Impact Award: Inspirational Women by Peri Hayes Sam Daniel and Julia Margetts, founders of Our Place Respite Inc., launched their organization nearly eight years ago and became a not- for-profit last October. Our Place Respite proudly serves 37 families and counting, with 11 devoted staff on the team. Julia introduces: “We are a day support program for an age range of adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. This is an environment where individuals have space to be themselves and feel safe -- this is for them, which is why we’re called ‘Our Place’.” As Sam proceeds, “On paper, we detail our activities and planned programming. As a daily practice, we also support emotional and social skills through self- expression, regulation, problem solving and more.” About the client-centred Our Place Respite, Sam exclaims, “What excites us here is every tiny thing. If someone in our community comments on our Facebook page, we run through the space celebrating; myFM once brought us lunch, and it was as if we had won the Nobel Prize. We are always having our fire lit, and have evolved so much over these eight years as we consistently work toward our next goal.” Beaming about their collaborative opportunities, Sam and Julia voice with passion, “We are not here to fill time, we are here to spend our days together. We are dedicated to having conversations surrounding mental health; advocating for the individuals we serve and learning from their perspectives on life. Our incredible staff are also always willing to have fun and try new things.” From administration to program design, staffing and working the floor on a weekly basis, this dynamic duo are evidently committed to their craft. Having recently been presented with the Inspirational Women Impact Award, Julia expresses, “It feels great to be recognized by our peers, while drawing attention to
Photo by Shutter Studios
the underserved community we support. We do not receive any subsidy for our program, and are determined to increase our funding for further growing our service. This recognition certainly validates our work, and we hope that our award will shine light on what we are advocating for -- better funding for these individuals.” Regarding long-term ambitions, Sam and Julia share their objectives: securing their own building for operating pro- gramming, as well as ensuring accessible apartments in the local area. “To support the housing crisis in this sector is a goal that we are working toward, and to take a bit of that burden away would be huge for us,” urges Julia. Our Place Respite Inc. operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and is located upstairs at Central United Church, 135 Wellington Street. They are graciously accepting donations, including materials for their art-based programming. Updates about the organization are available on the ‘Our Place Respite’ Facebook page, along with their Amazon wishlist for those interested in contributing. Kindly direct inquiries via email or phone: julia.sam@ourplacerespite.com and 226-998-2927.
in your home. Pride
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Hometown St. Thomas • June 2026 • Page 25
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