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CentrePiece: Message from the CAO

August 19, 2009

Building relationships, one deck at a time

When Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson asked The Centre for Skills Development & Training to help plan and build a new deck for Carey House, students in our Home Renovation and Enhanced Carpentry for Women programs rose to the challenge.

This project was definitely an opportunity for students from The Centre to use their skills to improve the day-to-day lives of Carey House residents. It was also our chance to continue to build on our strong relationship with the City of Burlington. Carey House is a century-old home in downtown Burlington that has been modified to accommodate 10 physically disabled adults. Each resident enjoys independence and a full, active life.

Carey House was established by the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, which operates 300 similar homes around the world. Carey House receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Halton Region.

The deck and patio of Carey House were already there to be enjoyed by the residents, but were not large enough to accommodate all residents and their family members if they wanted to spend time outdoors. The new deck, project-managed by Mayor Jackson himself, was to provide an accessible space for fun and enjoyment that met current building code standards.

Mayor Jackson was the driving force behind the project. He mobilized firefighters, business owners, architects, City staff and The Centre’s students to build a safe and beautiful deck for Carey House residents to enjoy.

Students from The Centre, led by instructors Lawrence Farrell and Glen Farrell, not only had the chance to be involved in a community project, but also gained important experience working at a build site in all kinds of weather.

Here’s what one of the students involved had to say:
“Working at the Carey House was a great experience of how work is done on a job site, and it was also a great way to cover some [training] modules that we couldn’t cover in the shop. The hospitality of the residents and staff at the Carey House as well as Mayor Cam Jackson, and the hard work of the Burlington Fire Department made this experience very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun and I am very happy that I could be a part of a project that was for such a good cause. Thank you for the opportunity.”
-Bob Casburn

We at The Centre look forward to working with the City of Burlington and Mayor Jackson on future community initiatives.

The new deck at Carey House in Downtown Burlington.