Cosmo’s void felt most by program participants

The closing of Cosmopolitan Industries in Saskatoon last week was a piece of bitter news for its participants.

Better known as Cosmo, the special needs organization which provides workplace training and opportunities for adults with intellectual challenges had roughly 400 people working and taking part in programs at its four locations in Saskatoon until the company decided to close for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 1.

Warren Gillies is one of those participants working. He was a little heartbroken to say goodbye.

“That kind of got me a little bit upset, because that’s one of my job placements every Monday,” Gillies said of his weekly job at the main facility on 34th Street.

In addition to his work at the main office, Gillies spends another three days of the week at a fire hall with other Cosmo members in Saskatoon.

Not being at Cosmo has Gillies missing plenty of friends and staff, but being at home isn’t going to stop him from helping his community.

“I was actually outside shoveling snow for my mom and for neighbours,” Gillies said of his biggest project since being at home.

“I know that all of us are supposed to be in our houses isolating, but I’m not going to let this coronavirus stop me from going outside and doing snow shoveling. I know there’s a lot of people right now who can’t call people to come and do shoveling because that’s a lot of money, and I know there’s a lot of people not working right now, so I’m happy I get to go outside and shovel.”

Gillies admits he’s a little annoyed to be stuck at home with few places remaining open during the pandemic.

His mom, Darla Janzen, sure appreciates seeing her son make the most of his time at home by shoveling snow for neighbours.

“When he did come home, he was flashing $10 to me saying, ‘Don’t be mad, I kept my social distance, but the people from the red house gave me $10,'” Janzen said.

“I just thought that was kind of neat — people in the neighbourhood appreciated him, and he was pretty proud.”

For Janzen, the closing of Cosmo brought the reality of COVID-19 closer to home.

“I was actually really surprised because Cosmo is the kind of place that always prides itself on being an essential service. (Participants) need those day program options and a place to go every day that they feel busy,” Janzen said.

Being able to work from home during the pandemic, Janzen was quickly able to accommodate the closure and spend time with Gillies to fill the void left by Cosmo.

Janzen worked at Cosmo for 12 years, so she’s fully understanding of how important and helpful staff and employees working with her son every day are. But after Cosmo’s closure, she appreciates them even more.

“Absolutely, because they provide such an array of services. There’s really no other place like it,” she said.

“Without it, there’s just a real sadness — people aren’t able to connect.”