www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 26, 2013 | 8 ErinoakKids helps youths reach their potential continued from p.1 Two additional new facilities will also be built in Mississauga and Brampton, thereby covering ErinoakKids catchment area in Halton and Peel regions and Dufferin County. The redevelopment project was approved in 2011 by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) and is being overseen by Infrastructure Ontario. It is fully funded by MCYS, but ErinoakKids has launched a $20-million campaign to equip the new centres. It is the largest project undertaken in MCYS' history and the first multi-site build of a children's treatment centre in the province. "The advancement of this project speaks to the vision of our government in realizing the potential of all the children who are our future, including those who face unique challenges," Fewtrell said. "This project... will allow ErinoakKids to serve more children better and faster." ErinoakKids alumnus, Bob McKay, 27, came to the organization as a toddler -- he is now pursuing his PhD in international politics at York University and serves on the ErinoakKids board of directors. "They (ErinoakKids) always knew I was destined to be able to do things that I do now as a PhD student, as a person who lives on his own, gets around on public transit. They knew all these possibilities were there and they not only gave me, but my family, the tools necessary to make these dreams possible," said McKay, who has Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a condition that severely restricts his mobility. McKay was first introduced to using a wheelchair at ErinoakKids when he was two years old. "I'm truly thankful to ErinoakKids," he said. "You're truly making a better generation that is more considerate and aware of the challenges faced by people of all different backgrounds and that's something you can't put a price on, that makes our community as a whole so much stronger." Construction should start in 2014, be com- pleted in late 2016 and open the year after. The Oakville facility's features will include: 20 treatment rooms, an audiology, hearingaid fitting and dispensing area, two gyms for physiotherapy, and group and recreation therapy, and a Snoezelen room, a space commonly used in treatment of those with autism and developmentally-challenged children. It will also include a fully-accessible playground, an adapted fitness facility, a youth drop-in centre, as well as both indoor and outdoor spaces to support skill and hobby development as well as pre-vocational training. For more on ErinoakKids, visit www. ErinoakKids.ca. For a related story, see Health The Educational Journey of Lifetime Premier independent all-girls' school Preschool to Grade 12 St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School is more than just a school without boys. The teaching practices used by our highly qualified and passionate teachers are informed by current research about girls' unique needs and learning styles. Our programs are developed specifically for girls, helping them become the incredible women of tomorrow. This week only when you spend $1.00 on a delicious chocolate chunk Smile Cookie, Tim Hortons will donate the entire proceeds to Oakville Hospital Foundation. To find out more visit timhortons.com Open House Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 26th, 2013 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Canadian Accredited Independent Schools St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, 1080 Linbrook Road, Oakville, Ontario L6J 2L1 Tel: 905-845-2386 · Fax: 905-845-4799 Email: info@smls.on.ca · Website: www.smls.on.ca © Tim Hortons, 2010 Charitable Registration # 11919 1963 RR0001 www.oakville.ca Celebrating Culture Days Free interactive activities! · Workshops in pottery · Fibre arts demos · Live performances in the Black Box Theatre · Art exhibitions and much more! Saturday, September 28, 2013 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre 2302 Bridge Road, Oakville For more information and a full activity listing, visit oakville.ca.