Despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a mental health and addictions facility for Sarnia-Lambton youth is moving forward.
The Mike Weir Foundation announced Tuesday that its $200,000 fundraising goal has been realized and the foundation will match that amount for a total of $400,000.
Mike Weir and Michelle Money at their home in Utah, USA (Submitted photo)
Foundation board member Wendy Bennett said in addition, The Mike Weir Par 3 Challenge, hosted last September at Huron Oaks Golf Course in Bright's Grove, raised $336,000 to help renovate space at 190 Front St.
"So with the golf tournament and the Chip-In-Challenge, The Mike Weir Foundation has been able to donate over $700,000 to the ACCESS Open Minds, which allows them to go ahead and do the renovations to get it open," said Bennett. "People were very, very generous, so within a very short time to raise $200,000 was amazing, and then we matched it."
Bennett said this year's par 3 challenge has been put off because of COVID-19 but they plan to host the event again in 2021.
Bluewater Health Mental Health & Addictions Vice President Paula Reaume-Zimmer said they initially had hoped to have the site open by September, but because of COVID-19, an opening date is not known at this time.
"It is still kind of cloudy. We are hoping probably later winter, but we expect probably within the next couple of weeks, we'll be able to firm that up more," she said.
Reaume-Zimmer said the new centre will be a game-changer for local youth.
"We've been involved in a different site in another community, and we know bringing this to the community, it creates a prominent place for youth and their family to access mental health," said Reaume-Zimmer. "And it's a space that youth design. They confirm with us that this is a place that they would walk into willingly and seeking support and treatment, so that's exactly what we need."
Reaume-Zimmer added a youth advisory council, made up of 12 members aged 12-25, is involved with developing and designing the site.
"So they're working on more of the plan with what the design, the look and feel is going to be, knowing that some of the practical construction and materials and supply plans are all being delayed because of COVID."
The County of Lambton purchased the former CIBC bank property for just over $1-million about a year ago and has made the space available to ACCESS Open Minds.
The Mike Weir Foundation is still accepting donations with renovation costs estimated at between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.
From all of the ACCESS Open Minds Project partners, thank you to the Mike Weir Foundation, @mweirsy and @MoneyMichelle for this incredible contribution. Their generosity is making ACCESS Open Minds Sarnia-Lambton a reality. @bluewaterhealth @StClairChild pic.twitter.com/2S9jBmrGk1
— BWH Foundation (@bwhfoundation) June 16, 2020
There are 14 Open Minds sites across Canada, including one in Chatham-Kent, which are designed for and by youth.
-With files from Dave Dentinger