My name is David and I live in a small town in northeast Alberta called Ardmore. Ardmore is about 12 miles from Bonnyville where I currently work at the local inn as a dishwasher. In order to get to work I have to catch the Greyhound bus to Bonnyville and then the bus driver from the Dove Centre picks me up and takes me to work. I don't mind because I have ridden the bus to Bonnyvile for many years. First to go to school and then when I attended Dove Centre.

I have been working at the inn since 1993 and like it very much. People have asked me if I would like to look for a job somewhere else but I tell them, "No. I like it where I am." Everyone there is nice and treats me good. I am a dishwasher but sometimes I get to do other jobs such as taking down the salad bar after lunch and putting away groceries. A new job was added and that is to put the bacon trays in the oven and take them out when they are ready and put them where the line cooks are. This is probably the job I like best. Once when it was slow at the restaurant my hours were cut. I was really glad when the manager said I could go back to my regular hours.

On Monday nights I bowl with Special Olympics. This is my favorit sport and I'm good at it. On other nights I'm involved with Catholic Social Services in a program called the Community Access Program. In this program we do things like cooking and craft classes; going for dinner and shopping. Over the summer we had a community garden where we grew beans, carrots, tomatoes, onions and celery. At the end of the summer we made soup with the vegetables from our garden. I am very happy that CAP is available to me because I wouldn't do all these activities myself.

Other nights I stay home and take my turn at cleaning or cooking. Then I watch television. I like to watch the news and movies. On of my favorite shows is CSI.

I'm happy with the way things are for me right now but I know that if I want to change something or need help all I have to do is to tell staff at Dove Centre or Catholic Social Services.