Pictured above Bill Leonard, Greg Rickford, MP, Bob Onysko, Bill Johnson

 
KENORA, ONTARIO – Canada and Ontario today announced an investment in partnership with Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services that will build a new group home to replace the existing Birchcliff Group Home structures. This total investment of $2.2 Million will help to create local jobs in Kenora and supports children's services in the community
 
To make the announcement, Greg Rickford Member of Parliament for Kenora, and on behalf of Michael Gravelle MPP and Ontario’s Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Forestry joined Bob Onysko, Bill Leonard and Bill Johnson of Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services.
 
“I am proud today to be jointly announcing funding for a project that will get shovels in the ground, jobs created, and enable this organization to enhance its services for years to come,” said Rickford. “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government has announced an historic number of projects to help strengthen our communities, including here in Kenora.”
 
“Today’s investment in Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services’ group homes is yet again another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector in Kenora,” said Gravelle. “This investment will not only help deliver valued community services, help create jobs, and stimulate our local economy, but will also improve the quality of life for residents in Kenora.”
 
“Our present location at Black Sturgeon Lake has long ostracized the youth in our care from conveniently accessing community resources such as health services, counseling services, access to public schools and ongoing recreational activities for every youth. The transportation costs alone are considerable,” said William Leonard, Executive Director, Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services. “Our present site has a state of the art water infiltration system capable of serving a small subdivision, but because of conflicting interpretations of regulations for safe drinking water quality, our present homes have been under a boil water advisory for the past year. The agency looks forward to providing our youth with more modern facilities in a home like environment.”
 
The project will consist of two six bed units that will replace four existing 35-year old structures which will then be decommissioned. The new group home will be built immediately to the north east of the former Our Lady of the Valley School on Valley Drive in Kenora. The school is in good condition and currently owned and used by Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services for a Kumon Tutoring program, preparation for youth moving to independence, recreation and meeting space. The group homes’ education and recreation programs would move into the school.
 
The Governments of Canada and Ontario and Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services are each investing one-third of the total project cost.  Canada’s funding is part of its new national Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan unveiled in January 2009.  Ontario’s matching contribution is provided through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future.
 
Canada and Ontario are working together to create jobs and boost the economy, while making significant investments that help communities improve their infrastructure.