George Jeffrey Treatment Centre Starts Construction
By Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
Bob Speer, Chairman of the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation was a happy man standing on the site of the new George Jeffrey Treatment Centre with construction to start immediately. “ This is a fantastic day. This is the start of everything after 4 years of planning work and fundraising. We have raised $1.7 million to date and the province has provided $6.3 million dollars. I think with the start of construction next week and equipment working it will help us tremendously,” smiles Bob Speer. “ The middle of next October we will be bringing the
children to the new building. It is awesome. The building will be over twice the size and the rooms will be fully equipped for therapy. We will have a pool as well. It will be bigger and allow us to hire more professional staff and help more children.”
Currently there is a waiting list of about 250 children and this new building will fix the problem according to Speer. The cost of the new building in the end will be about $10.2 million dollars complete. It will be 34,000 square feet in size with all the therapy rooms on the ground floor and a little administration area on the second floor.”
“ The Westfort community is excited about our development and the neighbours are happy. It will be an addition to the Westfort area, all of Thunder Bay and the District,” stated Speer. “ We have several programs in our fundraising such as rooms to buy and the Save a Seat
program which is a $1000 donation over four years any way you would like to pay. We want to get 1000 seats. For more information on getting involved we have a web site or you can contact the existing centre on Lillie Street. You will get help immediately.”
“ There is no question children who need support are more vulnerable and this is about providing children and youth the opportunity to achieve their potential, whatever that may be. The staff families and volunteers are committed to improvement for children,” stated Mary Ann
Chambers, Minister of Children and Youth. “ We want to make sure the building will be completed on time so more kids can be received in the right setting, so our additional funding of $1 million announced today will help that goal. I am happy to see the support of the Thunder Bay community. I think the structure will be just what the kids need.”
The new building will be situated at 200 East Brock Street.
Visit www.georgejeffrey.com/foundation
