A Lethbridge organization that assists those living with disabilities has been forced to close its doors after the province cut funding for its programming in January.
The Southern Alberta Individualized Planning Association (SAIPA) announced Thursday afternoon that it was ceasing operations, effective March 31, following the abrupt and unforeseen loss of critical funding, making it no longer feasible to sustain its services.
“It’s a heartbreaking decision that we had to make,” said Leah Dormaar, executive director of SAIPA. “It was a hard and heavy decision that the board of directors and I had to make.”
In January, the Alberta government announced it was cutting $424,000 of combined annual funding for SAIPA, the Disability Action Hall in Calgary and the Self Advocacy Federation in Edmonton.
Dormaar says the cuts came 15 months before they were set to end in March 2026 and only gave the non-profit 90 days to find alternative funding.
“Having a big chunk of our funding cut just like that, it’s really hard to look to the future and find that sustainability,” Dormaar told CTV News on Friday.
Self-advocacy
The non-profit provided education around knowing your rights, abuse prevention and self-advocacy to more than 800 people over the past two years.
“It’s going to have a ripple affect in southern Alberta unfortunately, but I’m hoping that our chapter being closed and the chapter of SAIPA ending gives other opportunities to other organizations to give strength,” said Dormaar.
Provincial statement
A statement from the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services calls the decision to cease operations of SAIPA “unfortunate” but goes on to say that advocacy services were initiated in a much different time.
“There have been some significant changes to disability services and supports since they were established, including the dissolution of PDD boards and the establishment of the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities through the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Act.”
“Further, the Government of Alberta has introduced Family Resource Centres across the province to support individuals and their families to obtain information about disability services and understand the variety of supports and services available,” the statement read.
The province says there has been no funding cuts made to any direct services for Albertans with disabilities.
“Alberta’s government is ensuring that resources are allocated directly to connecting individuals and families to supports and services as quickly as possible. The contracts being concluded are for funding that does not provide direct front-line services to persons with disabilities, and no front-line services are affected by this decision,” the statement continued.
While Dormaar says SAIPA’s chapter is coming to a close, she wants the community to continue to advocate for the vital services.
“I really hope that they remember that just because SAIPA won’t be there doesn’t mean that they didn’t learn,” said Dormaar.
“They’ve learned a lot over the years and they can continue to do that self-advocacy and work together so they’re voices aren’t silenced either.”
