The Caldwell Family Centre is made up of two housing units, #20 and #22 at 1100 Medford Ave., in the very heart of the Bellevue Manor Community.
The Centre has been in existence since 1986. These 13 years have seen the growth of many different and interesting events that have helped the local community in many ways. It has also witnessed the many changes brought about with each passing year.
Today, the Caldwell Family Centre is organizing activities that will lead into the new millennium, including:
The Day Program/Drop In for Adults. Open every day of the week, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Monday and Thursday evenings, from 7-9 p.m.
Classes for New Canadians (ESL). Classes are offered Monday to Thursday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. There is child-minding for the morning classes.
- Craft and Sewing Classes
- Computer Skill Classes
- Citizenship Classes
- After-4 Homework Help
- Local Emergency Food Program. Open Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1-4 p.m.
Along with these activities, there are many special events to celebrate. There is a daily breakfast in the drop-in and a special breakfast ever so often. Barbecues, especially during the summer, add taste and spice to this leisure time.
Outings are a part of the events: picnic, bus tour, boat ride, hike in the woods, etc. Birthdays are highlighted, and card games, Scrabble and other society games rally a number of people. New events keep being added according to the desires and needs of everyone.
The Caldwell Family Centre wishes to provide a caring and supportive environment in which people are welcomed and accepted. This acceptance and openness engenders trust and enables participants to feel a sense of community and, perhaps for the first time in their lives, a sense of belonging.
This in turn builds confidence and self-esteem, and empowers people to become fully involved in the program and leads them to offer their own skills and to volunteer some time and energy in giving back to their community.
For further information, please call the director at 728-1268 or 728-5597. Visitors are welcomed to drop by during the working hours.