Ribbon Cutting at Grandview Kids – The Jerry Coughlan Building

Ontario Celebrates Opening of New Children’s Treatment Centre in Ajax $85 million provincial investment in new facility connecting more children and youth to specialized care

Media Release – November 15, 2024

AJAX, ONT — The Ontario government is celebrating the opening of the new Grandview Kids Jerry Coughlan Building. The new fully accessible, state-of-the-art children’s treatment centre will serve more than 6,000 children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs in the Durham region.

The new centre was made possible through a provincial investment of more than $85.3 million, in addition to a federal grant through Infrastructure Canada, 5.06 acres of land donated by the Town of Ajax, as well as funding through Grandview’s community fundraising.

“Building a new state-of-the-art Children’s Treatment Centre for children and youth with special needs in Durham Region is one more way our government is ensuring families can connect to specialized services, no matter where they live,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “We are deeply grateful for the work of Grandview Kids Foundation Board of Directors and all the community advocates, organizations and local MPPs who have helped make this new facility a reality.”

The new Grandview Kids building consolidates the existing main site in Oshawa and multiple satellite locations under one roof. Some satellite locations will be maintained to reduce extensive travel times for some clients and their families. The new Grandview Kids site will begin to deliver services to clients in November.

The centre will house a team of professionals under one roof and will be a centre of excellence in paediatric care that provides: 

• Rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, recreation therapy, audiology, infant hearing, blind-low vision, and social work
• Services offered under the Ontario Autism Program
• A preschool outreach program
• Rehabilitation services at schools 
• The Extensive Needs Service, which connects families to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including physicians, social workers and behavioural consultants to provide tailored supports based on the individual needs of the child or youth and their families
• The Grandview School, where educators and therapists work together to meet the unique needs of children.

“Grandview Kids has long-awaited the day we would open our new, state-of-the-art headquarters. After years of steadfast advocacy – campaigning for a new facility that could better respond to our community’s growing needs – we are proud to have achieved this monumental milestone,” said Tom McHugh, Chief Executive Officer, Grandview Kids. “We are grateful to our government partners for their ongoing support and investment in this project. The New Grandview Kids is a beacon of hope, excellence, belonging and discovery. This new space will enable Grandview Kids to enhance and expand existing services and introduce new ones, serving children and youth with communication, physical and developmental needs throughout the Durham Region for generations to come.”

The construction of Grandview Kids builds on nearly $600 million in recent investments to modernize children’s treatment centres across Ontario, including planning for the new Lansdowne Children’s Centre in Brantford, the construction of a new Children’s Treatment Centre in Chatham-Kent, the construction of CHEO’s Children’s Treatment Centre in Ottawa and the successful relocation of Health Sciences North Children’s Treatment Centre in Sudbury.

Quick Facts

• Grandview Kids provides services to more than 10,000 children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs each year, across its existing sites.
• When children in Ontario begin school, almost 30 per cent have at least one developmental vulnerability which could affect their lifelong health, learning and behaviour.
• Needs can include, but are not limited to, communication disorders, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries and chronic and/or long-term medical conditions. They can include specific diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
• Families with questions about their child’s development and support needs can contact their local Children’s Treatment Centre.

Quotes

“The new Grandview Kids Centre is not just a building; it is a testament to the dedication and dreams for so many who have worked tirelessly to make this a reality. This space will be central to many families throughout Pickering-Uxbridge, and all of Durham Region.”

• Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy
  MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge

“Our government is pleased to see the Grandview Kids Treatment Centre open its doors to children and families in Durham Region. This is a crucial resource that will help ensure young people receive the supports and services they need to reach their full potential. The treatment centre is part of our government’s investment of more than $191 billion over the next decade to renew and expand critical infrastructure that improves people’s quality of life, supports vibrant communities and fosters economic growth.”

• Kinga Surma
  Minister of Infrastructure

“The new Grandview Kids treatment centre will be a vital resource for families in Durham Region, providing essential care and specialized services right in our community. With this facility, children and youth with unique needs will have access to the support they deserve, closer to home and with fewer barriers for families.”

• Minister Todd McCarthy
  MPP for Durham

“I am excited to see the completion of the Grandview Kids Jerry Coughlan Building. This state-of-the-art treatment centre will provide specialized services to children and youth with unique needs in Ajax and the Durham Region, ensuring they have the right supports they need. This project exemplifies our government’s commitment to supporting the diverse needs of children and youth in Ajax and across the Durham Region.”

• Patrice Barnes
  MPP for Ajax

“Today, we celebrated an incredible milestone for families in Durham Region with the opening of the new Grandview Kids Jerry Coughlan Building. Back in 2021, I had the privilege of announcing the new building, and today we are seeing our Government’s fulfillment of that commitment. My advocacy for this project started in 2017 while in opposition and after 15 years of inaction by the previous Government, I am so pleased to see that the state-of-the-art, fully accessible children’s treatment centre is now complete, and will provide vital support and specialized services to over 6,000 children and youth from the Region of Durham.”

• Lorne Coe
  MPP for Whitby

“I am honoured to join in celebrating the completion of the new Grandview Kids Children’s Treatment Centre. This new centre will provide a welcoming, supportive and accessible space for families to access vital resources and services. Investing in infrastructure, including this centre, helps children to learn, thrive and get the support and personalized care that they need.”

• The Honourable Mark Holland
  Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Ajax, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Additional Resources

Learn about the services and supports available at your local children’s treatment centre.

Media Contact

Avori Cheyne
Chief Communications Officer | Executive Lead, Strategic Communications, Partnerships, Engagement
Grandview Kids
avori.cheyne@grandviewkids.ca