CANADA AND ONTARIO PARTNER WITH LUTHERWOOD TO FUND RENOVATION AND EXPANSION

December 16, 2009

WATERLOO – Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Waterloo, and Leeanna Pendergast, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener–Conestoga, this morning joined Lutherwood CEO John Colangeli to announce a joint investment in mental health services for children and families. This $6 million project will enable Lutherwood to renovate and expand its Children’s Mental Health Centre on Benjamin Road, enhancing the services it offers to the community.
 
“The Government of Canada is investing $2 million in Lutherwood, to help support vulnerable children, youth, and families in our community, and to give them hope for a better future,” said MP Peter Braid.  “In partnership with the Province, and with this exceptional community service organization, the federal government continues to invest in Kitchener-Waterloo, stimulating the economy and creating jobs.”
 
“Today’s investment in Lutherwood is yet again another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector in our region,” said MPP Leeanna Pendergast. “This $2 million 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 this region.”
 
“This is a significant investment in the future health of our community,” said John Colangeli, CEO of Lutherwood. “For forty years, Lutherwood has been providing hope and solutions for children struggling with mental health challenges. This investment will revitalize and expand our centre to ensure continued excellence in service and create a legacy for the future generation of children.”
 
The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Lutherwood 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 grow stronger.

 

Background:

Project Outline
• Rebuild/renovate existing 40 year old space to modernize and expand existing facilities to adequately house existing programming as well as introduce new programming
• Build a heart for our building complex that will realign corridors and rooms to provide easier access to therapy rooms, meeting facilities, the pool and gym without disrupting the school classroom environment
• Provide more space for:
 o Therapeutic and employment counselling to support youth and families dealing with mental health challenges on the road to self-reliance and contributing to the economic well-being of the community
 o Innovative recreational, music and art therapies
 o Child and family therapy, parenting groups and individual and group counselling
 o Research in partnership with post secondary education institutions to develop, evaluate and teach best practices in treatment and counselling
 o Mental, spiritual and physical health promotion
 o New programming that will help youth transition back into their community
 o Outdoor learning space to learn about the environment

Benefits
The revitalized centre will meet modern treatment standards, respond to increasing service demands, improve operating efficiency, reduce costs and increase the quality of life for children and families in our community.
• More modern, cost-effective and environmentally friendly facility
• Short-term construction jobs and longer-term employment opportunities
• Extend useful life of building to serve existing and future generations

Facts
• Located at Lutherwood’s existing Children’s Mental Health Centre at 285 Benjamin Road, Waterloo, Ontario
• $6 million project:
 o $2 million Government of Canada
 o $2 million Government of Ontario
 o $2 million Lutherwood Child and Family Foundation
• Construction to be complete in 2011

About Lutherwood’s Children’s Mental Health Centre
For 40 years, children, youth and families have trusted Lutherwood’s mental health services to support them as they cope with serious emotional and behavioural challenges that affect their mental well-being and ability to function in today’s world. The multidisciplinary staff at the Children’s Mental Health Centre offers a complete range of preventative and treatment services to approximately 250 youth annually. The centre provides this support through residential and onsite school day treatment programs.

About Lutherwood
Lutherwood is a not-for-profit organization that provides a wide range of children’s mental health, employment, housing and family counselling programs. Lutherwood annually serves more than 16,000 people in Waterloo Region and Wellington County.