Gazebo donation a gift of love to COR
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/08/2024 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon’s Ken Gordon shed a tear as he sat inside a gazebo that was built with his $90,000 donation to COR Enterprises to honour the memory of his daughter, Cherie.
It’s an open-air gazebo about the size of a three-car garage, and during the grand opening Friday afternoon, there was enough room for almost 80 people to gather for celebration and cake.
“There’s no place like COR,” said Gordon. “Everybody was so good with Cherie, and that’s why I wanted this in her memory, that’s why I invested money with them.”
Brandon’s Ken Gordon (centre, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans) waves along with several participants of COR Enterprises Inc. on Friday afternoon during the grand opening of a new open-air gazebo that was recently built beside COR’s main building with his $90,000 donation. (Photos by Michele McDougall/The Brandon Sun)
Gordon’s donation was also given on behalf of his late wife, Joyce, in memory of Cherie, who died in 2023 at the age of 58. She had been a COR participant for more than 30 years.
“Cherie loved COR, and the staff was out of this world excellent, so I wanted to give something back because of the good work that they’ve done and are still doing,” he said.
COR Enterprises Inc. is a day service for adults with intellectual or physical challenges, and has been providing training and work experience since 1978.
There are 30 program instructors and assistants who work with Brandon’s 75 participants, said COR executive director Terri Silvius.
“Our participants call it coming to work and they really show up,” Silvius said. “We have a showroom with all of their items on display, but behind the scenes there is a sewing area, a kitchen and a woodworking department.
“So, we make rocking horses, doll furniture, kids’ tables and chairs, and full-size picnic tables, lawn furniture and various decor items. Plus, our kitchen does some small contract work for outside clients, but our participants also prepare lunches, muffins and cookies for everybody here, if they want it,” she said.
“Some deliver flyers, and we even have a few on work experience at Super Thrift charity thrift store downtown.”
Funding is always a challenge, Silvius added. More than 90 per cent comes from the Manitoba government for operating costs. COR is also a United Way partner agency, UCT gives support every year and “historically, the Legion has been giving us money.”
“And we always apply for grants,” Silvius said, “Sometimes we’re successful, sometimes we’re not.”
Silvius said she had a vision for expanding the COR building because they were getting “really tight for space.” But any estimates they received were “astronomical.”
So, she said she submitted a grant application for the gazebo, but didn’t receive a reply and was prepared to organize a fundraising campaign when Ken “came through for us” and offered his donation in late May, four months after Cherie died.
“It’s one of the best things we ever built,” Silvius said. “And it has already been well-used by everybody. They have music therapy out there, they go out and do crafts, and they’ve had a nail salon day out there.”
As COR participant Tannis Figol scooped a piece of cake, she nodded in agreement.
“It’s a beautiful gazebo,” she said. “We do arts and crafts, colouring and visit with our friends. We have fun in here.”
Zach McIntosh said he helped set up the tables for the grand opening and was looking forward to the festivities.
Tannis Figol, a participant at COR Enterprises in Brandon, smiles as she enjoys a piece of cake during Friday’s grand opening.
“Terri told me it was going to be built and then all of a sudden, it was done. It’s really cool, we colour out here and visit.”
McIntosh said he remembered Cherie.
“She was quiet, to herself and was a good lady.”
Coun. Jason Splett (Ward 8) and Coun. Tyson Tame (Ward 10) were also in attendance for the grand opening. Tame said when he learned of Gordon’s donation in memory of his daughter, it pulled at his heartstrings.
“This organization gives people a purpose,” said Tame. “And that’s so valuable to help them feel productive. It’s enlightening, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
Gordon is a past board member of COR Enterprises Inc.
“COR and I have always been good friends, but I don’t remember exactly when I got the idea to donate. I’m almost 87 years old. I don’t know what happened — all of a sudden, I own a gazebo,” he said as he laughed.
“My wife Joyce and I never had a fight. Cherie always came first. Some people split because they have a child who is handicapped. But no, that gave us more reason to be together, and we were together 53 years until 2016 when she passed away,” he said.
“So, it’s from Joyce and I, to COR and Cherie.”
» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com
» X: @enviromichele