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Today, Grandview announced that it will be the first public organization in Durham Region to have a universally accessible emergency Epipen at its Oshawa headquarters.

“Although our focus is on child development, the foundation of child development is the ability to live and learn in a supportive environment. We truly are thrilled to move forward to help protect the health of those with severe life threatening allergies,” says Dr. Carolyn Hunt, Developmental Paediatrician and Medical Director at Grandview Children’s Centre. “It can take time for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities to learn skills related to independence, which for some includes carrying an Epipen. We will remain a nut sensitive environment but having the Epipen onsite, in a secure alarm accessed location is most reassuring.”

Anaphylactic allergy affects 3 to 5% of Canadian children. Here at Grandview Children’s Centre, expert paediatric staff work with children with special needs, including autism, ADHD and cerebral palsy. Many of these children with complex needs also have anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, eggs, milk and much more. Grandview also provides feeding assessments and use food during some of these assessments. It has always been a concern what might happen if a parent were to forget their child’s Epipen should they have a reaction here at Grandview.

As a result of careful research and collaboration, as well as technical support with research from the Durham Region, Grandview is thrilled to launch our first universally accessible emergency Epinephrine device. This device will be available to any member of the public who witnesses someone at Grandview having an episode of an emergency anaphylactic allergy.

All of Grandview’s staff are trained in first-aid and emergency recognition and management of an allergy. In addition to our staff, parents and caregivers will also have access to this emergency, alarm monitored Epipen if their child is having a reaction.

“Once again, Grandview’s Medical Director Dr. Carolyn Hunt is leading important safety initiatives for paediatric excellence in Durham,” says Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Children Centre’s Chief Executive Officer. “I’m proud of the leadership consistently demonstrated by our Grandview paediatric experts within the walls of Grandview as well as across Durham and Ontario when it comes to innovation and quality care.”

We look forward to other agencies and communities within Durham Region following our lead on this project. We also would like to thank the city of Hamilton for taking the provincial lead in this important project. We plan to roll out emergency Epinephrine devices across our six sites over the coming months.

The Grandview Children’s Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the Believe Campaign, a $20-million community fundraising initiative to build and support a new Grandview Children’s Centre in Ajax.

The demand for Grandview Children’s Centre’s life-changing treatment and rehabilitation services has been exceeding the facility’s capacity for some time. As the only treatment centre of its kind in Durham Region, Grandview Kids must meet the needs of 10,000 children and their families annually, including over 3,300 kids on growing wait list.

The success of the Believe Campaign will mean that we can open the doors to a much larger Centre and welcome so many more families by 2022.

“The impact Grandview has on the community is far-reaching. Our clients are your children, your grandkids, your neighbours, our future generation so the support we have received thus far from the residents and business owners of Durham Region is no surprise,” explained Bryan Yetman, Grandview Children’s Foundation Chair. “Until now, the Foundation has been operating in a quiet campaign mode but the support from the community has been loud and clear.”

$14.5-million of Grandview’s $20-million goal has been achieved

“The formal launch today not only brings awareness to the critical need to build and support a new Grandview, it is also a celebration,” explained Brigitte Tschinkel, Executive Director of Development for Grandview Children’s Foundation. “Reaching nearly three quarters of our fundraising goal is a major milestone and we wish to thank all those who’ve made a donation, big and small. An outstanding total of $14.5-million of Grandview’s $20-million goal has been achieved, but we still have a long way to go”

The province has approved the project and Grandview Children’s Foundation is raising $20-million through the community Believe Campaign to help build and support the New Grandview Kids.

“The Grandview Children’s Foundation continues to work to connect the needs of Grandview Kids with generous donors and we are very thankful for the impact the donors make each year,” says Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Chief Executive Officer. “The new Grandview will provide better space for the provision of the specialized services and supports our clients urgently need. We are so excited for what this means for the future of Grandview Kids.”

After discovering how tricky it can be for some kids to get to the door while trick-or-treating, Ashley Muir (one of the members of the Youth Advisory Committee) decided it was important to create a Halloween event that was fun and accessible for all. So, she teamed up with Grandview to throw an amazing accessible trick-or-treat experience at Clarington Secondary School.

