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About Us > Abilities Centre
About the Abilities Centre
The Abilities Centre will be a world class recreation, athletic and performing arts facility fully accessible to all persons with a varying degree of abilities and challenges. Situated in the heart of the Central Eastern Lake Ontario Region, the Abilities Centre will be an international leader in helping people of all ages focus on their abilities and enhance their confidence and independence through state-of-the art opportunities.
The Abilities Centre is partnering with the Iroquois Park Complex and will build on their existing facilities and services. The new 85,000 square foot barrier-free facility will include a field house which will contain a walking/training track, full size courts suitable for wheelchair basketball, volleyball and movement education classes as well as a fitness facility, therapy rooms, performing arts components and much more.
The Abilities Centre will facilitate total barrier free access to active living in the nation's largest municipal sports complex. Unlike other rehabilitation focused facilities, the Abilities Centre will create a unique learning, training, rehabilitation and recreation centre in the heart of the country. The Abilities Centre will represent a paradigm shift, leading to enhanced dignity for children, youth and adults who will be stakeholders in a facility that welcomes and indeed hosts everyone. Social barriers will give way to inclusion because of the integral focus on developing "abilities".
Click here for the Abilities Centre Information Booklet in PDF format.
Mission
The mission of the Abilities Centre is to create a centre that will enrich the quality of life of people with special needs, and/or those who have a varying degree of abilities and challenges, which will enable them to:
- increase their knowledge and confidence in what is possible
- have opportunities for successful, active and full lives
- develop the skills and resources needed to achieve their goals, good health and well being
- be included in active lifestyles within their own communities; and
- engage in activities ranging from fitness to art therapy which will further the body and the mind.
Recent data released from Statistics Canada indicate that today 1 in 7 (or 14%) of Canadians have some form of significant disability or specific medical challenge. These Canadians face significant physical, developmental, behavioral, mental health, or sensory-related challenges that impact their daily lives and those of their families. While there are a number of good programs that serve the immediate needs of these individual groups, the facilities they use are primarily designed to serve the mainstream of the population.
Very few, if any, of these programs are able to use facilities that are specifically designed to meet the specialized requirements of people who have disabilities. Furthermore, these programs tend to be "stand alone" and cannot combine their finite financial and human resources with other groups or programs. Lastly, many of these facilities lack the capacity to deliver focused programming especially for youth and young adults with disabilities. These inherent inefficiencies are both costly and cumbersome to the health services industry.
Capturing the efficiency and combining the intellectual, emotional and physical advantages of having a facility that is designed to serve people with disabilities is the reason behind the Abilities Centre. As our national health care system and our society continue to strain against the increasing demands being placed upon it, all Canadians will be in some way impacted by someone who has a disability or specific medical challenge.
To request a copy of our corporate package, please contact our office.
Abilities Centre - Charitable Registration #88981 9116 RR0001