$145,000 OTF Capital Grant Provides Furniture and Equipment for the new Children and Youth Services Building

Dec 18, 2023

Local MPP Mike Schreiner met virtually with the team at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington to hear more about the $145,000 Capital grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant was used to provide furnishings and equipment for the new Children and Youth Services Building on Woolwich Street in Guelph. The new building is the result of a partnership with The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs to create a “one stop shop” making it easy and seamless for children, youth up to age 26 and their families to get what they need to reach their full potential.

“As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I want to congratulate CMHA Waterloo Wellington on receiving this grant from the OTF,” said MPP Mike Schreiner. “By helping the team to purchase furnishings and equipment, this funding will address an important need. The portable stage, study pods, and a variety of youth-friendly furnishings will create a welcoming atmosphere to those seeking mental health care. The work that CMHA Waterloo-Wellington undertakes in our local communities to build human connections that make it possible for people to achieve their greatest potential is truly invaluable. Congratulations on this well-deserved grant!”

The pandemic shifted the baseline of mental health and addictions needs across our community, particularly those of children and youth. Thanks to the $145,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, CMHA Waterloo Wellington has been able to create a welcoming, youth friendly space that will support the wellbeing of children and youth in our community. Some of the items that have been purchased as a result of the grant, include a portable stage, study pods, a pool table, and youth friendly furnishings to create an inviting space where youth feel comfortable hanging out, participating in recreational activities, and accessing community-based mental health services. A toy sanitizing machine has also been purchased to clean toys used in our programs and services, ensuring the health and safety of children and families, and helping to instill confidence for families and caregivers in our health and safety practices.

“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Helen Fishburn, CEO of CMHA Waterloo Wellington. “The impact of prolonged isolation has left our children feeling lost, disconnected from their peer groups, with many turning to harmful ways to cope. Our children and youth have been deprived of the social connections needed for their developmental progression. The Children and Youth Services Building and The Grove Youth Wellness Hub all under one roof will create the safety net our kids need to be resilient and build positive bright futures, and the furnishings provided by the OTF Capital grant has made this welcoming space come to life.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.