The Envision Counselling and Support Centre has been forced to close its Estevan office this week, thanks to a malfunctioning sprinkler system that flooded its office.
Christa Daku, the agency’s executive director, said they were notified of the issue on Sunday evening. The sprinkler system also flooded a church that is to the west of Envision’s office.
“It was a malfunction and a leak in the pipe in the sprinkler system, so the water came from above and damaged a lot of our offices, and some of our computers, and anything else that might have been stored in the offices, which is a lot,” said Daku.
Personal items, bookshelves and anything else touched by the water were damaged.
“Community donations are welcome as we go through this insurance process,” said Daku. “We have a lot of equipment and furniture that’s going to need to be replaced.”
Daku expects the Estevan office will be closed this week. Envision has moved into a vacant, smaller space next door to their building.
“It’s going to be squishy, but we should have counselling services up and running again by next week,” said Daku. “It depends on how long it takes for SaskTel to move our lines over and everything else, like our security system that we obviously need to secure our building.”
As part of Envision’s operations, the organization has a contingency plan in case of flooding or fire.
“It’s just a matter of time until we have it implemented,” said Daku.
She doesn’t expect Envision will have to postpone any programs in Estevan, even though the agency will have less space to work with for an indefinite period of time.
It’s not known how long it will take to make repairs to Envision’s permanent area. An adjustor arrived on Monday to assess the damage.
Most of the damages will be covered by insurance.
“It’s the clients that suffer, obviously, with the lack of space, and the disorganization to our organization in the meantime while we get up and running again,” said Daku.
Envision also has offices located in Weyburn, Oxbow and Carlyle.
