Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin–Middlesex–London, Duncan Hawthorne, President & CEO of Bruce Power, Lucas Braun, Provincial Ambassador, Chris Bentley, Member of Provincial Parliament for London West, Rob Berkovitz, Past Chair of Easter Seals Ontario Board of Directors


LONDON, ONTARIO – Camp Woodeden received a giant boost today to continue to provide world-class programs in a new world-class facility for children and youth with disabilities.  A groundbreaking ceremony was held today at Camp Woodeden, located on the outskirts of London, Ontario, overlooking the Thames River. On hand to mark this occasion were: Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London; the Honourable Chris Bentley, Ontario’s Attorney General and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, and Member of Provincial Parliament for London West; and Carol Lloyd, President and CEO of Easter Seals Ontario. Together, the governments of Canada and Ontario are jointly investing more than $2.6 million on this project.

”For years, Camp Woodeden has been a special place where children and youth with disabilities can experience the fun and excitement of summer camp without being hindered by physical limitations,” said MP Preston on behalf of Canada’s Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Chuck Strahl. “This new centre will facilitate world-class athletic and cultural activities and will allow children and youth to take part in a variety of challenging programs that would otherwise not be available to them”.

This new, year-round, fully accessible activity centre will be comprised of two buildings. It will include a full-size gym, an indoor climbing wall, amphitheatre, sports equipment storage areas, multi-purpose rooms, and washroom and shower facilities. As a result, Camp Woodeden can offer a wide range of athletic and cultural activities to individuals with varying physical abilities. 

“We are making the right investments for our children through our government’s Open Ontario plan,” said MPP Bentley. “From the basketball court to the high ropes course, this new facility will be a place where youth with disabilities can have fun and lead active lifestyles.”

Through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund delivered by Infrastructure Canada, the Government of Canada is committing just over $1.3 million. The Government of Ontario and the Ontario Easter Seals Ontario are also each providing just over $1.3 million. The total estimated eligible project cost is just over $3.9 million.

“We are extremely grateful to our major funders, the governments of Canada and Ontario and Bruce Power, for their support of the construction of a new Multi-Sport Recreation Centre at Easter Seals Camp Woodeden,” said Carol Lloyd, President and CEO of Easter Seals Ontario.  “Children and youth with physical disabilities who attend Easter Seals camp, as well as individuals of all ages and levels of ability, will be able to take advantage of this new facility.”

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan that the Government of Canada introduced in January 2009 to create jobs and boost the economy, the new $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund was introduced, resulting in close to 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country.