Grandview Children’s Centre has received a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) for planning and design development for expanded facilities. The new facilities will help us to better serve children and youth with special needs in Durham Region, and their families.

Currently, Grandview serves about 4,500 children and youth. We provide outpatient rehabilitation services including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Language Pathology, Audiology, Social Work and Medical Services as well as recreation programs and other services. Last year nearly 2,000 children were referred to Grandview.

Unfortunately we have about 1,000 children on the wait list, and each child will wait about 6 months to 16 months depending on the therapies they need.

We expect the wait list and wait times to grow as Durham Region’s population continues to grow. This is a good reason for us to be as efficient as we can – a new building will help us to provide services more efficiently and potentially to reach more children.

Grandview owns the Oshawa site, which was built in 1983. Despite leasing additional space in Ajax and Whitby, we are still overcrowded and constrained by the lack of space. We do not have sufficient land to expand on the Oshawa site, and the construction of the building does not permit a second storey.

We are not able to lease additional premises because lease payments come out of our operating budget and therefore reduce the amount of funds we have available to hire therapy staff. Using Ontario Government capital dollars to build a new building would mean that our operating budget would not be impacted by leasing additional space. 

Our vision for the new Centre is a multi-service Children’s Centre, co-located with other children’s service agencies, situated in a more central location in the Region.

This is a long-term vision, since it has been determined that it is not financially feasible for Grandview to build space to lease to other agencies, at this time.  Nevertheless, Campbell Children's School and two small agencies, as well as a private supplier, will be co-located with Grandview in Phase 1, which will hopefully be completed in 2012. In Phase ll we hope that a health care provider will be joining us, and in Phase lll we hope to have other children's service agencies co-locate on the same site.  The completion dates for these phases have not yet been determined.

It has been decided to consolidate Grandview into one location, more central to the Region than our current main Oshawa site.  We have been diligently searching for a new site (land) which meets as many of our criteria as possible. We are in the process of finalizing our selection of site.

The Consultants (Integrated Planning Resources) have been gathering in-depth information on Grandview's space needs and refining these projections so that we do not underestimate or overestimate our requirements.  The Architects (Stantec Architecture Ltd.) are in the process of developing preliminary design, which includes the relationships between the various programs and services.

Based on this work, we are now estimating that the total project will cost about $36 million.  This includes the cost of the land, construction, equipment, parking, furnishings, landscaping and playground.

If the Ministry approves the planning and preliminary design, we may apply for Ontario Government funding of most of the costs of the project. The remaining costs will be covered through fund-raising. Grandview Children’s Foundation will be launching a capital campaign with a goal that is likely to be close to $6million. 

Thank you!

Vicky Earle 

Executive Director

P.S. For more information, see “Frequently Asked Questions” on

GROWING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Updated August 4, 2009

Please note that these will be updated regularly as we obtain more information and refine our plans

What is Grandview Children's Centre currently doing to help children and youth with special needs?

• We currently serve about 4,500 children and youth with special needs and their families. 
• We provide outpatient rehabilitation services including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Language Pathology, Audiology, Social Work and Medical Services as well as recreation programs and other services.
• Last year, nearly 2,000 children were referred to Grandview!
• Grandview has well over 1,000 children on the wait list.
• Wait times vary from 6 months to 16 months, depending on therapies required.
• We expect the wait list and wait times to grow as Durham Region's population continues to grow - the youth population is expected to increase by about 15% over the next 10 years. It is well understood that the earlier we provide needed therapy services to children with special needs, the more successful the outcomes.

Why does Grandview need new facilities?

• We need to grow in order to better serve Durham Region children and youth with special needs and their families.
• The Oshawa site was built in 1983 and sadly the building, as well as the parking area, has been vastly outgrown.
• Grandview is leasing space in Whitby and Ajax - the lease costs come out of our operating budget (these dollars could be used for additional therapy staff time).
• We could be more efficient in the way we deliver services if we had adequate, well-designed space (and potentially could serve more children).
• The Ontario Government is willing to consider funding a new building, recognizing that we have insufficient space.
• The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has provided Grandview with a grant to plan for redevelopment.

What is the vision for the new Children's Centre?

We have developed a preliminary vision that is based on input received during our strategic planning process. This will be subject to change as the consultants help us to consider options. Currently, we are considering a new multi-service Children's Centre, co-located with other children's service agencies, situated in a more central location for Durham Region. The Centre might also include space for lease to private practitioners such as a dentist, an optometrist and a family physician. This is a long term vision.  Phase l will include Campbell Children's School, two small agencies and a private supplier.

How many children will the new building serve?

Currently we see about 1,150 children and youth each month and have about 4,500 children and youth on the caseload. Most of the new space will be needed to address current needs.  We hope that more flexible and efficient use of space will allow us to expand our services in the future to address waitlists and to better serve children and youth, once operational dollars become available.

Will Campbell Children's School be part of the new Children's Centre?

Yes. Children enrolled in Campbell Children's School are those who benefit from intensive therapy provided by Grandview Children's Centre staff. The operational budget for Campbell Children's School is funded by the Ministry of Education.

Will the Ajax and Whitby satellites still be operating after the new Children's Centre opens?

While there are benefits to having satellite offices, we experience some challenges in being tenants. In addition, we are using precious operating dollars to pay for rent. We also face administrative challenges and inefficiencies in operating out of several locations. The consultants' analysis to date supports the consolidation of the Ajax and Whitby satellites with the Oshawa site into one new building in a more central location in the Region - offering all of our services to families under "one roof".