This year, the event is bigger and better! Grandview’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) will be hosting this accessible Halloween recent again this year on Sunday, October 28th at the Kids Safety Village of Durham Region!

This new, bigger location means even more children will be able to attend this incredible event.

According to Brad Sexton, the group’s Youth Leader, there will be a lot of fun had at this year’s event, including a unique trick-or-treating experience!

“Throughout the village there’s going to be a haunted house, maze-type thing. Then, we’re going to have some games, and there’s going to be house structures set up that the kids can feel like they’re going to the door, knock on it and someone will actually open it,” shares Brad Sexton.

Last year was full of smiles and fantastic costumes, so we can’t wait to see the creativity this year brings.

What is the YAC?

For those who don’t know, the Youth Advisory Committee was created in 2017 by a group of Grandview adolescent clients and some client siblings who wanted to get more involved with Grandview.

This group puts on events like this accessible Halloween event, an annual Christmas event and other fun activities throughout the year. These events are always plenty of fun and a great way for both kids and parents to connect.

“I think it’s great that everybody can come together and make Grandview a whole,” says Brad Sexton. “These Grandview kids can make new friends and it’s great to have the families come together and develop relationships.”

How can I join?

Being part of the YAC means attending monthly meetings and helping organize and run these fun-filled events.

Currently, the YAC consists of six members, but are on the lookout for another two or three members! If you’re an adolescent client or sibling of a Grandview client and would like to get involved, or know someone who would be a perfect fit, reach out to Brad Sexton to apply!

For more information or to apply, e-mail brad.sexton@grandviewkids.ca.

Registration information for the Halloween event is coming soon, so stay tuned!

This is the sixth year that the staff of Intact Insurance has worked hard in supporting Grandview Kids. Not only has Intact Insurance continued to support Grandview through generous donations, but also through their volunteer work as well!

On August 30, 2018, 24 Intact Insurance employees left their busy desks to help give the Ajax Grandview location a fresh new coat of paint! The team worked diligently all day to give most rooms at the Ajax location a fresh coat of paint, giving the entire space a new look!

“We love Grandview and we’re a big supporter of Grandview. We came last year and did a lot of painting at the Oshawa site. This year we decided to volunteer our time at the Ajax site. We just like to give back to the community. We are one of the bigger employers in the Durham Region and it’s a great opportunity for us to give back to our community,” said Marie Poce, a Commercial Lines Underwriter at Intact Insurance. “We spend so much time in our day to day jobs, not really looking outside of what we do, so this is very rewarding for us to be able to come out and give back and see the smile on everyone’s faces when the job is done and everything looks nicer and fresh!”

Not a single Intact volunteer complained as they taped, painted and cleaned up each room.  The Ajax location was full of positive attitudes and smiling faces as the team got the job done!

Grandview Kids is so thankful for this hard work!

“We feel very fortunate to have Intact here today, because the Ajax site hasn’t had a freshen up in awhile, since the big flood. So it’s really nice to have that special attention and have something nice and fresh for the families here in the Ajax and Pickering area,” said Janet Isaac, Clinical Manager at Grandview Kids. “It’s really wonderful to have community partners that want to help us and the kids of Grandview.”

From all of us here at Grandview Kids, we once again thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We hope that your amazing team decides to visit us again next year!

You may recall the #RideJamesRide adventure of last August, when 10-year-old James and his dad Chris Potvin decided to ride their bikes from their home in Whitby all the way to Ottawa, raising $10,000 on their journey.

This year, James and Chris are doubling up on their distance and their fundraising goal, too. James will ride from the Whitby Pier all the way to the roller-coasters and hot dogs at Coney Island, New York. This bike ride will take James and Chris on a 1,000-kilometre journey.

Here at Grandview, we’re incredibly excited for James to embark on this adventure. To celebrate James, we’re hosting a pre-launch event at Grandview on August 17 from 6 to 8 pm, the evening before he departs. There will be Coney Island-style hotdogs to eat and cold beverages to drink. Grandview’s accessible playground will be open for children, as well.

