Hundreds of people packed the new Holody Centre for Sports and recreation here Nov. 14 – and several speakers spoke hundreds of words.
But perhaps the most eloquent of those was a man who has been with ARC Industries as a participant for 20 years.
“Without this place, I’d be stuck in a home,” Steve Burton said at the grand opening on Royal Road. “This is a second home for me. It’s a touching moment for me.”
Community Living Guelph Wellington was founded in 1955 by parents of children with an intellectual disability and by concerned citizens. It owns and operates ARC Industries. Since its inception, it has expanded from a group providing assessment, training and education to the pre-school child to an agency that provides services to people with an intellectual disability for their entire adult life span.
It provides service to people who have an intellectual disability, are over the age of 18, and reside in Wellington County. It provides employment training and support; day program activities and services; seniors program; residential services and supports to people residing in group home settings, with family or caregivers, or living on their own.
Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge said those attending are the reason Macleans magazine named the city the most caring place in Canada.
Wellington County Warden John Green said in an interview “This building is a facility that will benefit the citizens and the county. It gives us the opportunity to treat people as they should be treated – and to prosper and grow in their own industrious way.”
Former Guelph Mayor Norm Jary was the campaign chairman and said he agreed to spearhead the drive before he learned it required $2.5-million.
When he heard the amount, he declared he would personally turn cartwheels down Wyndham Street if it could be accomplished, and, fortunately, nobody had called him on that – yet.
Wilf Reick, president of the board of directors for Community Living Guelph Wellington called it “a dream come true. Can you imagine 50 years ago having a place like this?”
He said ARC, the Adult Rehabilitation Centre, has had several homes over the years. He thanked the Joe Holody family for its donation of several hundred thousand dollars.
Liz Sandals said part of the fun of being an MPP is announcing funding for such projects (the province put in $2-million) but the most fun comes from seeing what that money has built. “This is just outstanding.”
Steve Irvine, of the Guelph Rotary Club, spoke about his club’s partnership with Community Living. He said for the past seven years the club has raffled off a home and the proceeds went to three different groups, including this one.
“What a great idea – Rotary working with Community Living,” he said.
Eric Gillis is an employee of Community Living Guelph Wellington, and also participated in the last Olympics in Beijing in the 10,000 metre race. He said he had a learning disability, dyslexia, when he was young, but, with proper help, was able to obtain two degrees and a teaching certificate.
He said it took caring people to help him, and, “You see that every day when you show up at Community Living.”
After a ribbon cutting, people were invited for a lunch and given tours of the building.
Executive Director Bob Butella explained in an interview that the organization started considering renovations and providing some recreational activities in November of 2004, but the more they considered the old building, the more they realized that they should “start from scratch.”
He added that clients have little money, and require recreation space, so it was logical to include that in the project.
They launched the campaign on April 2, 2005, the 50th anniversary of the organization, with a public kickoff. He said the community was incredibly generous, with donations ranging from $5 to $300,000.
They rented a site for the 14 to 16 months that was needed for the new buildings.
He said about 150 people use the ARC programs every day, and Community Living also operates 26 group homes. That translates to about 400 people receiving help.
