$111,000 OTF grant renovated SECC Leamington office to create more welcoming space

An open house last Saturday celebrated the $110,000 OTG grant SECC received to renovate its Leamington office. Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

After   years   of   dreaming   –   and   six-months   of  construction  –  renovation  to  the  South  Essex  Community Council (SECC) Leamington office has been completed.

The upgrades were completed with the goal of creating space that better meets the needs of the community.

Thanks to a $111,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital  Grant,  not  only  was  a  fresh  coat  of  paint  applied  to  common  areas  and  three  existing  client  rooms,  three  other  client  rooms  were  created,  the  exterior doors and front reception desk were replaced, and   washrooms   were   renovated.   The   grant   also   allowed for the purchase of new furniture and technology for appointment rooms.

These upgrades were celebrated during an open house on Friday morning, and recognized as a tool to allow the organization  to  serve  its  clients  from  Leamington  and  across the County in a welcoming space where everyone feels comfortable.

Carolyn  Warkentin,  Executive  Director  for  SECC,  noted  the  office  has  been  located  at  215  Talbot  in Leamington for the past 26-years.

“At the time, we were all very excited to be moving into  this  new  space,  which  formerly  functioned  as  a  grocery   store,”   Warkentin   said.   Around   two-and-a-half  decades  later,  SECC  found  itself  presented  with  an  interesting   opportunity.   Service   Canada   relocated   its   offices, and the opportunity to “reimagine our space and create  some  additional  community  spaces  that  could  be  enjoyed and utilized by the public.”

The  space  formerly  occupied  by  Service  Canada  is  now the SECC staff work area.

“We  wanted  the  space  to  be  flexible  enough  to accommodate different working styles as well as provide opportunities  for  collaboration  and  innovative  program  design,”  Warkentin  added.  This  new  design  provides  a  wing  dedicated  to  SECC’s  partners       that       deliver       valuable   services   to   the   community.

“A    lot    of    what    we    do   at   SECC   is   to   build   community. Our classrooms are a microcosm of the  diversity  that  is  our  community,  and  we’ve  created  a  safe  and  supportive  environment  for  our  students,”  she  said.  “We  like  to  think  that  we  have  created  a  bustling  little  community  right here at 215 Talbot Street East. But we want to  do  more.  It  is  not  just  about  workshops  and  classrooms and appointments. It is about creating connections with others in the community.”

She  expressed  thanks  to  everyone  who  was involved in the renovation, from supporters, staff for their patience, and those who coordinated efforts.  She  also  expressed  gratitude  to  Robert  Repko’s estate that helped create a gathering space and an additional training room.

“We are very excited and pleased with our new space. We’ve  worked  hard  to  create  a  welcoming  and  pleasant  environment,” Warkentin added. Cindy  Crump,  a  volunteer  with  the  Ontario  Trillium  Foundation,  MP  Dave  Epp,  and  Leamington  Deputy  Mayor  Larry  Verbeke  all  brought  greetings  at  the  open  house, offering congratulations.

“These  renovations  have  created  a  more  welcoming,  accessible, and functional space, allowing SECC to fulfill its mission of ‘helping people, improving lives’ even more effectively,”  Nammar  Cristofari,  Executive  Assistant  to  MPP Trevor Jones said on his behalf. “This is not just a renovation of a building, this is the strengthening of our community’s foundation for years to come.”

For  more  information  about  its  services,  log  onto:  secc.on.ca/The  organization  provides  a  wide-range  of  services  to  individuals  55  and  older,  persons  with  disabilities, newcomers to Canada, job seekers, employers, children, and youth.

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