Winnifred Mary Stewart was a very determined woman who had a son named Parker, born with a developmental disability. She wanted to give her son every possible chance to grow and develop to his full potential, but she encountered obstacles and resistance from a society that, at the time, felt children like Parker were lost causes. Winnifred strongly believed that people with developmental disabilities had more to offer to society than society was prepared to offer them-a revolutionary thought at that time. Along with a small group of parents, Winnifred started the Edmonton Association for the Mentally Handicapped and the Winnifred Stewart School, which was the first of its kind in Canada. At its peak, the school served over 450 students, until 1982 when children with disabilities were integrated into the regular school system. Today, Winnifred Stewart (WS) carries on the legacy started by Winnifred, and the spirit of its remarkable namesake continues to live on through the organization. WS has come a long way from its early days as a school, and it continues to build on Winnifred's work of helping people with diverse abilities. More than 200 people are currently involved in Winnifred Stewart's residential, community recreation, and volunteer and employment support programs.
