Whitby, ON – On Friday, local MPP Lorne Coe was at the Abilities Centre see the results of a six-month, $95,900 Capital grant it received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in late 2022. The funds have allowed the Centre to install 15 hotelling workstations, upgrade the accessibility of its elevators, and supply its adult day program with more accessible and sustainable furniture.
“This investment will help the Abilities Centre to serve more people in local communities in leveraging accessibility, as well as social inclusion, and health and well-being outcomes,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. “The Abilities Centre provides important supports for our loved ones in Whitby and other parts of the Region of Durham who have varying levels of ability and is an excellent example of how a local facility can help create a strong community of inclusion.”
The upgrades provide the space for the Centre to hire more staff to meet the rising demand for its programs and services for individuals with disabilities in Durham Region and beyond, ensure that its elevators are more accessible to those individuals who are blind or have low vision, and the new program furniture ensures that the Centre’s adult day program participants have access to furniture that will allow them to fully engage in all program activities.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Ross Ste-Croix, General Manager and COO, Abilities Centre. “Our Centre was built with accessibility at the forefront and we are continuously striving to stay on the leading edge of innovations in accessibility in our built environment to ensure we can provide equitable access to our programs and services to all our members, participants, and visitors.”
Abilities Centre exists to unlock potential through accessibility. Whether through vocational services, therapeutic recreation, adult day programs, or sport and recreation, every program and service at Abilities Centre is aimed at re-imaging how Canadians live, work and play. For more information visit AbilitiesCentre.org
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Ross Ste-Croix (General Manager & COO)
Abilities Centre
647.641.8976
rstecroix@abilitiescentre.org