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History

The school system became more inclusive. As a result, CLI began to concentrate on providing other needed services. These services include housing, skills training, and employment counseling.  The focus of the organization shifted from school age children to adults, from age 21 until end of life care

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Houses & Programs

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Social Enterprise

 

After much thought and consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Something Beautiful Store and Cafe at 6pm on Friday September 26, 2025.

We want to sincerely thank our customers and supporters for embracing this vision and making Something Beautiful a part of the Stonewall community. Your generosity, encouragement, and kindness have meant so much.

We are especially grateful to the people supported and staff whose passion and commitment brought warmth and welcome to every visit.

While this chapter is coming to a close, please know that this decision allows Community Living Interlake to focus our resources more directly on programs that support the people we serve.

From the bottom of our hearts – Thank You for helping us create Something Beautiful.

Stonewall’s Something Beautiful store and cafe closing

For Immediate Release: Stonewall, MB. September 23, 2025 – Community Living Interlake (CLI) will be closing its social enterprises, Something Beautiful gift shop and cafe in downtown Stonewall this fall after 10 years of operations, the Chair of the CLI board announced today.

“We’ve decided it’s time to focus our resources so we can invest more directly in the programs that matter most to the people we serve,” said Chair Lisa Highmoor. “This change creates an opportunity to strengthen our services and develop new, cost-effective ways to provide workplace training and continue to build an inclusive community here.”

CLI bought the former Home Hardware store in downtown Stonewall in 2014 and opened Something Beautiful in 2015 as a social enterprise to help train people living with an intellectual disability. In 2018 it added a cafe and subsequently an outdoor patio. Social enterprises are non-profit businesses that have the dual goals of generating revenue while also having a social mandate.

“After CLI operating the store and cafe for 10 and seven years respectfully, it might be time for an entrepreneur out there to step up. Maybe there is someone looking for an opportunity, someone who has always dreamed about having their own store or cafe and would like to continue the good things it brings to downtown Stonewall,” Highmoor said. “To be clear CLI is still here working hard, and we remain committed to our community, ensuring we create meaningful work for the people and families we serve. We are grateful for the staff, volunteers, customers, and all our partners who supported us and we understand that this change may be hard. But this is also our 60th anniversary and we know this change is about long-term sustainability and about being here for another 60 years with many more great projects, ideas and services,” Highmoor said.

For more information see the Fact Page and FAQ below.
Contact: Tracy Fidler, TracyF@aclinterlake.ca / 204-467-9169 ext 223

Community Living Interlake (CLI) Facts

About
At Community Living Interlake we support people who live with Intellectual Disabilities. We work with them to provide housing, day programs, and employment training. We help them in leading meaningful lives in a fully integrated community. We manage five houses and several apartments in Stonewall, provide a day program service, and offer job training.

Factoids

2015- Social Enterprise Something Beautiful store opens
2018 -Something Beautiful Cafe opens
5 – houses CLI operates in Stonewall
17- residents currently supported by CLI
32 – number of people who receive care and skills training in CLI day programs
63 – CLI employees
9- Social Enterprise employees
1965-a service club and concerned parents founded a private school for students living with intellectual disabilities that was the beginning of CLI.

Vision
The Association for Community Living Interlake Branch recognizes the value of every person and believes that people living with an intellectual disability are individuals; each of whom has rights as community members.

Mission
Community Living Interlake is a non-profit organization. It is dedicated to supporting individuals living with an intellectual disability. Their goal is for these individuals to live a fully inclusive life as members of the community.

FAQ: Stonewall’s Something Beautiful store and cafe closing

1. Q: I didn’t realize Something Beautiful was owned and operated by Community Living Interlake. Is CLI closing as well?
   A: CLI is not closing, in fact we are excited about our future as we celebrate our 60th anniversary and looking forward to 60 more great years serving Stonewall. We’ve been proud to operate the store and cafe as a social enterprise for and with the community and we have deep gratitude for the staff, volunteers, and customers who made the store and cafe a truly inclusive space.
2. Q: Why is CLI closing the Something Beautiful store and cafe?
   A: At CLI we’ve decided to focus our resources so we can invest more directly on our core mission-building inclusive, safe communities for people living with intellectual disabilities. For us this change creates an opportunity to strengthen our services and develop new, cost-effective ways to provide workplace training and inclusion. As we celebrate 60 years in this community we know this change is about long-term sustainability and about being here for another 60 years with many more
   great projects, ideas and services in our future.
3. Q: Does this mean CLI failed in running a social enterprise?
   A: Actually, for many years the store and cafe created an opportunity for meaningful job training and inclusion in our community. Social enterprises are complex to operate they must make money and deliver on a social good, and after careful review we know that there are more efficient, cost-effective ways to achieve our social goals and ensure long-term sustainability.
4. Q: What will happen to the people with intellectual disabilities who worked there?
   A: Our commitment to the community and those we serve remains strong. We are actively working on new and better ways to provide workplace training and inclusion, and with understanding for those affected, we will ensure a smooth transition to other opportunities. As we celebrate 60 years in this community we know this change is about long-term sustainability.
5. Q: Will anyone lose their job?
   A: There will be a small number of job losses, mainly for summer students who will be returning to post-secondary education this fall. We will be meeting with the small group of affected employees to find out if other positions at CLI might be a good fit for both of us.
6. Q: Is this decision about cutting costs or helping people?
   A: Both. We are making a responsible decision to focus our resources where they have the greatest impact, and to ensure sustainability so we can help people now and in the future. This is an opportunity to do more with the resources we have.
7. Q: Couldn’t you just raise more money to keep them open or get more government grants?
   A: Fundraising is important, but even with more donations, operating two large social enterprises is a big responsibility. And government funding is clearly focused on helping us with programming, which we totally agree with, because that is our core mission, too. We believe the most responsible choice is to focus on what we do best and find new, more efficient ways to create inclusion in the community.
8. Q: What will happen to the building and equipment?
   A: CLI owns the building, and we have offices and meeting room space at the back. The street facing store and cafe’s assets are valuable. We are open to interests from entrepreneurs who may want to rent the space or purchase the equipment, which could create to new opportunities for the community and continue the good things it brings to downtown Stonewall.
9. Q: How do you respond to community members who are upset by this decision?
   A: We understand this is an emotional change for many, and we have deep understanding and gratitude for the staff, volunteers, and customers who made the store and cafe a welcoming place. This is not a decision we made lightly-it’s an opportunity to build a stronger future for our community. As we celebrate 60 years in this community we know this change is about long-term sustainability and about being here for another 60 years.
10. Q: Does closing the store and cafe mean CLI is in financial trouble?
    A: No, this is a proactive decision to ensure long-term sustainability. By choosing to focus our resources, we’re making sure CLI remains strong, responsive, and able to deliver meaningful programs for another 60 years, as we celebrate our 60th anniversary.
11. Q: What’s next for CLI?
    A: We will focus on our core mission and invest in new opportunities to deliver job training, life skills, and inclusion more efficiently. Our commitment to the community is as strong as ever, and with understanding for everyone affected, we are positioning CLI for a future of stability and sustainability.

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Volunteer board

Vice Chair       

Treasurer        Stephen Clark

Secretary         Lisa Tully

Board Member    Ila Buchanan

Board Member   Sara Tolsma

Executive Director

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