Huntsville, Ontario, June 18, 2011 – Community Living Huntsville staff celebrated the completion of renovation and expansion work to its Stone School House facility.
With a final footprint of 6,700 square feet, the former school house is more than twice its original size. The expanded facility now accommodates Community Living Huntsville staff formerly spread across three separate locations. This means that program, support, and administrative staff can offer more efficient, streamlined services to individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Huntsville area.
The revamped building also features a Snoezelen room, a unique therapeutic space that exposes individuals with intellectual disabilities to a wide range of calming and stimulating sensory experiences.
“Today’s grand opening is truly a testament to what we can accomplish when we all work together for the community,” said the Honourable Tony Clement, Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka and Minister for FedNor. “Not only will the expansion of the Stone School House facility make a real difference in the lives of those with disabilities and their families, but through this and construction projects like it across Northern Ontario, our government is creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.”
“The investments we’re making through our Open Ontario Plan are strengthening and supporting our communities,” said the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “The Government of Ontario is proud to have contributed to this priority project, which will enable Community Living Huntsville to provide high-quality services and support to individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families for years to come.”
“This restructuring project has given new life to one of our unique heritage buildings,” said Cathy Stroud, Executive Director, Community Living Huntsville. “It played an important role in our past, and will continue to play a significant role in the quality of our community life. It is a case of the past and the present coming together to make way for a brighter future.”
The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $533,333 toward this project. Community Living Huntsville contributed the remaining funding. The total eligible project cost is $1,600,000.
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 Minister Chiarelli
416-325-5270
Laurel Kahler
Administrative Assistant
Community Living Huntsville
705-789-4543 ext. 237
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148 or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
