A well-known and well-loved social enterprise in the qathet region has announced its closure, for now.
OneLight fire starter was an inclusive manufacturing project spearheaded by inclusion Powell River (iPR) in 2020, "with a vision for inclusive employment in manufacturing with the added goal of creating products made from recycled materials," according to the OneLight website.
"Thank you to the community for all your support over the past six years,” the OneLight and iPR team stated in an announcement. “We have officially sold our last OneLight and have shut down the business, for now, in hopes that one day we can ignite again with better support for our model of inclusive employment."
Not only did OneLight provide employment opportunities for those living with diverse abilities, the convenient and quick fire starter eliminated the need for kindling and was made with 99 per cent recycled materials. The fire starter facility was located at the Townsite Public Market on Ash Avenue.
In a previous Peak story about iPR, director of social economy, Leni Goggins said that Powell River, “is an inclusive community, but there are people with disabilities not currently working that could be, if they had a more inclusive work environment.”
The sister social enterprise Kindred ReBuild, also operated by iPR, continues to support the social economy and inclusive employment at work in the region.
Join the Peak’s email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