Will there be any satellites?

We will likely continue to offer some services in a few small community outreach locations.

What will the new Children's Centre look like?

It will be a fully accessible, child and youth-friendly environment.

We hope to have sufficient land and funding that will permit us to have an accessible, safe playground, accessible and wheel-chair friendly trails, a wheel-chair training area, a sensory garden and other therapeutic landscaping.

Why can't Grandview expand at the Oshawa site?

While the Oshawa site has served us well since 1983, there is not enough land to expand here, and the construction of the building does not permit a second storey.

Who are the consultants helping Grandview with the planning?

Integration Planning Resources Inc. (IPR) has been selected by Grandview as the planning consultants. IPR is a multi-disciplinary Canadian-owned healthcare consulting firm that has recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. IPR will help us to develop a business case including the analysis of options and investigation of potential sites. (For more information check out http://www.ipr.ca/)

Who are the architects?

Stantec Architecture Ltd. has been selected by Grandview as the architectural firm. Stantec architects specialize in the creation of client-focused and supportive environments. Established in 1954, Stantec has steadily grown and evolved and is now one of Canada's premiere healthcare architecture practices. Stantec has developed guidelines that help ensure significantly better indoor air quality, increased flexibility of the building, reduction of operating and maintenance costs, the use of less natural resources and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

(For more information check out http://www.stantec.com/)

Vertechs Design Inc. is a full service landscape architectural practice specializing in therapeutic landscapes for healthcare settings. Experiencing nature provides a restorative experience for people with special needs, and enhances an individual's sense of well-being and health.

(For more information check out http://www.vertechsdesign.com/)

How were the consultants and architects selected?

Grandview issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) to several consultants and architects that were recommended/had experience working with similar children's centres. The RFP reflected the requirements of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (since we will be applying to the Ministry for subsidy for this construction project).

Proposals were received from four different partnerships of architects and consultants. An internal advisory group used a rigorous selection process. This hard work resulted in a recommendation for a preferred partnership being submitted to Grandview's Board of Trustees for consideration. Based on this recommendation and a presentation from the preferred partnership, the Board endorsed the selection of the partnership of Stantec and IPR.

Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and architects?

We are fortunate that the Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Honourable Deb Matthews, approved a grant for planning for site redevelopment.

What services will be available for children and youth and their families?

Most of the services that will be offered are already being provided by Grandview. Additional services will be added depending on the results of the consultants' analysis, and on the availability of resources. We are likely to offer:

How will the new Children's Centre better serve children and youth with special needs?

The new Centre will provide better designed treatment space, with additional treatment areas, so that we can offer more group therapy programs and increased educational/training opportunities for parents. The new Centre will also have space for other services and organizations to co-locate with us. This will help to create efficiencies as well as being more convenient for families. Adequate parking will be available, improved accessible washrooms, and other enhancements to help us to better serve children and youth, and their families.

Will the building be environmentally friendly?

Stantec has LEED® accredited professionals on staff and is committed to looking for opportunities to use sustainable design strategies in the areas of site planning and storm water management, water conservation, energy conservation, materials selection and use, interior air quality and construction-site waste management.

Where will the new building be located?

The consultants will be helping us to consider options for the location of the new building. We would like the new building to be more centrally located in the Region. However, this will depend on the consultants' findings, and on the availability of affordable land.

How much will the new building cost?

The total project is currently estimated to cost about $36 million. This includes the cost of land, construction, equipment, furnishings, parking, landscaping and playground. 

Where will the money come from for the new building?

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS), if the Ministry approves the planning and preliminary design, will subsidize this cost. MCYS has advised that we are eligible to apply for funding of most of the cost of the project. The remaining costs will be covered through fund-raising. Grandview Children's Foundation will be launching a capital campaign with a goal that is likely to be about $6million.

When will the new building open?

We plan to apply to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for funding in the fall of 2009. If we obtain approval, we will then continue with the detailed design drawings and specifications, and go out to tender to select a construction company. We hope to start construction in 2011. We do not have a date for opening yet.

Will the new Children's Centre be on a bus route?

One of the selection criteria for land would be that it must be on a bus route.

Is there a business plan?

There is a preliminary business plan, which was the basis of the request to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for planning and design dollars. We have hired Stantec-IPR to undertake a rigorous process in order to develop a thorough and well-thought out business plan that will enable us to apply to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for a subsidy towards the cost of the project.

How can I provide my suggestions and ideas?

Families are invited to join us Wednesday, August 12, 2009 from 1 - 3 pm in the Oshawa site large conference room, to share suggestions/ideas/comments directly to vicky.earle@grtc.ca   Thank you!

Who should I ask if I have questions?

If you have questions about the planning and design of the new children's centre, please contact Vicky Earle, Executive Director, Grandview Children's Centre at vicky.earle@grtc.ca

If you have questions about Campbell Children's School, please contact Sue Gualdieri, Principal, at sue.gualdieri@grtc.ca

If you have questions about the Foundation's role, please contact Pam McColl, Foundation Director at pam.mccoll@grtc.ca

Thank you for your interest in the planning for a new children's centre in Durham!! 

 If you have a suggestion for a question that should be added to this list, please email vicky.earle@grtc.ca. Thank you!

Grandview Children's Centre ... leading the way to excellence in services for children and youth with special needs and their families in Durham Region.