The Club Inclusion
Nominator Comments:
It is no exaggeration to say that Justin Eweka really is at the heart of The Club Inclusion. Since the first day we started programs, Justin has volunteered and supported people with complex disabilities and challenges to take part in a wide range of activities. He always knows how to make even the most nervous person feel completely at home, and his jokes and humour are one of the things that make The Club Inclusion special. Since 2010 we have been lucky to have Justin as part of our staff team, employed on a part-time, casual basis. Although the re-numeration for this role isn’t great, Justin has always given 100%, even volunteering when he’s not working and showing an extraordinary level of commitment. He builds the confidence of members, laughs them out of their nerves, leads by example, and pushes them to meet their goals. Justin Eweka has developed a Walking Club and helped members train for the Bluenose Marathon; he has also developed an activity program (funded by the United Way) that provides personal and group coaching for members. You cannot leave Club on a Thursday without Justin making you do a push up! Justin’s twin sister Jenn was a member of the Club for many years, but sadly she passed away just over a year ago. We were worried that Justin would not be able to carry on working with us, especially since it would always be a reminder of this huge loss. However Justin not only committed to continuing to support others at The Club, he went above and beyond in this. Last June we held a large ‘Prom’ dance and Justin paid, out of his own money, for a huge surprise for us all. Our members couldn’t believe it when a huge white stretch limo arrived to take people on rides around the local area. Many people had never been in a limo before, and Justin made sure it was accessible to everyone. He spent the evening lifting people out of their wheelchairs and into this fabulous vehicle, to help them have a night to remember forever! Although we offered to reimburse Justin for a portion of the costs of the limo, he would not accept it. He expected no reward, other than to see the joy on the faces of those who took part.
