Grandview Kids

Every Child And Youth Living Life At Their Full Potential

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Ajax Public Library and Grandview Kids formalize long-standing partnership

Adrian Polidano

February 13, 2023

Ajax Public Library and Grandview Kids signed a formal partnership agreement on Friday, February 10, 2023, reaffirming a shared commitment to education, inclusivity and community engagement. The agreement includes establishing an Ajax Public Library branch within Grandview Kids’ new Paediatric Centre of Excellence, currently under construction in Ajax. The dedicated Ajax Public Library – Grandview Kids Branch will ensure the surrounding community has access to vital services and resources, while also supporting the ongoing need for inclusive and welcoming community spaces.

We are inspired by and appreciative of the support we’ve received.

Tom McHugh, Grandview Kids CEO

With a focus on hope, belonging, discovery and celebration, the new Grandview Kids will be a Centre of Excellence in paediatric rehabilitation, set to open in fall 2024.

Grandview Kids currently provides specialized supports to children and youth with communication, developmental and physical needs at eight locations across Durham Region. Grandview Kids’ new, welcoming, state-of-the-art headquarters will support seamless, coordinated and client-driven care – home to a mix of rehabilitation, medical and clinical services, as well as education and research activities. The new Centre will help reduce wait times and improve access to a broader range of services for young people with disabilities and their families.

The Ajax Public Library – Grandview Kids Branch will be open to all members of the public during the facility’s regular operating hours. Branch customers can look forward to borrowing Sensory Kits and a mix of fiction and non-fiction items, as well as requesting items from any other Library location for pick-up at the Grandview Kids location. Computer access and educational programming will also be offered.

Our unique partnership will improve the service we deliver to our shared community.

Sarah Vaisler, Chief Librarian and Executive Officer of Ajax Public Library

The two organizations previously collaborated on other initiatives, including “Sensory Story Times” and “Sensory Support Kits.” Both are available from Ajax Public Library, but created with input from Grandview Kids to offer inclusive learning experiences in-library or at home. Storytimes are open to all, and kits can be borrowed by anyone with an Ajax Public Library card.

  • Tom McHugh (left) and Sarah Vaisler (right) shaking hands after signing the MOU.
  • Tom McHugh (left) and Sarah Vaisler (right)
  • Grandview Kids CEO, Tom McHugh
  • Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor for Ajax (Ward 1) Marilyn Crawford

About Ajax Public Library

Ajax Public Library is the gateway to information and resources that improve the quality of life, foster life-long learning, encourage community involvement, and meet the varying educational and social needs of all members of its communities. More information about current Library services can be found on the Library’s website at www.ajaxlibrary.ca.

For updates, be sure to follow the Library on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

About Grandview Kids

Grandview Kids – founded in 1953 – is an independently operated, not-for-profit Children’s Treatment Centre in Durham Region. A Centre of Excellence for paediatric assessment, care and rehabilitation, Grandview Kids provides specialized programs, medical services, and outpatient clinical treatment and support to thousands of children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, as well as support for parents and caregivers. Its mission is to help every child and youth live life at their full potential. Learn more at grandviewkids.ca or follow @GrandviewKids on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media contacts

Avori Cheyne

Chief Communications Officer

Grandview Kids

647-631-2668 (cell)

avori.cheyne@grandviewkids.ca | www.grandviewkids.ca

Kiley Percy

Coordinator of Marketing and Communications

Ajax Public Library

905-683-4000 ext. 8819

kiley.percy@ajaxlibrary.ca | www.ajaxlibrary.ca

February 2, 2023

Ontario Tech University and Grandview Kids logos positioned next to each other.

Long-established community partners Grandview Kids and Ontario Tech University are celebrating their shared commitment to advancing research, innovation and education in Durham Region through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Grandview Kids, Durham Region’s only Children’s Treatment Centre, provides specialized paediatric rehabilitation care and services to children and youth with communication, physical or developmental needs, as well as support to parents and caregivers. The organization values using scientific evidence and innovation to address the challenges experienced by its clients. It also recognizes the need to explore novel interventions to improve clinical, therapeutic and medical care for children and youth with disabilities.

