Ontario investing $52 million in new centre for special needs children
Today marks the start of construction of the new state-of-the-art ErinoakKids children's treatment centre in Mississauga, which will offer a range of services for children with special needs.
The centre will replace ErinoakKids' existing patchwork of 11 outgrown and outdated sites in Halton, Dufferin and Peel, while more than doubling the existing treatment therapy space. Key features will include:
• A fully accessible playground for recreation
therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• Two gyms
• 17 treatment rooms
• Two therapeutic playrooms
• A resource centre for staff and families
• A drop-in centre for youth
• An audiology area for hearing aid fitting and dispensing
• A serenity garden.
The 103,000 square foot Mississauga facility is one of three ErinoakKids' sites that broke ground this month. The other two children's treatment centres will be located in Oakville and Brampton. When complete in spring 2017, the centres will serve nearly 15,000 children and youth with disabilities in Peel, Halton and Dufferin. The three sites will enable ErinoakKids to continue its mission to help children and youth gain optimal levels of independence, learning, health and well-being. They will provide services for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication disorders, as well as those with autism, hearing and vision impairment.
Giving every child the opportunity to thrive and have the best possible start in life is part of the government's plan to support families and create positive environments where children and youth can reach their full potential.
Quick facts
• Ontario is investing $163 million in
construction costs for the three ErinoakKids children’s treatment
centres.
• ErinoakKids is the largest of Ontario’s 20 children’s treatment
centres.
• At the peak of construction, more than 200 workers will be on the
sites daily.
Quotes
“ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development joins a legacy of children’s treatment facility projects that our government is proud to support. This project will have a profound impact on children, youth and families by giving them convenient access to the programs and services they need.”
Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth Services
“ErinoakKids is thrilled today to announce the start of construction on our new Mississauga facility. This day marks a milestone not only for our organization, but for the clients and families we serve. Now, more than ever before, children and youth will have access to a range of services in a single location, resulting in better co-ordinated supports and services that will truly enable our clients to prosper and lead healthy, independent lives.”
Bridget Fewtrell, President and CEO, ErinoakKids
“This is an exciting day as we celebrate the start of construction on the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development project. Soon we will see the project take shape toward the collective vision of a state-of-the-art children’s treatment centre designed to meet the needs of the three communities it will serve.”
Bert Clark, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario
“Once construction of this project is completed, the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development will be the largest children’s respite centre in Ontario. The new facilities will be the centre-piece of specialized children’s care in Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville, while spurring hundreds of jobs for suppliers and contractors, and generating growth in Ontario’s economy.”
Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
