One local resident is trying to start a new chapter here in Moose Jaw for the non-profit organization Cangrands, which brings together grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on their own or are being denied access to their grandchildren.

Arlene Pool has been a part of the organization for the past six years, joining an online group after she was being denied access to her grandchildren who lived in Ontario, seeking out advice on what to do. Now, she has been put into a different situation and believes there are many others in Moose Jaw that could benefit from meeting in a face-to-face support group.

"Right now I am raising a grandson of my own and I feel that there might be more grandparents out there that could use some support also," Pool said. "We also do denied access, if you are not seeing your grandchildren for whatever reason, come on out and we'll see if we can get you some access."

The national kinship support group's "aim is to support grandmothers, grandfathers, and Kinship families to maintain or re-establishing family ties."

"The major benefits are support," Pool added. "Ongoing help with any forms in that you may need to fill out if you are in a court proceeding and trying to get some access for denied grandparents."

Pool has the first meeting planned for Moose Jaw this October 16th in the basement of the Salvation Army Thrift Store from 6 pm to 7 pm.