GUELPH – Community Living Guelph Wellington (CLGW) is hosting an official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new learning lab, made possible through a generous $98,400 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The event takes place on Oct. 31 from 10 to 11am at Community Living headquarters at 8 Royal Rd. in Guelph.
Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner, alongside CLGW staff and individuals supported by the organization, will speak about the initiative at the ceremony.
The upgraded facility, along with a mobile learning lab, will provide over 7,000 hours of annual training for 450 frontline workers in developmental services.
To date, CLGW has trained nearly 500 direct support professionals on the Alayacare platform using this facility as part of its Connect and Plan Services (CAPS) initiative, the organization’s digital transformation designed to better serve people with developmental disabilities.
It includes a mobile lab that allows staff across Wellington County, covering more than 2,600 square kilometres, to access training without the need to travel.
In addition, the learning lab serves as a hub for other non-profits, helping to strengthen the broader social services sector.
“This new learning lab represents a major step forward in how we support both our staff and our community,” said CLGW executive director Cindy Kinnon.
“With the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we’re not only enhancing training within our own organization but also creating a space where other community organizations can access the tools and resources they need.”
She listed organizations like Community Living Dufferin, Hopewell, Compass, and Community of Hearts as groups that may find the learning lab beneficial.
“This investment strengthens our ability to provide high-quality, person-centred support and builds capacity across the entire social services sector in Wellington County,” Kinnon continued.
Officials say the learning lab will improve access to training, skill development, and resources for direct-support professionals.
