Support for life in the community.
Community Living Interlake
Houses & Programs
At Community Living Interlake we support Individuals who live with Intellectual Disabilities. We work with them to provide housing, day programs, and employment training. We help them in leading meaningful lives in a fully integrated community. We manage 5 houses and several apartments in Stonewall, provide a day program service, and offer job training.
Mission and Vision
Vision
The Association for Community Living Interlake Branch recognizes the value of every person and believes that people living with an intellectual disability are individuals; each of whom has rights as community members.
Mission
Community Living Interlake is a non-profit organization. It is dedicated to supporting individuals living with an intellectual disability. Their goal is for these individuals to live a fully inclusive life as members of the community.
News and Updates
International/National/Provincial Exposure
Here we are, a small Community Living Association, serving a dispersed clientele in rural Manitoba and we have had positive news coverage on a national level twice since the last board meeting. I am extremely proud of the staff who have made these things happen. Seven years ago, we started a program to raise our profile. We aimed to integrate into the community and create awareness of our programs. This was for the benefit of the people we support. We never imagined in our wildest dreams that we would be featured in national media stories. Our innovative and beneficial work strives to make this a reality.
First – Communities In Bloom
At the International Symposium and Awards Ceremony held in Victoria B.C., CLI received an amazing acknowledgment and Special Mention by the National judges. In their press release the judges wrote:
“Every day for over 50 years, the Association for Community Living Interlake has provided food, job coaching, and basic care for over 100 adults who live with intellectual disabilities. They provide housing for 25 individuals in five homes and several apartments. Their daily program supports and provides for more than 50 who live in Stonewall and surrounding communities. Their services provide vital help to the people they support through their social enterprise Something Beautiful Café and Gift Shop, providing hands on job training and skills development resulting in opportunities for individuals to gain employment. Additionally, they provide opportunities for individuals to integrate with the community, lead meaningful lives, and contribute to their hometown. Revenues raised through social enterprise help support recreation for all of the individuals. They also aid in purchasing specialized equipment like computers and enabling productive lives. Congratulations Stonewall”.
History
The Association for Community Living – Interlake (CLI) was founded, by a service club and concerned parents in 1965 to create a private school for students, living with intellectual disabilities. At that time these children were not allowed access to any form of education within the public school system. This was a time of societal change. The school system began to offer public education to all children. The parental organization shifted its focus from providing education to providing housing.
The school system became more inclusive. As a result, CLI began to concentrate on providing other needed services. These services include housing, skills training, and employment counseling. The focus of the organization shifted from school age children to adults, from age 21 until end of life care
Houses & Programs
Today CLI owns and operates 5 houses, located throughout Stonewall providing houses for 21 individuals. CLI also provides needs-based support to 5-8 individuals who live in their own apartments.
The organization has relocated from a back street. It now operates as a 10,000 sq foot storefront at the corner of 1st Ave and Main Street. In total, we offer support to approx. 25 people with their daily living.
Additionally, we operate a day program where over 40 individuals receive care and skills training. When funding is available, we offer a summer program for people under 21. We also provide an adult leisure program for aging and infirm individuals, some of whom are in their 70’s. CLI offers skills training to its clients. Vocational training is provided through the operation of two social enterprise businesses, a café and a gift shop.
Social Enterprise – Final Pop Up Dec 24, 2025
After much thought and consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Something Beautiful Store and Cafe at 6pm on Friday September 26, 2025.
We want to sincerely thank our customers and supporters for embracing this vision and making Something Beautiful a part of the Stonewall community. Your generosity, encouragement, and kindness have meant so much.
We are especially grateful to the people supported and staff whose passion and commitment brought warmth and welcome to every visit.
While this chapter is coming to a close, please know that this decision allows Community Living Interlake to focus our resources more directly on programs that support the people we serve.
From the bottom of our hearts – Thank You for helping us create Something Beautiful.
Please watch Facebook and Instagram for more details on our Final Pop Up Sales. Gift Cards will be redeemable until Dec 24, 2025.
Volunteer board
Board Chair Lisa Highmoor
Vice Chair Robin Varndell
Treasurer Stephen Clark
Secretary Lisa Tully
Board Member Ila Buchanan
Board Member Sara Tolsma
Board Member Alan Campbell
Board Member Karen Klassen
Executive Director
Tracy Fidler
Community Living Interlake 