Recently named Ontario’s best small research-intensive university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. The university focuses on promoting health and community engagement of vulnerable individuals and groups, including people with disabilities, and the social, political, economic, and cultural contexts linked to social determinants of health.

Signed during a ceremony on February 2, 2023, the MOU outlines Ontario Tech’s and Grandview Kids’ shared objective to co-create ethical, sound research that is clinically-relevant and community-informed. The MOU will enable further exploration of experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, joint research activities across different faculties, academic and non-academic programming, innovation, and entrepreneurship that connects students and faculty with the community, and builds new engagement and outreach across Durham Region and beyond.

The research opportunities enabled by Ontario Tech provide families who access services at Grandview Kids with enhanced opportunities to potentially benefit their child’s development. The partnership also contributes to the cutting-edge science that will advance clinical and educational opportunities for the children of the future.

The agreement builds on Ontario Tech Faculty of Health Sciences Associate Professor Dr. Meghann Lloyd’s decade-long leadership as the Grandview Kids Research Associate, conducting research and championing advocacy for children with disabilities and their families. As part of solidifying the MOU, Dr. Lloyd will continue in her role as Grandview Kids’ Senior Research Associate, and Dr. Taryn Eickmeier, Executive Lead for Research Innovation and Knowledge Mobilization at Grandview Kids, has been warmly welcomed by Ontario Tech as an Adjunct Professor.

Quotes

Ontario Tech University is exceptionally proud of the legacy of its long-standing relationship with Grandview Kids, and how our shared commitment to innovative research has delivered solutions to benefit families in Durham Region. Our agreement solidifies our ongoing work to support the families of children and youth with disabilities, and serves as a powerful example of how the pursuit of discovery, innovation, ideas, and insights can translate into real-world, community-led, evidence-informed initiatives.

Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ontario Tech University

Grandview Kids has long benefited from collaboration with Ontario Tech University, using evidence-informed research to improve programs and services for children and youth with communication, developmental and physical needs. We are eager to strengthen our alliance with the University through this formal agreement, partnering in new ways to drive local innovation for those we serve, support, teach and employ across Durham Region.

Tom McHugh, Chief Executive Officer, Grandview Kids

It has been my honour and my privilege to have been welcomed into the Grandview community over the past 12 years. The research my students and I have accomplished would not have been possible without the trust and support of the staff, clinicians, and most of all the families who access services at Grandview Kids. The work we do is first and foremost focused on the children and their families; I am forever grateful for all the lessons I have learned from each child who has been welcomed into my lab for a research study. I am delighted to continue in my new role as a Senior Research Associate at Grandview Kids with this new MOU in place to drive our partnership forward.

Dr. Meghann Lloyd, Associate Professor, Ontario Tech University and Senior Research Associate at Grandview Kids
  • Grandview Kids CEO, Tom McHugh
  • Ontario Tech University President, Steven Murphy
  • Ontario Tech University Associate Professor Dr. Meghann Lloyd
  • Tom McHugh and Steven Murphy signing the MOU
  • Tom and Steven with Ontario Tech University mascot Hunter the Ridgeback and team members
  • From left to right: Dr. Taryn Eickmeier, Dr. Meghann Lloyd, Tom McHugh, Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Steven Murphy, Leslie Suite and Dr. Les Jacobs
  • From left to right: Janicka Auguste, Maritza Basaran, Dr. Taryn Eickmeier, Dr. Meghann Lloyd and Dr. Danielle Saney

About Ontario Tech University

A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as a university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

