Deer Park Villa Online Fundraiser Auction

Deer Park Villa Inc. began as a group of volunteers from the town of Ituna and surrounding communities who recognized the need for intellectual disability services in our area. They went through the lengthy process of incorporating as a non-profit in 1989 which began with the formation of the first volunteer Board of Directors. Since this time, Deer Park Villa Inc. has grown into a successful organization that owns and operates three group homes, a Day Program facility, administrative offices, supported-independent living program and a four-suite apartment complex.

Funding for the first Deer Park Villa group home, later known as “Villa 1” was attained through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Government of Saskatchewan. This facility opened in 1990 and was home to Deer Park Villa’s first six participants. Vocational services for these individuals were contracted to Rail City Industries Inc. in Melville, Saskatchewan and Deer Park’s participants commuted to work there every day. 

In 1995, Deer Park Villa opened their own Day Program facility known locally as the Ituna Ability Centre. Here, the participants did baking and made crafts which were available for sale to the public. Additional funding was received through the “Coming Home, Staying Home” program and our Villa Two group home, a three-person facility, opened in 1996.

In 1998, Deer Park Villa’s Day Program moved to its current location in the “Old Hospital” building in Ituna. Nearly 200 people joined together for the grand opening celebration.

In 2005, Deer Park Villa added the Supported-Independent Living Program as well as the Park Villa apartment complex into the agency. This initiative was intended to provide independent individuals with assisted residential supports as well as other skill building programs.

In 2019/2020 the Day Program and administration offices underwent a complete renovation. This renovation encompassed approximately 4000 sq feet of the building. After many bumps in the road and the closure of the building for over a year, it was completed in May of 2020.  Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, our participants and staff were unable to experience the new activity centre until it was deemed safe to do so. Our participants, community, and government officials celebrated the official grand re-opening of the Day Program in July 2022.

With funds provided through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, renovations began in 2022 in the old town library space within the Day Program building. The renovations were completed in early 2023 and provided our participants an area to build skill and experience a variety of new employment endeavors.  The first vocational initiative was the creation of the Deer Park Villa Store, a seasonal gift store that sells participant and volunteer handmade crafts. The store held its grand opening in November 2022.

We continue to fulfill the mission that began 35 years ago and look forward to many more years of success.