The Blue Mountains council has voted in favour of supporting Events For Life Centre Inc. on a number of items the organization would like to pursue.
Events for Life Centre Inc. (EFL) Vice-Chair Kevin Whyte was a delegation at council’s meeting on July 4 and brought forward a number of requests for support on behalf of the group.
EFL is a local group that offers support to those with special needs. The group’s mission is: “to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs by providing educational, social and recreational day programs geared towards life-long learning in the Town of The Blue Mountains and surrounding area.”
The group was founded in 2013. Whyte told council that over the past nine years EFL has grown from nine participants to 30 and the growth is expected to continue.
“COVID has seen an explosion in the need,” said Whyte. “The need is growing and we’re trying to address that.”
Whyte asked council for support and assistance on a number of items including:
- Assistance and support in securing attainable housing units at the Gateway and other future attainable housing projects.
- The opportunity to manage the snack bar at the Beaver Valley Community Centre to provide work experience and life skills training for its participants.
- Operating a coffee/gift shop in the retail space of the Gateway project, once it is constructed with help funding to assist with lease costs to start the business.
- Support from council to be included in the Campus of Care project. The programs currently operate out of two locations - The Farm (near the Tomahawk facility) and the Blue Mountain Community Church.
“It’s a unique program that you don’t see anywhere else in the province,” said Whyte. “Our goal is to get that ‘forever’ space.”
Members of council were supportive of EFL’s request and voted 6-0 (Coun. Jim Uram was absent) in favour of a resolution to provide support to the group.
“It’s a tremendous program. There are a lot of things that are doable, which is nice,” said Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon.
“Events For Life is one of our hallmark organizations in The Town of The Blue Mountains,” said Coun. Paula Hope.
Mayor Alar Soever and CAO Shawn Everitt encouraged Whyte to make presentations at our local municipal councils, including Grey County council to spread awareness of the organization and the important work it is doing in the community.
