Executive Director of the Wapiti Community Support Association Kathy Lambert and Saint Lawrence Centre Project Lead Jared Gossen unveil the new branding for the former Rotary House (Photo supplied by Kathy Lambert)

By Shaun Penner

Wapiti Community Support Associations

Rotary House gets new name: Wapiti House

Aug 4, 2021 | 2:48 PM

Rotary House, and the group behind its operation, are now sporting new names to honour 10 years of operations at the shelter.

Grande Prairie’s emergency shelter will now go by the name Wapiti House. The Wapiti Community Dorm Society, the group that runs the shelter, will now go by the name Wapiti Community Support Association.

Executive Director of the Wapiti Community Support Association Kathy Lambert says the name change is intended to better reflect the wide range of services the organization offers to Grande Prairie’s street-engaged population, as they now support individuals beyond the shelter’s walls.

“We’ve had quite a few programs that have been implemented at the shelter, such as the Housing/Outreach Hybrid Team,” said Lambert, adding they also offer supportive housing on the second and third floor, and teamed up with the Saint Lawrence Centre, the daytime drop-in shelter, in 2020.

“We’ve expanded and we’re actually supporting people in the community, to maintain their housing,” Lambert added. “So, we just felt that it better reflects the services that we are providing to the vulnerable population.”

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The former Rotary House was built following contributions in late 2009 from the city, provincial and federal governments, and the four Rotary Clubs in Grande Prairie.

Lambert says Rotary has been a tremendous support to the organization and the street engaged population in the city.

“They have been a big supporter, obviously with the building initially, and they have continued to support us with needs that we have at the shelter, and then their full support with the rebranding.”

Lambert adds they have also received contributions from Nine10, Image Design, and Speedpro Signs to help complete their rebrand.