“Having a location of our own now just gives us a sense of really belonging in the community,” she said.

Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, regional councillors Deb Schulte and a representative for regional councillor Michael Di Biase were present at the opening ceremonies.

Smith and her family started Blue Veil Charity after she lost her child with special needs nearly a month after she was born. The centre is named in her honour. 

Although the SEC is non-denominational, it is rooted in the Catholic religion. When God brought Sara to the Smiths — and after they lost her — Smith in particular had a revelation through the healing process, she said. It drew her towards helping those with special needs and “we knew that this was where we could really fulfill our mission… create awareness.” 

For many years, the SEC had been short of funding for a permanent facility.

“We knew we wanted to open a centre, it was just a matter of time in terms of funding. So we were blessed to have the opportunity of being approved in the school board and then having the opportunity to work with youth,” Smith said, which they did by providing live stage musical performances, retreats and workshops.

In the search for funding, Smith said they started working with various school boards province wide, including the Catholic boards in York Region, London and Durham Region.

The SEC has been a large help to those who need it most. Board member Cathy Turco came to the organization because of her special needs daughter, Michelle. She said the SEC helped Michelle by providing her with experiences she otherwise would not have had.

“(The SEC provides) the opportunity to expand the people in their lives,” she said. “So, in other words, make friends outside their community because we’re all in the community of God, we all live together. We are divided by boundaries because we live in this area or that area, but really we all need to live in communion with each other.”

The permanent facility has also allowed the SEC to expand the services it offers to its members. It offers camps during March Break, summertime and Christmas and a social hour on Saturdays, and now offers a day program from Monday to Friday, which they could not do without a permanent space. In addition, school retreats, specifically to those in Grades 8 and 10, are offered.

Smith said with the Grade 8 students, the SEC teaches them we are all one with God and created in His image. Grade 10 students are taught everyone leaves a soul print on each other’s hearts and that “When they come to listen, when they come to visit, we want to leave a mark on their heart because when they come to listen, it’s not the words they have to listen with their ears, but they have to listen with their hearts.” Ephesians 1:18 says “open the eyes of your heart, Lord, and with it comes wisdom and understanding,” Smith said.

For those who attend the SEC, they will be accepted for who they are because the focus is on what each member can do, rather than what they can’t.

“It’s a place where everyone can shine like a star. We make everyone feel like they’re stars because they can express themselves in so many different ways… There’s no can’t in a place like this, it’s so positive that we encourage them to really express themselves,” Smith said.

For more information on the Sara Elizabeth Centre, see www.blueveil.org/sec.htm.

(Dziengo, 21, is a media studies and journalism student at the University of Guelph-Humber. Read her full profile at youthspeaknews.org)