Beyond 21 finds new home

CORNWALL, Ontario – Beyond 21 welcomed the community into their new home located at 1924 Pitt St.

“This is indeed a dream come true for all of us,” said Tish Humphries, President of Beyond 21. “We have spend three years pounding the pavement to find the appropriate site.”

In addition to announcing their new location, Humphries also announced a new capital fundraising campaign to help fund the renovations that will need to be done to the building over the next year. Humphries introduced the chair of the campaign, former Upper Canada District School Board Superintendent Tim Mills.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be asked to be a part of the Beyond 21 campaign,” said Mills.

Mills explained how the idea for the Hub for Beyond 21 began in 2009 to address the need for support for adults with developmental disabilities who age out of the school system at 21-years-old.

“We now have 50 families, nine staff and a waiting list of about 10 other families,” said Mills. “And we now have this beautiful building to act as a hub.”

Mills said that so far, the campaign has raised over $150,000 with a goal of reaching $750,000 by May 2020.

That money will be used to install a kitchen, accessible washrooms, a recreation space and a space for those who are sensory sensitive.

“All of this is to meet the sensory and physical needs of adults with disabilities,” said Mills. “I’m honoured to be the chair and the face, but it is everyone here who will be going out and asking.”

Tish Humphries thanked several individuals and businesses who helped Beyond 21 get to their current stage including Sandy Cameron Realty who helped them find the space, Red Robbin Window Cleaning who cleaned the windows of the new space free of charge, and Grant Marion Construction, who will be doing the renovation work.

Humphries said that she hoped to open the doors to the new home of Beyond 21 in the Fall of 2019.

Beyond 21 also unveiled their new logo, created by local artist Tracy Lynn Davies. The logo is of five faceless adults with the motto “a Place to Belong”. Humphries explained that the new logo emphasizes how the disabled adult population is still invisible to many.