About Grandview Kids

Grandview Kids – founded in 1953 – is an independently operated, not-for-profit Children’s Treatment Centre in Durham Region. A Centre of Excellence for paediatric assessment, care and rehabilitation, Grandview Kids provides specialized programs, medical services, and outpatient clinical treatment and support to thousands of children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, as well as support for parents and caregivers. Its mission is to help every child and youth live life to their full potential. Learn more at grandviewkids.ca or follow @GrandviewKids on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media contacts

Bryan Oliver

Communications Officer

Ontario Tech University

289.928.3653 (mobile)

Bryan.Oliver@ontariotechu.ca

Avori Cheyne

Chief Communications Officer

Grandview Kids

647.631.2668 (mobile)
Avori.Cheyne@grandviewkids.ca

Welcome to the Grandview Kids Main Site Sensory tour!

The benefit of a sensory tour is to prepare you and your child or youth for not only what a visit a Grandview Kids will look like but also feel and sound like (e.g., the loud WHOOSH sound our sliding doors make at the front entrance). Watch the video below as Natasha and Alden navigate Grandview Kids’ Main Site in Oshawa, highlighting the sights and sounds you will encounter when you visit!

Natasha and her son Alden navigate the sights and sounds of Grandview Kids’ Main Site in Oshawa.
Click here to read the description of the Main Site Sensory Tour

Welcome to the Grandview Kids Main Site Sensory Tour!

We first start from the client parking, where Natasha and her son Alden head over to the main entrance of the Grandview Kids site.

When Alden walks through the door, it makes a loud sound, but that’s okay. Alden knows he’s safe when he visits Grandview Kids.

They make their way to the front desk to sign in. Put on new masks provided for everyone and sanitize their hands.

Now, Natasha and Alden head on to the waiting room where they wait for Alden’s therapist.

There’s lots of different rooms that Alden can visit. Sometimes Alden’s mom, Natasha (the adult) will have meetings in the conference room, when the client does their therapy.

For Occupational Therapy, Alden can use the gym or do activities at a desk.

Sometimes, Alden comes here for Physiotherapy. When he does Physio, he can do stretches and exercises.

When Alden comes in for Speech and Language, he plays games and does other fun activities.

Audiology is also down the hallway; Alden comes here when he needs to get his hearing tested.

Sometimes, the audiologist will touch Alden’s ears, but that’s okay! He can practice this at home before he comes in to visit.

Campbell Children’s School is a special school program. Alden’s mom (the adult) can ask his therapist for more information.

When Alden comes in for ABA Therapy, he has lots of fun! Sometimes, he gets to jump and play in Green 5.

On some visits, he also might get to visit the playground. He visits the playground with his therapist, but sometimes families get to visit, and Alden gets to play with friends.

Alden’s therapist helps so much! He has lots of fun visiting Grandview Kids!

All participants of the Bridges out of Poverty training sitting at their desks posing for a group photo.
On Monday, November 21, 2022, Team Grandview welcomed Aha! Processing Facilitator Suzie Johnson-Smith to guide our team through the Bridges out of Poverty training.

What is poverty?

For so many of us, we see poverty as a reflection of how much money is in our pockets.

But poverty is so much more.

In the Bridges out of Poverty training, Team Grandview learned that poverty is “the extent to which an individual does without resources.” The word “resources” is more than money. Resources can also include the ability to communicate in the local language, access culturally safe healthcare, and have the skills to cope with daily challenges.

We don’t all follow the same path in life. We each have different needs and access to resources. In some cases, we are born into a family with limited resources and are faced with barriers and biases that prevent us from having the resources we need. These barriers can be systematic – ingrained in the systems that are supposed to support us.

Other times, we find ourselves having steady access to resources. This helps us achieve our goals, feel safe, and connect with others. However, a crisis can send us into ‘situational poverty.’ Suddenly, we are left without the same access to resources as we once had.

When your journey leads you to Grandview Kids, we aim to welcome you, build a relationship with you, and treat you as an equal partner in your child’s care.

When you are in need of resources outside of what Grandview Kids can offer, we aim to support you and connect you to the programs and services you need. This can include additional funding to support equipment needs, local food banks, or programs that meet your child’s unique needs and interests.

