The Wor-Kin Shop was able to show "a modest profit" from the past year, but that will be more of a challenge in the coming year with government funding not keeping up to expenses, the board heard at its annual meeting on June 21.

The organization provides a centre where those who are mentally challenged can learn and also make a living, providing services through the SARCAN bottle depot and a woodworking shop, which turns out products ranging from pallets to picnic tables.

Manager Dean Ror said the activity centre, which mainly is involved with the paper and cardboard recycling aspect of the Wor-Kin Shop, ran at a loss last year, but this was made up for by the woodworking shop. The SARCAN operation also contributed a small amount towards the surplus.

The SARCAN depot, which is run as a separate entity from the paper recycling operation, saw 5.2 million items handled (pop cans and bottles, beer bottles, glass bottles with a deposit, tetrapak boxes) this year, which is up by about 300,000 items from the year before, said Ror.

The cardboard and paper recycling operation shipped approximately 450 metric tonnes, which is about the same as last year, he added.

Sales from the woodworking shop were down marginally, but the net result was about the same for the shop, said Ror.

The main concern of the board, he explained, arose out of the provincial budget.

"We're concerned as everyone is in our business, that we had a small increase from the provincial government for wages (one per cent) and no increase for any of the other expenses, so we're under-funded for utilities, for our insurance, and for our city taxes," said Ror. "With the restraints in funding, we're in a fairly tight mode for our day-to-day operations, and we anticipated that, knowing the economics of the province, so we've been trying to govern ourselves accordingly."

As utility rates increase, however, this means the shop needs to increase revenues from its activities.

In addition, the board has been doing some planning for the future, knowing that a number of their clients are beginning to get older, and their needs are changing as they do so.

"All our programs are on a review basis. We still do look at the situations, as those expenditures are still there," he said.

Some renovations are going to be needed as the organization has been in their current building since 1998. Discussions have begun with the city's Environmental Resources Committee, and a meeting is slated for the fall to talk about the future of the paper and cardboard recycling program.

One future service that may be possible is to provide confidential shredding services, said Ror. The Wor-Kin Shop has purchased an industrial shredder, so an area of the building will need to be renovated to be secure and enclosed, and training provided to staff so that service can begin at some point in the next year.

"We are looking at maybe doing some changes in the facility so we can accommodate some of the needs of individuals who are here and those who will be coming in to our facility in the next four to five years," said Ror.

The election of officers was not dealt with at the annual meeting, but will be set at the first meeting held in September.