It’s been called a field of dreams, but thanks to funding announced on Friday December 8th by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Provincial Government, the dream will soon become a reality.
Nearly 400-thousand dollars will be invested by OTF and the province to complete work begun through the generous support of private donors like HTM Insurance and Part Time CFO Services at Five Counties Children Centre location in Cobourg.
Northumberland Peterborough South MPP David Piccini spoke about Five Counties partners who will also benefit from the Backyard Project.
“We are making it easier for families across Ontario to find services that children may need to assist their development by supporting initiatives like the Backyard Project” said MPP David Piccini. “I am proud our government is investing in Five Counties Children’s Centre to ensure our community receives the services and upgrades it needs to succeed.”
Work will begin in earnest this spring to complete a safe, fully-accessible outdoor area that provides more space and options for treatment, recreation, cultural awareness and outdoor education programs.
Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin told us the funding means they’ll have a fully-accessible outdoor area for therapy and play next summer.
Five Counties, in partnership with the County of Northumberland, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, YMCA Northumberland, and the local EarlyON Child and Family Centre, will use the funding for the backyard which will include an accessible playground, sensory play equipment, a garden area, gazebo, stage and track for wheelchairs, bikes, and other mobility devices.
Pepin told us, it’s a dream come true.
“We are extremely grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for investing in our backyard, our kids and our community,” says Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties. “The capital funding will not only transform our backyard but will help transform lives. Our field of dreams is almost a reality, and the end result will be a fully, accessible, culturally responsive, nature-based play space that boosts outdoor treatment sessions, reduces wait lists, and helps children and families enjoy accessible play.”
Five Counties Children’s Centre provides speech, physio and occupational therapies, in addition to other treatment services for children and youth up to 19 year of age, in Northumberland, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton. Over the past year, Five Counties has served more than 6,200 children and youth with one-quarter of them in Northumberland County.
Written by Joseph Goden
