The new captains at the Salvation Army Corps in Williams Lake say they are happy with the posting.
Captains Ben and Isobel Lippers arrived in January, replacing Captains Randy and Claudine Kadonaga.
“What we have here is every officer’s dream,” Isobel said Friday. “There’s a drop-in centre, drop-in programs, breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday, an exercise room and the food bank.”
In fact, the drop-in is the only one of its kind within the Salvation Army, Ben said.
“People who want to look at setting one up in their city or town want to come here and see how this one operates.”
Looking around as a dozen men enjoyed a morning in the drop-in centre, as some played pool, watched a movie, sipped on coffee or did a puzzle, Isobel said it’s the ideal place to come and work with people.
“We may have new ideas coming from the outside, but right now we don’t want to change anything,” she said.
The Lippers love the north.
“In the Salvation Army world, Williams Lake is the dividing line between north and south,” Ben said.
Prior to arriving in Williams Lake, the Lippers were stationed in Regina for a year and a half, looking after a Salvation Army residential care centre.
They started with the Salvation Army in 1999, first as lay people, then as soldiers, before going to college in Newfoundland to become pastors.
“We also lived in Terrace looking after Smithers and Houston,” Ben said.
Ben grew up in Windsor, Ont. and joined the Canadian Forces, eventually landing in Victoria.
Isobel is from Belfast, Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1976.
“We’ve moved all over,” Isobel said. “Our longest home in Canada was in Terrace.”
There are a good team of volunteers helping the staff, but Isobel said she is already looking for more volunteers so that people don’t get burnt out.
She also credited local businesses, organizations and churches with being very friendly and supportive to the Salvation Army.
“It’s just been really nice to come to Williams Lake,” she said. “And it’s always busy here.”