TIMMINS – Friday May 30th 2014
In June of 2013 Kidd Operations committed $17,500 in funding to North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) to refurbish a playground that would allow for opportunities to teach healthy play and socialization, and that will provide a safe environment for children participating in NEOFACS and other community programs to explore. Today, Kidd Operations and NEOFACS celebrated alongside board members, staff, and service recipients with an official ribbon cutting the new Kidd Operations Learn-and-Playground.
The generosity of Kidd Operations and their contribution through the Community Partnership Program enabled NEOFACS to purchase and install a brand new learn-and-playground at the NEOFACS Wilcox Campus which is home to our Autism Programs.
“We are so pleased that we were able to move forward with this capital investment project. Our initial application to Kidd Operations’ Community Partnership Programme was to refurbish the equipment that was already here. Kidd Operations’ generous contribution brought us to a place where purchasing a newer and safer playground was feasible,” said Richard Lambert-Belanger, Executive Director for NEOFACS. “The result is this state of the art learn-and-playground that will benefit our service recipients and community for years to come.”
“Through our Community Partnership Program, Kidd Operations supports a number of organizations and projects that address priority community needs and concerns. In our community consultations, greater access to mental health services, and children’s health and wellness initiatives were identified as important areas for our stakeholders,” said Tom Semadeni, Kidd Operations General Manager. “We are proud to have been able to assist NEOFACS in building a new, safe playground that will be an integral part of their Autism programs, as well as to provide a facility that can be used by many other community groups.”
Since 2007, Kidd Operations’ Community Partnership Program has provided nearly $4 million to community organizations and projects.
Autism Playground
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About Kidd Operations Located in Timmins, Ontario, Kidd Operations include the Kidd Mine and Kidd Concentrator has been mining the Kidd Creek copper/zinc deposits since 1966. Kidd Operations employ approximately 1,200 people, including contractors and is the largest private-sector employer in the City of Timmins. From its 2.35M tonnes of ore, Kidd Mine produces an average of 40,000 tonnes of copper annually with significant zinc and silver by-products. With mining activities at 9,600 ft below surface, Kidd Mine is the world’s deepest base-metal mine.
About NEOFACS North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) is an integrated agency, providing services to children, youth and their families in the Districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming. Our client responsive programs and services are innovative, evidence-based, and designed to meet the unique needs of those we serve.
Our Agency provides Child Welfare, Children’s Mental Health, Youth Justice and Prevention programs along with a number of other programs and services. NEOFACS is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose funding is received primarily from the Ministry of Children & Youth Services. Several other funders support programs as well.
For further information, please contact:
Media Contact:
Brooke Ballantyne
Communications Coordinator, North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services
Phone: 705-360-7100 ext. 5217
Email: brooke.ballantyne@neofacs.org
Carole Belanger
Communications and Community Relations Coordinator, Kidd Operations
Phone: 705 267-8837