Semiahmoo House Society’s Customized Employment received a call from Morrison Cafe. Staff said Tanja was great, they believed in our program and did we have another employee? Morrison’s chefs, Lindsay and Matt, met with Vocational Counsellor Dana L. Miller, who suggested they hire Lan Tran.

In May 2010, Miller advised that Lan was experienced in the food services, avidly watched cooking shows and spent time in her evenings with Miller, a Red Seal Chef, to learn more cooking skills and to study for her Food Safe Certificate. Matt and Lindsay embraced hiring Lan.

Within two weeks, Lan’s work performance impressed her employer, Pat Macri, and an increase in shifts was offered. Seven months later, Lan continues to quietly wash dishes at a rapid rate with a requested reduced schedule to explore other life skills and community activity.

The Vocational Counsellor stays in contact with Lan and her employer to ensure success, “If they ever require us, we help make changes, be it in communicating needs, scheduling or in training,” said Miller. In June, Pat required another staff to fill more shifts. Morrison Cafe, a community employer with heart, had become a repeat customer of Customized Employment.

On November 4th 2010, Morrison Café was recognized for providing two years of paid community employment opportunities to the lives of three people with disabilities.