News Room: News Releases
Government of Canada supports organizations that support children in Waterloo Region
Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:34 pm
Canada and Ontario today announced an investment in partnership with both Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region and Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region will see the renewal and rehabilitation of the Family Centre, while Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. will see the demolition and rebuilding of the building on its St. Agatha site.
The new facility will be designed to create a suitable social and physical environment for the children. The total investment for each of these organizations is:
- Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region - $8,000,000
- Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. - $1,125,000
These investments will help to create local jobs in both the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and in the Township of Wilmot and supports children in need and families in the community.
To make the announcement, Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, and Leeanna Pendergast, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga joined Jim Phillips of Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region and Sonia Pouyat of Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc.
“I am proud to announce funding for a project that will get shovels in the ground, jobs created, and improve the quality of life for so many people,” said Harold Albrecht, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga. “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government has announced an
historic number of projects to help strengthen our communities, including right here across Waterloo Region.”
“Today’s investment in both Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region and Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. is yet again another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector in the riding of Kitchener-
Conestoga,” said Leeanna Pendergast, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga. “This investment will not only help deliver valued community services, help create jobs, and stimulate our local economy, but will also improve the quality of life for residents in the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga.
“This exciting Family Centre project will renew, renovate and refurbish an existing industrial building for programs delivered to children, youth and families from throughout Waterloo Region by Family and Children’s Services ( FCS) and other community partners,” said Jim Phillips, (Project Lead) Director of Corporate Resources (FCS) and Foundation Executive Director.
“This much needed and long anticipated centre will feature appropriately designed recreational, educational and group programming space that will be operational 7 days a week and will augment services currently delivered through neighbourhood associations by FCS. The FCS Foundation will be engaging the community in support of the project through a capital campaign.”
“An 18 month wait time is not unusual for kidsLINK’s Day Treatment Program that serves 42 children daily in St. Agatha. The program’s outdated and cramped portable facilities have demanded high and expensive maintenance and are no longer environmentally sound. Learning of the grant to build new facilities for our Day Treatment Program was cause for jubilation at kidsLINK,” says kidsLINK CEO, Sonia Pouyat. “This is has been one of our longest standing facility needs. The new building will allow kidsLINK to better serve children in a healthier, safer, and in an environmentally friendly setting. The space will accommodate additional children if and when program funding becomes available.”
“The return on this investment is priceless. kidsLINK is profoundly grateful to Leeanna Pendergast, MPP, Harold Albrecht, MP, of the Kitchener/Conestoga Riding for their efforts in securing this Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.”
Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region and Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. are each investing one-third of the total project cost. Canada’s funding is part of its new national Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan unveiled in January 2009.
Ontario’s matching contribution is provided through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.
Canada and Ontario are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.
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