May 23, 2023
Garage Renovation Completed with Help from Federal Funds
When Huron Hospice bought what is now Huron Hospice Bender House in 2018, there was not enough time to renovate the garage of the former family home to meet the needs of the organization. For the first three years, we put a few desks on the floor, had a couple of folding tables for meetings and used some of the garage as storage space. In the summer it was hot. In the winter it was cold (even with our space heater). In 2021 we applied for funding through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund—a Government of Canada program delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). This was wonderful news when added to the additional federal non-repayable contributions we received from the New Horizons for Seniors Fund and the Enabling Accessibility Fund.
By the middle of 2022, the renovations were completed. The funding from FedDev Ontario helped with the cost of leveling the garage floor and replacing the garage doors with stonework to match the rest of the residence. The funding also assisted with the costs of renovating the space to create a community meeting room, two offices and a fully accessible washroom. In addition, because of the added washroom and expanded useable space, this funding paid for the installation of a larger septic tank.
We are grateful for FedDev Ontario’s support and found that the experience of working with the agency’s staff through the process was truly collaborative and helpful. Now, this beautiful and comfortable new space gets used every day by residents, families, staff and volunteers.
Willy Van Klooster
Executive Director
Huron Hospice
519-5256856