Niagara Falls, ON – On Friday, a representative from local MPP Wayne Gates office and Niagara Falls City
Councillor Lori Lococo joined the Niagara Falls Community Health Centre (NFCHC) to celebrate the
Centre’s receipt of a $200,000 Capital Grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium
Foundation (OTF). The grant will fund the expansion of NFCHC’s facilities to support the newly launched
Care for Kids program, which provides crucial services for families with young children in the Niagara
Region. The expanded space will allow the Centre to serve over 2,000 families annually, offering services
such as early childhood education, family support, and mental health programming.
“Over the last few years, we have been clear, support for children's health services is supporting not only
families, but it also adds capacity to our over-burdened children's mental health services in Niagara,”
said Wayne Gates, MPP for Niagara Falls. “The staff at our community health centre are some of the best
in the province and I am so happy to see funding go to the incredible efforts there. This is a welcomed
investment into Niagara Falls.”
The $200,000 Capital Grant is funding the transformation of a previously unfinished portion of the
building into a family-friendly space. This newly renovated area supports the Care for Kids program,
providing a welcoming environment to enhance early childhood development and promote the wellness
of families throughout the Niagara Region.
“Niagara Falls Community Health Centre is in the business of reducing barriers in our community and are
so pleased to be able to do this for most vulnerable in our community by serving children under 5 and
their families,” said Laura Blundell, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Community Health Centre.
“Thanks to Trillium, we are so excited to have a family friend space that feels welcoming and safe for the
ever-increasing number of little ones entering the CHC on a daily basis.”
The Niagara Falls Community Health Centre is a non-profit, community-governed health centre
dedicated to providing accessible, inclusive, and empowering services to individuals facing barriers to
care. With a vision of “Strong, connected care for everyone,” the Centre has been serving the Niagara
Falls community for over 14 years. Our Care for Kids program is a new initiative, which provides health
care to children from birth to age five in Niagara who do not have a primary health care provider. In
addition, the program offers workshops and access to resources—such as support from a family support
worker and a dietitian—which are available to all families in the region, regardless of whether they have
a health care provider. Learn more about NFCHC’s services and upcoming events at www.nfchc.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build
healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into
1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being,
foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come
together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.