We better the lives of those with intellectual disabilities by raising the standard of support, building healthy relationships, and creating opportunities for them to invest in and be valued by society.
We carry this out through a variety of unique initiatives and traditional residential and daytime supports.
Back in 1988 when acid wash jeans and the walkman were cool, our very first home opened up. There was a desire for the gentlemen that lived there to be apart of purposeful activities during the day and that was the beginning of our first day program.
From there some pretty exciting things have happened. We continued to grow and have homes and Day Programs scattered throughout the city that support some of Saskatoon’s finest.
A while back we asked a question that propelled us onto a new journey that has begun to create waves in places further than we could have imagined. We wanted to do more for those we support and so we asked, How do people live their best live?
We discovered that people live their best lives when they have healthy meaningful relationships and the solution can be can be summed up in our “Do Love First” Philosophy. You can read more about that if you scroll down. This method allows us to communicate to others that they are loved, not through explanation but rather through action. Now we are on a journey to help people have healthy relationships and see the value of that people with disabilities have.
When we started out we had no idea we were creating a philosophy that would change the direction of our agency and profoundly impact the lives of our staff and those we support. It all started with the question, “How do People Live their best lives?”
The answer was as simple and complicated as the question, at the core of all people is the same truth, people live their best lives when they are involved in healthy meaningful relationships.
At Light of the Prairies, Do Love First is the guiding tool and philosophy that shapes how we provide support to the individuals we serve, and how we engage with families, coworkers, and the wider community.
We know that relationships are central to life. When they are healthy, they give us the strength to overcome challenges. When they are struggling, they can affect every part of life and even become overwhelming. The people we support often feel this more strongly than most, as they are quick to sense the tone of interactions and respond to the way others engage with them.
Because of this, it is essential that they are surrounded by healthy, supportive relationships. This understanding is at the heart of the Do Love First approach.
Grounded in ten core practices, Do Love First provides a framework for building meaningful relationships and creating positive connections. It helps ensure that each interaction communicates respect, value, and belonging—strengthening relationships across every part of our community.
