Niagara Children's Centre and BGC Niagara Partner to Open Fort Erie Location to Improve Access for Centre Families

June 14, 2024

Niagara Children's Centre and BGC Niagara Partner to Open Fort Erie Location to Improve Access for Centre Families

Satellite Location Resides Inside the EJ Freeland Community Centre

Fort Erie, ON – Niagara Children's Centre has reached a significant milestone in its mission to provide accessible and inclusive rehabilitation and support services for children and youth across the Niagara region by opening a new satellite location in Fort Erie.

At the grand opening event, Oksana Fisher, CEO of Niagara Children’s Centre, emphasized the importance of bringing essential services closer to families in need.

"Our strategic focus has been to ensure that families across the Niagara region have easy access to our organization's invaluable services," said Fisher.

Fisher highlighted the Centre’s longstanding commitment to serving the Niagara region and explained the rationale behind choosing Fort Erie for the new location.

"While our St. Catharines facility is central, it represents a great distance for many families,” she said. “This new location offers surrounding families a more convenient way to ensure their child receives the support they need."

This Fort Erie site marks the Centre's third expansion in two years, following the opening of Welland and Grimsby satellite operations inside the YMCAs of Niagara Centre and Niagara West.

Fisher noted that BGC Niagara, formally known as the Boys & Girls Club of Niagara, was an ideal community partner for the Children’s Centre with shared synergies that could present opportunities for future collaboration.

“From our early years' programs to our recreation activities, there are countless ways that Niagara families could benefit,” Fisher added.

Hon. Wayne Gates, MPP for Niagara Falls, Fort Erie & Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lois Ouellette, Board Chair of Niagara Children’s Centre, and JoAnne Turner, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Niagara, also spoke at the event.

Turner shared that BGC Niagara took over operation of the facility in 2020, with a focus on improving the lives and health of local residents. The addition of the Children’s Centre’s satellite is a welcome complement to the variety of programs already being offered.

"We are proud to partner with Niagara Children’s Centre to offer their clients services closer to home in Fort Erie," said Turner. "At BGC Niagara, we believe that opportunity changes everything for children and youth. We are thrilled to support the Centre’s ability to increase opportunities for their clients and families.”

The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the official opening of the new location.

Niagara Children’s Centre looks forward to continuing its mission from this new Fort Erie location and fostering further partnerships and collaborations to benefit Niagara families. Families interested in learning more about the Centre’s services are encouraged to visit www.niagarachildrenscentre.com or contact (905) 688-1890, ext. 110.

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About Niagara Children’s Centre:
Niagara Children’s Centre provided rehabilitation and support services to more than 5,300 children and youth last year across the Niagara Region with physical, developmental and communicative delays. The range of services includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation.

About BGC Niagara (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara):
BGC Niagara is a charitable, community supported organization dedicated to helping children and youth reach their full potential. Since 1960, BGC Niagara has provided a broad spectrum of services for children, youth and their families, including food, shelter, transportation, childcare, aquatics, recreation, physical activity, leadership, and life skill programs.

Media contact: Michael Morrison, Marketing & Communications Officer
Phone: 905-688-1890 ext. 260
Email: michael.morrison@niagarachildrenscentre.com

Photo caption:
Local dignitaries, families and senior leadership from both BGC Niagara and Niagara Children's Centre officially open the Children’s Centre's newest location inside the EJ Freeland Community Centre.