Optimist Club Funds Children’s Wing for new CAMH

Heather Armstrong, Special to TC Media
Optimist Club Funds Children’s Wing for new CAMH
Optimist Club of Cornwall’s 2nd Annual Christmas Vendors Event Chair Laurie Regnier

CORNWALL, Ontario – With the motto of Optimist International being, “Optimist brings out the Best in Kids.” Many of the programs and fundraisers involve children and youth in the community. In this spirit the Optimist Club of Cornwall’s 2nd Annual Christmas Vendors Event was held Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Optimist Club House at 301 Sunnyside Avenue.

Laurie Regnier, Chair of the event explained how the Cornwall Service Club Council, of which the Optimist Club is a member, has pledged $250,000 over five years towards the Children’s Wing of the new Addiction and Mental Health Centre. The centre will bring multiple services including Child and Youth Mental Health Services, Adult Mental Health Services and Geriatric Mental Health Services under one roof.

The 13 vendors, which included people from direct sales as well as local artisans, paid a fee and also donated to the gift basket. Raffle tickets were then purchased during the event to win this unique gift basket.

Regnier said, “We started this event to raise money for the Addiction and Mental Health Building.” She also said last year’s event raised $1, 000.

Ralph Brunton, President of the Optimist Club Cornwall explained their involvement in the contributing to the Children’s Wing when he said, “Anything to help with the youth, especially with children’s mental health.”

Although the grand opening for the Addiction and Mental Health Building is slated for early 2017, services already in place at the new centre. Regnier spoke of the benefits of the new centre when she said, “Pooling all the resources in one area makes it easier to navigate the system.”

The Optimist Club Cornwall is also hoping to reach more of the young people in the area by starting a Youth Optimist Club in early 2017.

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