Ottawa, Ontario, November 3, 2011 – Federal, provincial and municipal representatives gathered in Ottawa today to celebrate the completion of the Maplesoft Centre, a very special facility dedicated to cancer patients and their families.
The Maplesoft Centre, founded by the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, provides patients and their loved ones with emotional, psychological and practical support through programs, counselling and educational resources. The centre features rooms for individual cancer coaching, a demonstration kitchen to teach patients and family members recipes to use during chemo treatment, program space, a room for light exercise and an art therapy room. These resources will be used to complement medical treatments. All services and programs offered at the Maplesoft Centre are free of charge and without the need for a medical referral. The Centre is strategically located at 1500 Alta Vista Drive, adjacent to the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park.
"So many of us have been affected by cancer in our lives, some through a friend or loved one,"
said the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. "While medical treatment is partly the answer, patients and their families also need emotional and practical support to help them meet the many challenges they face, and the Maplesoft Centre will provide exactly that. Our Government is very proud to have contributed to this project that will improve the lives of people facing cancer and their families."
"There are few among us who have not been touched by cancer — either directly or through a family member or close friend,"
said Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. "Infrastructure investments like this are helping to make a real difference for people in our community."
"The Maplesoft Centre will be a home away from home for thousands of local cancer patients,"
said Mayor Jim Watson. "Ottawa is a caring community, and the City is proud to be part of this project, which will provide a much needed pillar of support for patients and their families."
"This is an exciting day for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and for cancer survivorship in our community,"
said Linda Eagen, president and CEO of the Cancer Foundation. "The new Maplesoft Centre and the Cancer Coaching program is going to transform cancer survivorship care in our region – and give local residents practical help and guidance through every step of their cancer journey."
The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing one-third of total eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $850,000 each. The City of Ottawa is contributing $150,000 and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has contributed $700,000 towards the total eligible project cost of $2.55 million.
Federal funding for this project comes from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country and is managed by Infrastructure Canada.
This project supports Building Together, Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Since 2003, the Government of Ontario has created and supported 600,000 jobs and invested $62 billion in infrastructure. Through Building Together, Ontario will continue to make significant investments in public infrastructure, starting with an investment of more than $35 billion over the next three years.
The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is dedicated to increasing cancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario. The Cancer Foundation is the most significant philanthropic contributor to cancer care and research in the Ottawa region – by raising the most dollars in our community and allocating the most funds locally to fight cancer. The Cancer Foundation works with its regional partners to ensure local residents have the best possible care close to home, shorter wait times for diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest research and new therapies and overall improved quality of life – which includes the opening of Canada's first Cancer Survivorship Centre. For more information about the Maplesoft Centre and the Cancer Foundation, please visit ottawacancer.ca.
For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit infrastructure.gc.ca.
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.
Contacts:
Pierre Floréa
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Office of Minister Chiarelli
613-721-8075
Bruce Graham
Press Secretary
Office of Mayor Jim Watson
613-580-2424 extension 14299
Shannon Bain
Vice President Communications & Marketing
Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
613-818-2525
sbain@ottawacancer.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
