Empowering Independence Through Community Support.

Centra Cam Vocational Training Association has been a cornerstone of the Camrose community for over 44 years, providing meaningful support to individuals with disabilities. Their goal is simple but powerful: help people live with greater independence and thrive in their daily lives.

Thanks to continued support from donors, volunteers, and local businesses, Centra Cam has been able to grow their reach and expand their services. Much of their work is delivered through two key programs: COVE and CES.

COVE: Community Options and Volunteer Experiences.

COVE encourages Centra Cam’s clients to be active, engaged members of the community. The program offers a mix of developmental activities, from exercise classes and swimming to art, cooking classes, and volunteering. There’s also a strong focus on technology and communication skills—all designed to build confidence, social connections, and everyday life skills.

CES: Camrose Employment Services.

CES helps individuals prepare for, find, and keep meaningful employment. It’s broken down into three areas:

• Workability: Building the foundational skills needed for different jobs.
• Employment: Helping clients apply for jobs that match their interests and abilities.
• Job Retention: Supporting clients in the workplace and helping employers understand how to best support their new team members.

Centra Cam understands that job retention challenges often come down to social skills rather than job skills, which is why having someone to support and advocate for employees in the workplace can make all the difference.

A Day of Bowling, Laughter, and Community.

On Friday, March 14, Centra Cam hosted its 28th annual Bowl-A-Thon—a community fundraiser focused on upgrading technology and services to better support their clients.

Denise and I had the pleasure of taking part in the fun. It was a day full of bowling fun for Centra Cam volunteers, clients, and donors. Camrose Energy was proud to be both a sponsor and a participant. It was a great afternoon—we had the chance to meet some of the wonderful people Centra Cam works with, and we’re not too proud to admit we got beaten at bowling by a few of them!

A Sense of Belonging.

What really stood out was the sense of community and connection. Some of the clients were a bit shy at first, but it didn’t take long for smiles, high-fives, and encouragement to spread down the lanes. Everyone cheered each other on – whether it was a strike or a gutter ball.

We even got some great bowling advice from our teammates in the lane. Everyone was wearing matching Bowl-A-Thon shirts, which really helped bring that feeling of community together—a sea of burgundy, all there to support one another. It was a great experience and an amazing way to meet some really interesting and wonderful people.

A Huge Thank You to Centra Cam Vocational Training Association and everyone who donated their time, energy, and support to the 28th Annual Bowl-A-Thon.

Thanks to the generosity of the Camrose community, Centra Cam met their $29,000 fundraising goal – an incredible achievement that will go directly toward helping more people in our area live full, independent lives.

To the entire Centra Cam team: thank you for everything you do. You’re not just supporting individuals—you’re building a more inclusive, compassionate community for us all.