New inclusive, accessible café brings the Whitby community together and creates paid jobs for graduates of Abilities Centre’s Employment Services.
Abilities Centre officially opened Christine’s today, a welcoming and accessible new café located within Abilities Centre that serves members, participants, staff and the community.
“Christine’s is a place for our whole community, somewhere to grab a coffee, connect with a neighbour, or just belong,” said Michael Cvitkovic, president and CEO of Abilities Centre. “It’s also where several of our team members, graduates of our Employment Services programming, are building real careers, with all the independence and pride that comes with that.”
Christine’s is named for the Honourable Christine Elliott, one of the community champions whose leadership was instrumental in founding Abilities Centre in 2012. The name is a lasting recognition of her contribution, keeping that founding legacy present in the everyday life of the building.
That legacy extends to how Christine’s operates day to day. Abilities Centre’s Employment Services provides coaching, job development and skills-building support to individuals facing barriers to employment in Durham Region, and current participants get hands-on experience at Christine’s, from customer interaction to food prep to point-of-sale operations, alongside dedicated on-site support.
CAA supports Christine’s because of a shared belief that strong communities are built when organizations come together to remove barriers, create opportunities and help people live life to the fullest. CAA members visiting Abilities Centre can enjoy a complimentary coffee at Christine’s when they show their membership card.
“Inclusion is strongest when it is part of everyday community life,” said Shoshana Fruitman, Chief Marketing Officer, CAA Club Group. “We are proud to support Abilities Centre and Christine’s, a welcoming space that brings people together while providing hands-on training and valuable workplace experience to help participants build confidence and prepare for future employment.”
Christine’s is open now at 1 Jim Flaherty Street in Whitby, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
About Christine’s
Christine’s, championed by CAA, is an inclusive and accessible food and beverage space located within Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario. It serves members, participants, staff, and the community, and models inclusive employment practices through Abilities Centre’s Employment Services program, which offers hands-on internships for individuals of all abilities. Christine’s is named in honour of Christine Elliott, who co-founded Abilities Centre in 2012. For more information, visit christinescafe.ca.
About Abilities Centre
Abilities Centre is a state-of-the-art facility in Whitby, Ontario, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. Through innovative programs in health and fitness, arts and culture, and life skills development, the Centre fosters inclusivity and empowers individuals to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to reimagine accessibility and redefine the way Canadians live, work, and play. For more information about the Abilities Centre and its programs, please visit abilitiescentre.org.
About CAA Club Group
For 120 years, CAA has been helping Canadians stay mobile, safe and protected. The CAA Club Group of Companies is comprised of two automobile clubs, CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba, providing roadside assistance, travel, insurance, advocacy and member savings for over 2.8 million members. It also includes the CAA Insurance Company, a national property and casualty insurance company; Echelon Insurance, a national specialty insurer; and the Orion Travel Insurance Brand.
Media contacts
Abilities Centre
Matisse Hamel-Nelis
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Email: mhamel-nelis@abilitiescentre.org
Telephone: 905-665-8500 ext. 222
CAA Club Group
Nadia Matos
Manager, External Communications
Email: nm12@caasco.ca
Telephone: 416-523-0663