Since the announcement of the closure 7 years ago, 153 adults with intellectual disabilities have moved out of Valley View Centre. Tuesday, the final residents moved their belongings out of the building and into their new home.

Doug Conn is the Valley View Centre Legacy Network Acting Chair. He talked to us about how the process of moving everyone was developed.

"It was decided that we would do a few tours of different provinces to see what they were doing as far as different living models for individuals with cognitive disabilities. From that, the

Doug Conn, Valley View Centre Legacy Network Acting Chairtransition steering committee developed 14 recommendations, and those 14 recommendations became our process"

"Once the families embraced the process, along with the individuals, it became very successful. We moved the last 2 individuals out yesterday to Nipawin. All the reports are that everybody that has been transitioned out has been moved to a living place where their families are happy, and they're happy."

All those who called the facility home have successfully transitioned to community-based facilities both in Moose Jaw and other communities. This marks the end of institutionalized-style living for people with intellectual disabilities in the Saskatchewan.

"The employees and the people that worked at Valley View, you know these people were their family too. The people did a great job at looking after them." said Conn, "Part of the recommendation was that its 'Person-Centred', we wanted to have their families involved and we wanted them to move where their families wanted them to move, and we did just that."

The Government of Saskatchewan, Inclusion Saskatchewan and the Valley View Legacy Network collaborated to ensure the success and well-being of residents by creating an individualized plan for each person since the closure was announced in 2012.

“The closure of Valley View Centre is a historic step forward for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” Inclusion Saskatchewan President Gloria Mahussier said.