'First steps into the working world': Montreal candle store helps young adults gain life skills

With the holidays around the corner, BrandonRiddochdecorates brown paper bags that are used for gift wrapping.

The 22-year-old meticulously swipes his paintbrush, filling in his drawing of a bright green Christmas tree adorned with ornaments he drew by hand.

Next to him sits another drawing of Santa Claus and his reindeer flying over London's Big Ben.

Riddochis pretty proud of these drawings, and says he's loved art since he was a little kid, especially cartoon drawings.

"Not to be a bit of a bragger, but I am a very gifted artist," he said.

Riddochis one of more than a dozen young adults with an intellectual disability who works atLight ADream, a candle store in Montreal'sPointe-Claireneighbourhood.

Light ADream is brightly decorated with candles, ornaments and other trinkets. It might seem like any other charming shop in the West Island, but the store doubles as anon-profit organization that runs a program for young adults witharange of intellectual disabilities.

The students are fromthe Lester B. Pearson' School Board'sco-operative education program, and thestore isa space where they learn business skills and become betterprepared for a jobafter graduation.

They do everything fromshop for materials, clean the store, help customers, and run the cash register.

Leah Fecteau, 19,is making beeswax candles, which will be for sale on the store's shelves.

Shesmiles widely when she talks about herexperience at Light a Dream.

"I really like doing the candles because it's fun and you can make your own," Fecteau said, pointing to a display of sprinkled cupcake candles which are neatly displayed on a gold tray.

She's been working there for two years andsaid the store is a place where students can explore their creativity and learn valuable work skills.

Since 1999

There are 15 students currently enrolled in the program this year. These students will be in the program for three years.

Another 32 alumni also work at the store on evenings and weekends.

Light ADream has been running this program since it opened in 1999. It operates solely on donations from the general public and from West Island Community Shares an organizationwhich helps support 40 charities in the West Island.

• Donate here to West Island Community Shares

All the donations go toward keeping the store openand the program running.

Students flourish at Light ADream

For many of the students, it's their first steps into the working world, saidHeatherLaframboise, a teacher atthe co-operative education program.

All her students work at Light ADream.

"Light ADream is a very comfortable place for them to come. Many of them are very leery of people they don't know," she said.

Laframboise saidher students not only gain skills for their future careers, but they also build self-confidence and social skills.

Shesaid over the years, she's seen many of her students flourish while working at the store.

"It's lovely to see the confidence that they have and it's nice to be able to say that they started here," said Laframboise.

For Riddoch, he hopes practising his art at Light a Dream can lead to a career.

"My biggest dream is to basically use my skills and bring it to a movie company."