Why ride to New York?

You might be wondering, though, why Chris and James have decided to embark on this lengthy adventure.

James has autism and is one of more than 3,000 children and youth on a growing waitlist for Grandview’s services.  According to Chris, James’ dad, this ride means a few things to the Potvin family.

“Selfishly, we really just want to be sure James goes back to school as a strong young man with confidence and a story. The word I used last year was swagger,” says Chris. “For the community, we know how hard Grandview and EJ Autism are trying to improve the lives of young people who struggle. We want to see them succeed so these youth can also grow. Our hope is that when people see the potential of a young man on the autism spectrum, they will be moved to contribute to these organizations that help our youth to develop and grow. Building a treatment centre will allow so many more youth to meet their potential.”

The Potvin’s ultimate goal is to have their community present a gift of $20,000 to be donated between Grandview Kids and EJ Autism in New York.

“We are so grateful to the Potvin Family for choosing to support EJ Autism Foundation as they ride form Canada to Coney Island on behalf of Autism,” says Bea Huste-Petersen. “The money James raises will go towards the purchase of a safe, Autism friendly Summer Vacation Home on Fire Island, NY for Long Island Families living with this developmental disability. James’ courage and ambition to fearlessly travel 1000 miles on a bicycle as an Autism Ambassador, will allow people to see what a kid with Autism can do to make a difference.”

How will this ride be different from the last?

The bike ride is expected to take two weeks, covering 100km each day. According to Chris, this cross-border bike ride took a bit of extra planning.

“This year we are facing a lot of challenges that we didn’t face last year. Small details, like crossing the border right up to big logistical items like towns holding events to welcome us. In the ride itself, we will be crossing some big hills as we approach eastern New York State, and some very busy roads along the way,” says Chris Potvin. “It’s hard to pick out any single biggest challenge. Instead we tackle each item in a bite-sized piece as it comes to us, and trust that the goodness of people and our own abilities will see us through.”

From Chris’ perspective as a dad, he says it’s been great to watch James’ growth through this experience.

“Last summer he grew a great deal, but this year we’ve stretched him further and he has learned what it means to be part of group rides where people surround him, what it means to have a lot of attention, and what it is like to fall and get back up,” says Chris. “James still gets camera-shy, and has a hard time if he’s put on the spot to stand in front of a group, but he’s getting more comfortable all the time.”

Chris says he and James are excited to meet families along the way. It’s going to be a fun-filled day when they get to Coney Island.

We wish the Potvin team success and luck on their journey.To follow the pair on this ride, search the hashtag #RideJamesRide.

On Wednesday August 1st, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities awarded Grandview Children’s Foundation a $1 million grant to help build the new Grandview Kids in Ajax.

This funding will go towards building our multi-purpose gym and our outdoor sensory/wheeling trail and an elevated wheeling/walking bridge along the tree-top canopy of the woods at the new centre. To show our thanks, Grandview will be giving Canadian Tire Jumpstart naming rights to these parts of the new Grandview.

“We are incredibly excited to have been chosen as the recipient of this $1 million grant,” said Grandview Children’s Foundation Executive Director of Development Brigitte Tschinkel. “We are so thankful that Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has chosen to invest in Grandview Kids and in the future of so many children across the Durham Region.”

According to the press release by Canadian Tire Jumpstart, more than 200 grant submissions from across the country were received.

For those who don’t know, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity dedicated to helping kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in order to provide inclusive play for kids of all abilities.

“Grandview Children’s Centre is thrilled to partner with Canadian Tire Jumpstart to realize the dream of a new Grandview,” says Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, CEO. “This incredible gift will support inclusion and participation for all kids. We look forward to working with Jumpstart as we build this dream to ensure play does find a way.”

We are so thankful and excited to be chosen as the recipients of this grant. It’s a great day at Grandview Kids, with so much to celebrate and look forward to. The future is bright! Thank you, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, for bringing us one step closer to the new Grandview.

For further information on the new Grandview Kids, please visit our website, Grandview Kids Believe.

You can read the full press release here.