MISSISSAUGA, ON - Parkin Architects Limited will lead the planning, design, and compliance aspects of the ErinoakKids redevelopment project, which involves the design and construction of new facilities in Brampton, Mississauga and Halton.

The ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development is the largest of Ontario's 20 children's treatment centres, treating almost 13,000 children and youth with disabilities in Peel, Halton and Dufferin annually. The redevelopment project will provide new facilities that will allow ErinoakKids to consolidate programs and services from nine existing sites to three new sites that will be purpose-built for special-needs children. The main facility will be approximately 160,000 square feet and will be located in Brampton, with the other two sites in Mississauga and Halton, each approximately 62,000 square feet.

The new buildings are slated to open in 2017 and will offer a wide range of services, including

  • autism services such as intensive behavioural intervention and applied behavioural analysis
  • infant hearing and blind low vision services
  • physiotherapy and occupational therapy services
  • speech and language services
  • assistive devices resources services
  • medical, nursing and specialty medical services
  • respite services
  • family support services

“Providing services for children in a facility designed specifically for their needs will mean better care for families,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Children and Youth Services. “I'm proud of the McGuinty government's investment in specialized facilities that give families better access to high quality care when and where they need it most.”

“We are excited at the prospect of new facilities that are right-sized and appropriately designed for the care of children and youth with disabilities,” said Bridget Fewtrell, President and CEO of ErinoakKids. “The government has shown vision and responsiveness in approving this project, and we are delighted to be working with Infrastructure Ontario to turn this vision into reality for the children and families we serve.”

The project will support ErinoakKids in its mission to help children and youth with physical, developmental and communication disabilities achieve optimal levels of independence, learning, health and well-being.

The planning, design and compliance team will establish the guidelines and performance requirements that the successful building team must meet when preparing its designs. The team will also monitor construction progress and provide coordination and oversight during the commissioning and completion of the project.

Once the team is established, ErinoakKids and Infrastructure Ontario will issue a request for qualifications for a company to design, build and finance the project, using the Alternative Financing and Procurement model. Under this model, risks associated with the design, construction and financing of complex projects are transferred to the private sector.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services are working closely with ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development to build the new facilities, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects, on time and on budget. It also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, offers real estate services, such as asset management and property and land management, and provides the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew public infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.

Contacts:

Mandy Downes
Infrastructure Ontario
(416) 327-5246

Bridget Fewtrell, President and CEO
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development
(905) 855-2690