A core value of Grandview Kids is to see the “whole-child and family-centred.” We look forward to learning more about the community we serve and the barriers or biases they may encounter. This work will begin in early 2023 and be guided by the voice of youth, caregivers and parents. We continue to aim to have your voice drive our programs and services.

Poverty is not an individual problem. Addressing poverty is the responsibility of all of us. Grandview Kids commits to continue to work with our community partners in the education, health and social services sectors to help bridge the gap, providing families with the resources they need so that all children and youth have what is needed to live life at their full potential.

For more information about the Bridges out of Poverty training, visit: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/city-services/bridges-out-of-poverty.aspx

References

Payne, R.K., DeVol, P.E., Dreussi-Smith, T. (2022). Bridges out of Poverty: Strategies for professionals and communities. (5th EDs).

The New Grandview Kids receives Award of Merit for Project Delivery by The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships

AJAX, ONT. – The Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre (GCTC) Redevelopment Project won the Award of Merit for Project Development at the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnership’s (CCPPP) 2022 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. Presented on November 21, 2022, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, the prestigious award honours the GCTC Redevelopment Project for delivering best-in-class infrastructure for Canadians, which is both innovative and cost-effective.

Grandview Kids Chief Finance Officer, Harry (left), accepting the Award of Merit for Project Development for the Grandview Children's Treatment Centre Redevelopment Project.

On April 13, 2022, Grandview Kids announced Children First Consortium as the successful proponent to complete the design, build and finance of the GCTC Redevelopment Project. The Children First Consortium is made up of: Amico Design Build Inc., Sacyr Construction S.A (construction team and applicant lead); Parkin Architects, H.H. Angus and Associates Limited (design team); Stonebridge Financial Corporation (financial advisor).

With a focus on hope, belonging, discovery and celebration, the new Grandview Kids headquarters – located in Ajax, Ontario – will be a centre of excellence in paediatric rehabilitation. The Centre will support seamless, coordinated and client-driven care. The space will be open, welcoming and inclusive. The building will be home to a mix of rehabilitation, medical and clinical services, as well as education and research activities. While maintaining satellite offices in other areas of Durham Region, the new Centre will enable Grandview Kids to continue responding to the growing demand for services for children and youth, helping to reduce wait times, increase accessibility and improve the range of local service offerings.

The Canadian Council National Awards for Public-Private Partnerships honour governments and public institutions and their private sector partners who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in public-private partnerships. The awards, presented annually, highlight project financing, service delivery, infrastructure investment and generation of economic benefit, which result in enhanced quality of public services and facilities. The CCPPP Award of Merit for Project Development specifically honours the GCTC Redevelopment Project for possessing qualities that includes demonstrating innovation and excellence in its sector.

Quick Facts

  • Children First Consortium was awarded the contract to design, build and finance the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre Redevelopment Project through an open, fair and competitive process overseen by a third-party fairness advisor. 
  • The project will enable the delivery of Grandview Kids’ specialized programs, outpatient clinical treatment, and support more children and youth in the Durham Region and surrounding areas, while alleviating the region’s growing waitlists for special needs services.
  • Construction of the new Grandview Kids began in October 2022 and is targeted for completion in 2024.

Quotes

Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services: “Our government is proud to play an important role in the redevelopment of the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre. This facility will help children and youth reach their full potential through the provision of excellence in paediatric rehabilitation. This is another example of how, under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are building Ontario, and helping our most vulnerable connect to their community.”

Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Chief Executive Officer, Grandview Kids: “The long-held dream of the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre Redevelopment Project will soon lead to the reality of our new Paediatric Centre of Excellence in Ajax, Ontario. To receive the Project Development Award of Merit, while still in the development phase, is a testament to the incredible teamwork we experience day-to-day at Grandview Kids, and the continued support we receive from our partners at Children First Consortium and Infrastructure Ontario. Grandview Kids is poised for continued, unprecedented growth over the next several years, making this an exciting time for the Grandview Kids community. We graciously accept this award and look forward to opportunities that enable us to continue to share our Grandview ‘sparkle’ with more clients, caregivers and partners.”

