Regina's Ignite adult learning centre hopes for last-minute funding from province to keep doors open

Early in her life, Tanya McNeice struggled with addiction, was sometimes homeless and struggled to feed her child as a single mother on social assistance.

McNeice said it wasn't until she was put in contact with Ignite Adult Learning Corporation in Regina that she found the purpose to change her life.

Through the organization she was able to get an education, receive treatment and find stable housing.

Now, the former student of the program is the chair of the organization's board, a successful business owner and a grandmother.

"[Without Ignite] I wouldn't be here, possibly physically or otherwise. Not in this position for sure," McNeice said Wednesday. 

For 30 years, adults trying to improve their lives — roughly 90 a year — have benefited from Ignite, officials with the program said.

That may soon come to an end.

Funding cuts will lead to closure: CEO

Last week, Ignite announced that it was permanently closing its doors at the end of September, shutting down a space that offers a Grade 12 diploma program and resources for addiction recovery, suicide prevention and housing supports.

Dellice Saxby, the organization's CEO, said that in an ideal world the organization would have $940,000 in annual funding.

Ignite was already being underfunded by the provincial government, receiving $580,000 in previous years, Saxby said.

Then it was informed that for 2025, it would be receiving just $250,000 from the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training.

"That's not a difference that I can make up with granting competitions," Saxby said.

Ignite's CEO said the organization was told to contact other ministries to make up the funding gap. The ministries of social services, justice and education met with Ignite. All of them said they no money to offer, Saxby said. 

"It's really hard and it, it's kind of an emotional journey every time we have to sort of present our case like this and try to engage someone in working with us to preserve this important service in our community," she said.

On Wednesday, Saxby and McNeice were joined by the organization's staff, current and former students, and supporters as they took their concerns to the provincial legislature.

Opposition NDP justice critic Nicole Sarauer sparred with Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter on the topic. Reiter would eventually say he had been informed there was some kind of miscommunication between his ministry and Ignite.

"Certainly officials are prepared to meet with the senior folks, their executive director, chair of the board, have discussions about what a contract could look like going forward," Reiter told media after question period.

The provincial government later confirmed that it is working to set up a meeting.

Ignite told media those discussions had not been arranged for Wednesday.

Saxby said Reiter was trying to "intentionally obscure the issue" by saying there had been aa miscommunication. Ignite was clear about what it needs, she said. She conceded that the organization's role does fall into the mandates of multiple ministries.

"What we're asking for right now is for some other ministries, potentially justice with their community safety and well-being program, to come to the table," Saxvy said.

Sarauer said it's baffling for the province to be underfunding a successful program that appears to meet all of the government's policy goals.

'I don't know where I would be'

Ignite office manager Sandra LaRose told CBC's The 306 this week that the centre will stay open until September to give students a chance to transition to other programs.

LaRose said the centre provided much more than just a Grade 12 diploma and that the closure will affect the Regina community in many ways.

"Increased homelessness, increased unemployment," LaRose said. "There's going to be people that are looking for employment that don't have the qualifications and an increase [of people] on social assistance because of just not having the opportunities."

Abbygail Woolsey is currently pursuing her adult Grade 12 from Ignite and said it has changed her life.

"I was just kind of at a point in my life where I needed change," Woolsey said. "Just the amount of confidence and the experiences and opportunities I've been able to gain here are just phenomenal."

She said the school helped with applications to secure income and find a place to live.

"It's helped me grow as a citizen in Canada, a mother and just a person in general," said Woolsey, whose goal is to continue her education and get into nursing.

"I don't know where I would be in my life if I didn't come to Ignite."