing their feelings and to see them, they’re amazing. They light up any world and that’s what everybody takes away from them.”

Longtime staff member Terri Doepker is also celebrating this year after 40 years with the organization. Doepker started with Futuristic in 1983, and has seen the building, the programming, and the community change and expand year after year. She sees no reason to stop now as she still enjoys working with everyone at Futuristic, from finding what the individuals enjoy to helping them get involved in the community.

That is the biggest message Whitton wants people to understand. Their individuals have hopes, dreams, and goals, they’ve just all found a way to follow them that works for them or they need a little extra love and support to get there.

“Ultimately the decisions, good or other, are entirely up to them.”

The Humboldt and District Museum’s current exhibit is celebrating Futuristic and their 50 years of success. Everyone is welcome to come in and get to know the individuals at Futuristic through their artwork until June 16.