NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO – Family and Children’s Services Niagara staff are now operating out of their newly constructed family centre thanks to support from the federal and provincial governments and other generous community donors.

The new 9,000 square foot centre, attached to the existing Family and Children’s Service’s building, will help the agency provide more support to children, families and foster parents in the Niagara Region. Complete with play areas, family visiting rooms, community meeting spaces and training and counselling facilities, it serves as a warm, welcoming environment for children and families during times of crisis. The extra space also accommodates two additional child protection teams, enabling the agency to reach out to even more at-risk children and youth.

“Without organizations like Family and Children’s Services Niagara, many vulnerable children and youth in our community would face a bleak future and never get to experience the warm and nurturing home life that they so deserve,” said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General of Canada . “I am so proud that the Government of Canada could be part of such a worthwhile project that will help even more children and families in crisis and allow them to see a brighter tomorrow.”

“The Government of Ontario is proud to support this very important project, which offers hope to families and children in need,” said Kim Craitor, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls. “As someone who benefited from foster care as a child, I can tell you that this centre will help protect, guide and support children during troubling times, and help ensure they have access to the bright and fulfilling future they deserve.”

“I am very proud to be here today.  A great deal of work and support has gone into making our family centre a reality.  This would not have been possible without the support of our federal and provincial funding partners, as well as our community donors.  This will be an incredible resource for families, children and the entire community,” said Joseph E. McLaughlin, President of the Family and Children's Services Niagara Board of Directors.

The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed more than $830,000 toward the total approved project cost of $2,510,000. Family and Children’s Services Niagara and other community donors contributed the balance of the final project cost of $3,400,000. 

Federal funding for this project comes from the Government of Canada’s $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which is providing funding to over 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.

Over the last couple of months, Ontario had an increase of 38,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 7.9 per cent.

For additional information about investments in infrastructure, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

For further information about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.