ErinoakKids' Oakville centre to open in spring 2017 by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, February 25, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com ErinoakKids, the largest community-based children's treatment centre in Ontario, celebrated the start of construction of its new $47-million Oakville facility with a virtual groundbreaking ceremony at the Oakville Conference Centre Friday. The physical groundbreaking took place in April at the site, which is located at 2000 Glenorchy Dr., just north of the new Oakville hospital. Construction of the new space is intended to help the centre meet the increasing demand for therapy, medical and support services for children and youths with disabilities and special needs. The new facility is part of a multi-site project supported by Ontario's Ministry of Children and Youth Services that will replace 11 outgrown facilities with three new buildings -- one in Oakville, another in Mississauga and a third in Brampton. ErinoakKids staff said the sites will bring therapy, medical and support services under one roof for children with disabilities and special needs, so that they receive the care they need when they need it most. "Today, ErinoakKids celebrates a remarkable milestone in a long journey that began with a dream to provide children and youth with disabilities access to the care and resources they need to achieve lifelong success," stated ErinoakKids President and CEO Bridget Fewtrell in a press release. "As demand for our services increases by 10 per cent annually, it is critical we address the needs of the more than 15,000 children and youth we serve each year by providing new space, tailored to meet the needs in their home communities." The ceremonial groundbreaking also saw items put into a time capsule that will be placed in the new 79,000-square-foot facility. Completion of the centre is scheduled for early 2017 with the building expected to officially open in spring 2017. Once complete the facility will feature: · A controlled multi-sensory Snoezelen room ErinoakKids, the largest community-based children's treatment centre in Ontario, celebrated construction of its new Oakville facility with a virtual groundbreaking at the Oakville Conference Centre. The actual groundbreaking was last April at the site, which is located just north of the new Oakville hospital. At the ceremonial groundbreaking items were put in a time capsule that will be placed in the new facility. Pictured, from left are: Meeta Bains, ErinoakKids board chair; James Sutherland, ErinoakKids board vice-chair; Bridgette Fewtrell, ErinoakKids president and CEO; Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services; Indira Naidoo-Harris, Halton MPP; Addison McCook, 8, an ErinoakKids client; her parents Joanna and Terrance McCook and Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, with the time capsule to which each person added an item. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) for children with autism or developmental disabilities · A fully-accessible playground for recreation therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy · Two gyms · Twenty treatment rooms · An adapted fitness facility · Two therapeutic playrooms · A family resource centre for staff and families · A Youth Drop-In Centre · An audiology room for hearing-aid fitting and dispensing "Our Oakville facility was purposefully designed to give children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their developmental goals and build their confidence and self-worth," said Meeta Bains, chair of the board of directors at ErinoakKids. "In doing so, we are helping these children grow to become active and contributing members of our communities." In a press release, Minister of Children and Youth Services Tracy MacCharles called the centre a major step forward that gives children, youth and their families convenient access to special needs services. "This updated facility will be a cornerstone of care in Oakville, and joins a legacy of children's treatment facility projects that our government is proud to support," she said. The cost of design and construction for the Oakville site is $47 million, which will be provided by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.