London, Ontario, June 26, 2011 – Federal, provincial, and Easter Seals Ontario representatives celebrated the completion of a new multi-sport activity centre at Easter Seals Camp Woodeden.
Camp Woodeden has been a home away from home for children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities for the past 65 years. The fully accessible activity centre is comprised of two buildings and includes a full-size gym, indoor climbing wall, amphitheatre, sports equipment storage areas, multi-purpose rooms, and change room facilities. This new facility will enable Camp Woodeden to offer an even wider range of athletic and cultural activities to children and youth with physical abilities.
“Camp Woodeden holds a special place in the hearts of many families in Ontario,” said Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin—Middlesex—London, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This new multi-sport activity centre will welcome children and youth with disabilities, and encourage them to participate to the fullest extent of their abilities. The Government of Canada is proud to have supported such a worthy project that will benefit so many.”
“The Ontario government is proud to have contributed to this important project,” said Chris Bentley, Member of Provincial Parliament for London West. “By helping Camp Woodeden turn their dream for a new sports and activity complex into a reality, we have made this special camp an even more welcoming and engaging place for children and youth with disabilities to grow and play.”
“We are very fortunate to have a government that recognizes the benefit of recreation for kids with physical disabilities,” said Nelson Millman, Chair of the Board, Easter Seals Ontario. “This fully accessible, multi-sport centre will benefit Easter Seals campers as well as people of all ages and abilities from the community.”
The governments of Canada and Ontario have each committed over $1.3 million toward this project. Easter Seals Ontario is contributing the balance of the total eligible project cost of just over $3.9 million.
Federal funding for this project comes from the Government of Canada’s $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
Over the last couple of months, Ontario had an increase of 38,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 7.9 per cent.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Office of MPP Bentley
519-657-3120
Meredith Wiens
Director, Communications
Easter Seals Ontario
416-421-8377 ext. 368 Cell: 416-659-7637
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