Michael Lindsay, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario: “I am thrilled that the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre Redevelopment Project has received the Award of Merit in the Project Development category. We at Infrastructure Ontario are grateful to be working with our partners to deliver such an important project that will provide services for children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs. Once complete, the new facility will provide Grandview Kids the ability to serve more patients and their caregivers within the community. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this project a reality.”

Nadine Leonard, Project Director, Children First Consortium: “Children First Consortium is ecstatic that the Grandview Children’s Treatment Centre Redevelopment Project won the Award of Merit in the Project Development category. We appreciate Infrastructure Ontario and Grandview Kids for the opportunity to be the Designer, Builder, and Financer for a project that support children and youth. We thank our team for their hard work and dedication in supporting the project. Children First Consortium is excited to see the impact of the new ‘Grandview Kids’ and the support it provides to children and youth in the Durham Region.”

Announcing the retirement of Grandview Kids CEO, Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann

It is with mixed emotions that we announce Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Kids’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will retire in February 2023. Lorraine has been our compassionate leader, unrelenting champion and inspiring motivator for 11 years. During her tenure, Lorraine has transformed how children and youth with disabilities access, engage and guide care in Durham Region and across the paediatric health and social services sector. She has steered the way to establishing a more inclusive, accessible and integrated health system, both locally and provincially.

A headshot of Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann in front of the playground at Grandview Kids' Main Site in Oshawa.

Under Lorraine’s leadership, Grandview Kids has grown from 80 to nearly 250 employees, providing specialized paediatric and rehabilitation services to more than 16,000 children and youth per year. Lorraine has fostered strong connections between community and school-based partners so that children have access to care in places where they live, learn and play.

Lorraine’s advocacy came to fruition with the April 2022 ground-breaking of “The New Grandview Kids,” a state-of-the-art facility, which will offer leading practice, family-centred services for children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs. Lorraine’s unwavering determination secured Federal, Provincial, Regional and Municipal government funding and exposure for this monumental project. Her passion and commitment were the key catalysts of change, driving ongoing transformation and modernization as we look to the future of Grandview Kids. Her legacy will live on within the walls of our new Centre of Excellence, slated to open in 2024.

Over two decades serving in frontline and leadership roles with St. Michael’s Hospital and Lakeridge Health, Lorraine campaigned for evidence-based and family-centred practice. She has always valued families as partners in care, actively embedding their voice to guide decisions. At Grandview Kids, Lorraine has been a visionary, adding families to the inter-professional team who oversee the organization’s strategic directions.

Team Grandview has witnessed Lorraine’s ability to make brave decisions – putting families first – and demonstrating a commitment to advance rehabilitation through research, innovation, quality improvement, partnerships and engagement. As a leader, she is accountable, responsible, transparent and innovative. Lorraine’s work has been measurable, but most of all, it has been impactful. She will be dearly missed.

As we consider what this means for Grandview Kids, our Board of Trustees has been engaged in strategic discussions around next steps. Through the oversight of a dedicated CEO Succession Planning Committee, our Board will begin recruiting for the CEO role immediately. The CEO job posting is available on the Grandview Kids website.

In the meantime, please join us in wishing Lorraine support and well wishes as she enters this next chapter in her life, where she looks forward to spending time with her family. Notes of congratulations can be sent to communications@grandviewkids.ca. 

There is no doubt Lorraine leaves a lasting legacy for our sector.

Three images of Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann stitched together. From left to right: Lorraine is touching the knee of a child you is sitting down after receiving a vaccine at Grandview's Vaccine Clinic; Lorraine reaching to hug an employee at Grandview's 2022 Staff barbecue; and Lorraine posing with three kids for a photo in a Grandview Kids branded cardboard cutout.

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