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.

A little more than 100 guests joined campers and staff at Easter Seals Camp Horizon on July 18th to celebrate the opening of the new accessible pool at Easter Seals Camp Horizon. This was no small event! Campers have been waiting for years for funds to be raised and the pool to be constructed.

The therapeutic aspect of being able to move freely in water has restorative and overall health benefits for the campers with disabilities and special needs. It’s one of the few places where they can be free of the equipment they need on dry-land, such as power wheelchairs.

Those attending the pool opening party included special guests provincial conservative leadership candidate, Ted Morton, the MLA for the Foothills, JC Anderson and his daughter, Susan as well as several other donors and supporters for Easter Seals Camp Horizon.