The KRRC is proud to offer several social enterprises that focus on workplace and life skills training to our participants, as well as soft skill development.
Plank Industries
Plank Industries Woodworking and Packaging, located in Cambridge, is a not-for-profit vocational service center operated under the Community Options program of the Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre.
Plank Industries officially opened in the spring of 2014 following a merger of two programs, Plank ‘N Hammer and Apple Tree Industries. Community-based vocational training has been part of KRRC’s programming since 1980 and it continues to grow and evolve.
Plank Industries offers goods and services to businesses and individual customers including; carpentry, kindling, survey stakes, furniture refinishing, labeling, shrink-wrapping, packaging, and specialty oven-baked dog treats called Dog-Gone Goodies. We have also begun to offer some recreational programming options for our participants at Plank Industries to enjoy.
Plank Industries is open to adult clients of Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre and also to individuals living in Kings County.
For people looking to participate at Plank Industries, please view or download our Plank Industries Participant Application or contact the Service Centre Coordinator at 902-375-3133.
House of Sprouts Greenhouse
The House of Sprouts greenhouse was originally funded by the Apple Tree Foundation (ATF) in 2014.
Clients are busy working and caring for a vide variety of annuals, veggies, herbs and perennials. They also grow plants for a private garden by the greenhouse, growing vegetables and cut flowers for their own use. The flowers will be used to decorate the lobby throughout the season.
Plants and wooden garden decor items, created and designed by clients in our Branches workshop area, are on sale through the season.
Friendly Neighbours Store
- 5573 Highway 1, Cambridge, NS
- 902-375-2467
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The Friendly Neighbours Store is a convenience store almost entirely operated by clients. The goal is to teach life skills and further interaction with the community. The store opened in 2021 with four clients working at the store on a permanent schedule. Additional clients participate on a part-time or contract basis.
“The Friendly Neighbours initiative is a community-based store specifically for the purpose of clients to be able to come down and shop in the community in a safe and supportive environment.” – Lacey Baxter, Lifestyles Program Manager KRRC
Friendly Neighbours provides an important relationship between the community and KRRC. The kindness that the clients have been shown by the community cannot be expressed in words or numeric value, and the smiles and laughter that flow daily in the store allow everyone present to experience what inclusion truly is.
The store is located about a five-minute walk from the centre, allowing clients to visit without public transportation. It also has a ramp entrance, automatic doors, wide aisles for wheelchairs and an accessible work space.