London, Ontario, November 25, 2011 – Federal, provincial and municipal representatives joined Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) staff, donors, clients and the community today to celebrate the official grand opening of their brand new Cornerstone facility.
The 132 year-old heritage building, located in London's downtown core, was completely renovated by YOU to house integrated programs and services for youth, including affordable housing, alternative education, health services, skills training and a social enterprise — the YOU Make it Café — which offers employment opportunities for youth.
The project included renovating the second and third floor to accommodate 28 residential units; adding programming space, service and retail areas on the main floor; and constructing a rooftop community meeting room. The Cornerstone will allow YOU to deliver high-quality community programming and services to more than 150 London-area youth each day. Other YOU sites in London and Strathroy serve hundreds more youth daily. Each year YOU helps more than 3,600 local youth build positive lives.
"Our Government is proud to invest in projects that create local jobs and enable our communities to continue to grow and prosper,"
said Susan Truppe, Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "I am pleased that Canada's Economic Action Plan has supported this important centre that will help youth develop to their full potential."
"This new facility will provide a safe environment so youth can grow and lead healthy, active lives,"
said the Honourable Chris Bentley, Member of Provincial Parliament for London West.
Mayor Fontana is eager for the doors to open at the Cornerstone and he says, "When we reach out and help our youth, we help our entire community and the City of London is proud of the initiatives and successes that are beginning at YOU's Cornerstone project. Affordable housing is a key element in the building and as a City we champion affordable housing. We have participated with other levels of government and generous community partners to help make something good happen for our young people."
"The Cornerstone demonstrates the power of a vision. When Youth Opportunities Unlimited decided to incorporate a residential component with innovative programs and services for youth and a new social enterprise in one building it set many wheels in motions"
said Brian Hughes, President, YOU Board of Directors. "The partnerships with all three levels of government were key components to engage our entire community in a project that builds pride in everyone, including the youth impacted. We are providing hope – it is the cornerstone of our future!"
The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are each contributing one third of total eligible project costs, to a maximum of $1,389,957 each. The City of London is contributing $450,000 and Youth Opportunities Unlimited has contributed the remainder of the total cost of $4,169,872.
Federal support for this project comes from the Government of Canada's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which has resulted in over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.
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.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure, visit infrastructure.gc.ca
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
To download a short broadcast-quality video highlighting a few of the many successful infrastructure projects across Canada, visit infrastructure.gc.ca/video/video-eng.html
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
Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure
416-327-7226
Steve Cordes, Executive Director
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
519-432-1112 extension 354
Mobile 519-878-1455
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
