Eight Easter Seals Drop Zone events have raised more than $1M for Easter Seals programs and services. With five more events to go the Drop Zone will likely once again break its fundraising record from the previous year.

Easter Seals Drop Zone, which takes place in 13 cities Canada-wide from August to early October, challenges participants to get out of their comfort zones in support of Easter Seals’ transformational programs and services. Participants raise a minimum $1500 to rappel off the side of a skyscraper. Many get into the spirit and don superhero costumes.

Drop Zone participants and sponsors in Saskatoon and Victoria smashed last year’s totals, each raising more than $100,000, up from the $64,000 range last year. Calgary once again has raised more than $200,000 with Vancouver close behind.

St. John’s had a very good first time event, raising $49,000. London is also participating for the first time. It sold out a month after opening up registration. Citizens were clamouring to rappel off the city’s exciting 26-story One London Place. They will soon get their chance.

Upcoming Drop Zone events include Montreal (Sept 21), Ottawa (Sept 26), London (Sept 29) and Toronto (Oct 6). For more visit www.thedropzone.ca.

London, ON – This summer federal, provincial, and Easter Seals Ontario representatives celebrated the completion of a new multi-sport activity centre at Easter Seals Camp Woodeden.

Camp Woodeden has been a home away from home for children, youth and young adults with physical disabilities for the past 65 years. The fully accessible activity centre is comprised of two buildings and includes a full-size gym, indoor climbing wall, amphitheatre, sports equipment storage areas, multi-purpose rooms, and change room facilities. This new facility will enable Camp Woodeden to offer an even wider range of athletic and cultural activities to children and youth with physical abilities.

“Camp Woodeden holds a special place in the hearts of many families in Ontario,” said Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin—Middlesex—London, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “This new multi-sport activity centre will welcome children and youth with disabilities, and encourage them to participate to the fullest extent of their abilities. The Government of Canada is proud to have supported such a worthy project that will benefit so many.”

“The Ontario government is proud to have contributed to this important project,” said Chris Bentley, Member of Provincial Parliament for London West. “By helping Camp Woodeden turn their dream for a new sports and activity complex into a reality, we have made this special camp an even more welcoming and engaging place for children and youth with disabilities to grow and play.”

“We are very fortunate to have a government that recognizes the benefit of recreation for kids with physical disabilities,” said Nelson Millman, Chair of the Board, Easter Seals Ontario. “This fully accessible, multi-sport centre will benefit Easter Seals campers as well as people of all ages and abilities from the community.”

The governments of Canada and Ontario have each committed over $1.3 million toward this project. Easter Seals Ontario is contributing the balance of the total eligible project cost of just over $3.9 million.

Federal funding for this project comes from the Government of Canada’s $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country. Over the last couple of months, Ontario had an increase of 38,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 7.9 per cent.

For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit ontario.ca/infrastructure.