The Landry family opened the Passage Car Wash in Eastern Passage two years ago in order to provide meaningful employment opportunities to those who may have difficulty finding work otherwise.

Ian Landry (BSc’94, BA’96, MA’98, BSW’00, MSW’01) is a clinical social worker who saw the car wash as a chance to help his sons find fulfilling careers with potential for growth and management.

His sons, Nicholas and Christopher, have had trouble finding meaningful employment in the past. Nicholas has a severe learning disability, and Christopher is autistic. Both Landry and his wife Kimberley MacLean (BSW’06, MSW’09), studied social work at Dalhousie, and they are finding a hands-on way to put their knowledge into practice to help their family, and hopefully others, as their business expands.

At the family’s business, Nicholas operates the car wash, while Christopher is planning to perform detailing once the service expands. As the business grows, Landry hopes to hire other people in the community with unique needs, which would also allow his son Nic to take on a managerial role.

The family is currently seeking to expand the car wash into a permanent, year-round business by purchasing properties of its own, instead of remaining on the rented land on which it currently operates. Landry has faced financial and bureaucratic challenges in the journey towards expansion, but remains optimistic and convinced that the employment opportunities they provide can create positive change.

Read more in “Unique needs drive family carwash business” on thechronicleherald.ca.