Previous History


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History of the capital Campaign

In 2004, the Foundation made a commitment to raise $4.5 million for the building and equipping of a new George Jeffrey Children's Centre.

At the time, the old George Jeffrey Children's Centre, on Lillie St. was in desperate shape. After 50 years of service and with an increasing case load of children, the facilities were outdated, cramped and not able to keep up with the growing needs of our community's children.Today, the standing George Jeffrey Children's Centre is in desperate shape. After 50 years of service and with an increasing case load of children, the facilities are outdated, cramped and not able to keep up with the growing needs of our community's children.

The Beginning of a New Era

On November 3rd, 2008, the The George Jeffrey Children’s Centre Officially moved from their Location on Lillie St. to the New Location at 200 E. Brock St. The grand opening and 60th anniversary of the Centre took place on December 12th, 2008, and was attended by Mary Jeffrey, the late George Jeffrey’s wife, and her two children. The beautiful facility is now fully operational, serving the children of Northwestern Ontario. The Staff, Clients and Board Members alike welcome 2009 as a new beginning with a new centre, looking to serve the region for another 60 years.

The Foundation's continued goal is to raise the necessary funds to support the efforts of the George Jeffrey Children's Centre to provide treatment to the children and youth of Northwestern Ontario.

The efforts of the George Jeffrey Children's Foundation are made possible through the generous contributions of individuals, groups and businesses who share a commitment to funding a better future for our community's children.


 

History of the Centre

The George Jeffrey Children's Centre is a non-profit charitable organization with strong community ties dating back to 1948 when the Kiwanis Club and the Lakehead Cerebral Palsy Parents' Council worked together to establish the J.B. Larway School. From this early beginning serving preschool children with disabilities, the Centre has grown to serve all of Northwestern Ontario with a variety of services and innovative and specialized programming. In 1961, through the efforts of the Kiwanis Club, the Centre was incorporated as the Thunder Bay Crippled Children Centre. As the Centre grew, new facilities were built on our current site and officially opened in June 1969 as the Northwestern Ontario Crippled Children Centre. An 18-bed residence, now closed, was added in 1978 to provide treatment and care for children with disabilities from surrounding communities. Our Centre was renamed the George Jeffrey Children's Treatment Centre in 1983 in honour of Mr. George Jeffrey, a former Chairman of our Board and our Director for many years, for his dedication to children with disabilities.

Today, the Centre continues to evolve and with the move into the new centre, we are at the beginning of an exciting new phase in our development. The Centre is funded by the Ministry of Children & Youth Services. The Ministry of Community & Social Services funds our Community Day Care and Integrated Services for Northern Children is funded by the Ministry of Community & Social Services, the Ministry of Children & Youth Services, and the Ministry of Education. We are also dependent upon donations to sustain and enhance programs and to purchase specialty equipment.






George Jeffrey Children's Centre Website