LAKELAND – The Capella Centre, a St. Paul-based women’s shelter helping women and children escape domestic violence, that serves much of the Lakeland area, welcomed a new executive director earlier this month.
Jack McIntyre, originally from Saskatoon, graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1988 and moved to St. Paul. He worked for two years in child welfare, and four years as an addiction counselor. Then he was the residential director of St. Paul Abilities Network (SPAN) for 13 years.
He also became the placement coordinator with Alberta Health Services (AHS) for a year, helping people get into long-term care throughout Northeastern Alberta. Followed by the endeavor, he worked part-time as a social worker at Extendicare both in Bonnyville and St. Paul. He then became the administrator of Extendicare for five years.
“Then I got sick,” in 2014, said McIntyre. "So, I decided that I just wanted to change things in my life a little bit and do things differently.”
He bought a fishing bait business for the next decade, before deciding to go back to his roots – social work. Originally, he applied for three positions with Capella - program manager, outreach supervisor, and support worker. “Then I was contacted by the board and this position was available, and that I have the skills to do it, and the board asked me if I’d take the job.”
McIntyre decided to take on the job, confident of his abilities and the experiences he gained from his extensive resume. As an administrator, a boss, a director, or “whatever... I’m one of the least important people in this building,” he said.
The people that serve the clients, “are the people that are important,” said McIntyre. “I’m just here to support them... to make sure that they’ve got the tools and the resources to do the job... [like] any training that might be required.” McIntyre added he also plans to actively train people to become leaders.
McIntyre insisted on a good working environment for the staff, to trust the staff to be able to do their job – trusting their expertise. “I told the staff I’m not going to stand over their shoulders and what they’re doing because they know their job,” and if they do have questions, they are free to approach him or their supervisor. “But my job is to look after the paperwork and make sure these guys are happy when they walk in the doors.”
If the workplace isn’t a good environment, “Who would want to go to work like that?” To listen to the giggles and laugh, “that’s the best... people enjoying being where they’re at.”
He also looks forward to expanding and building more relationships with the community. “The community built this facility,” and if it wasn’t for the community’s support and donations, as well as organizations like the AHS, the Knights of Colombus, or the Town of St. Paul who waives the Capella’s taxes, the women’s shelter would not exist.
“They see the value in the community protecting a vulnerable population... and that’s who we service,” he said.
In addition to sheltering women or children escaping an abusive environment and domestic violence, the Capella also helps them with resources to find a job, or any resources that they may need. But what always fascinates McIntyre is, “How do we stop domestic violence in a wider community? How do we stop people from hurting each other?”
He added, "If we can stop violence in the community, we don’t need places like this.”
When asked of his top priorities, McIntyre said it is to have the “best” shelter in Alberta. The method of doing so circles back to his previous points, which includes having a staff that are well-trained. “I wanted them to be able to manage and feel comfortable managing difficult situations.”
As an entity that deals with domestic violence, Capella sees people facing challenges with mental health, for example. To be able to sit and listen to them, and to manage conversations that might be “exceedingly uncomfortable,” and still be able to serve the best interest of the people they serve, is among McIntyre’s priorities.
“I want a really good service here. I want the best.”
Marisa Bader, who has been working with Capella for just over a year, said that with the new executive director, she looks forward to being able to serve their clients and the community better.
“I just really appreciate all the staff that we’ve had here, and having Jack on board has been really great so far,” said Bader.
Paula Mack, who has been working for Capella for over 11 years, also looks forward to working with McIntyre. “Every time you have a change. There’s new ideas.”
Asked if there were changes Mack would want to see, she said COVID-19 brought challenges to Capella’s programs, such its outreach program. It may still be running, but, “It’s just not as flourishing as it was.”
Mack explained, in the case of the outreach program for example, that attendance went down due to COVID-19. “I think everybody got used to not being in-person... so we’re hoping to get back to that, where we have these big groups and we’re helping more people in the community.”
The Capella’s outreach program involves working with women who leave the shelter. They offer referral supports as well as a wellness group every Wednesday night.
"We just want everybody to know that we are open, and we want to start up those programs again.”
