Beaver Staff
A trio of Stone Mills projects received a combined total of $94,120 in government funding to improve their accessibility following an announcement from Hastings, Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the Kirsty Duncan, Minister Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Bossio announced Centreville Memorial United Church will receive $50,000 to improve accessibility to the church.
Stone Mills Township will also receive $30,000 to improve accessibility to the municipal office and $14,120 for the Tamworth community hall and library.
“Today’s announcement is making a rural community like Stone Mills more accessible for Canadians of all abilities,” Bossio said in Friday’s release. “These projects at Centreville Memorial United Church, Tamworth community hall and library and the municipal office in Centreville are further examples of what the Government of Canada is doing to help Canadians of all abilities to fully participate in and contribute to their workplaces and communities. I want to thank all participating organizations for applying for funding that will help to make our communities and workplaces more inclusive for all Canadians.”
The funding came through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF), which strives to make communities more accessible and inclusive for people living with disabilities.
“Through the EAF’s community stream, the Township has received financial support to construct a ramp inside the Tamworth Hall, helping to make the washroom and kitchen areas more accessible,” said Stone Mills reeve Eric Smith. “Accessibility improvements will also be made to the main entrance of the Tamworth Hall. At the Centreville Municipal Offices, we will upgrade accessibility to the building’s washrooms and entrance to the hall. All of these improvements will make the buildings more accessible for the public and employees.”
The money will be used in a similar fashion for the church.
“The congregation of Centreville Memorial United Church decided in the spring of 2017 to pursue the idea of a lift for our church, to make it more accessible to those with mobility issues,” said Colleen Jelley, treasurer for the Centreville Memorial United Church. “A committee was formed, quotes were received, paperwork was completed and after a bit of a wait the result was a $50,000 grant from the Enabling Accessibility Fund. Cam Monk from Specialized Onsite Services has been hired to complete the renovation and work will begin shortly. The washroom will also be made accessible. Once completed, people will be able to get into the lift on ground level and go up for services in the Sanctuary or down for get-togethers in the basement. Everyone involved with our church is so grateful to our government for giving us the opportunity to see this dream through to reality”
Since the creation of the EAF in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 3,000 projects, helping Canadians gain access to their communities’ programs, services and workplaces.