Saturday September 21st, 2024, Pembina Counselling Centre will be launching the inaugural "N49 Cruise for Hope". The event, which features a scenic car cruise, dinner, and a drive-in movie, is about more than just fun—it’s helping to support a mental health organization that has seen tremendous growth and increasing demand for its services.
The Pembina Counseling Centre serves the communities of Altona, Morden, and Winkler, and the need for counseling services has surged in recent years. According to Executive Director Chris Derksen, the number of appointments booked at the center has skyrocketed from 2,200 in 2020 to over 5,000 expected by the end of this year.
“We've just experienced such tremendous growth in the last five years,” said Derksen. “When I started in 2019, we had three counselors. Today, we have nine counselors on staff, and we have a 10th counselor doing his practicum with us.”
One of the new additions to the team, Steve Kauenhofen, offers his services at a reduced rate of $50 per session to make counseling more accessible. “He does not have a waiting list, so if someone really needs to get into counseling right away, they can get in with Steve more readily,” Chris noted.
The rising demand for counseling services is not only driven by population growth but also by economic challenges that have made mental health care more critical. Nearly 45% of the center’s clients use a sliding fee scale, which adjusts costs based on household income.
“With the economy the way it is and inflation, we’ve fought very hard to keep our costs low,” the organizer said. “Even though the price of a session is $105, we don’t want finances to be a barrier. We work with people, and finances are never a barrier for anyone who wants help.”
The N49 Cruise for Hope aims to help raise funds to support this vital work. Vehicle registration for the event is $100, and participants receive movie tickets, dinner, a T-shirt, and a $70 donation tax receipt. The event will begin at the Millenium Exhibition Center in Altona and wind through towns like Gretna and Reinland before heading to Winkler for a car show, supper, and then a quick drive to Morden for a screening of Ford v Ferrari at the Stardust Drive-In.
“This event is about more than just cars—it’s about helping people,” stated Chris. “We’re raising money through registrations, and we’re really hoping that the community’s generosity will shine through.”
In addition to traditional counseling, Pembina Counseling Centre offers specialized trauma treatments such as Eye Movement Integration (EMI), which has provided life-changing results for many.
“The EMI treatment is a miracle-working thing,” explained Chris. “It’s not hypnosis, but it’s been shown to be effective in treating long-term trauma. People who’ve suffered for years often find that one session can be transformative.”
As the demand for mental health services continues to rise, the N49 Cruise for Hope offers a chance for the community to support a center that provides life-changing care. Those interested in participating or donating can find more information and register for the event on the Pembina Counselling Centre’s website: N49 Cruise for Hope - Pembina Counselling Centre
With files from Ty Hildebrand and Jayme Giesbrecht
