Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Ingersoll (Town of) - Fusion Youth Centre
Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre Hosts Kitchen Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre (Fusion Youth Centre) hosted the grand opening of the newly renovated Fusion Kitchen and Café, a state-of-the-art industrial kitchen on March 27th, 2015. Youth will now be able to prepare and serve healthy, locally sourced meals at an affordable cost thanks to a generous $103,500 grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and a $17,500 grant from Cold Springs Farms and Oxford Community Foundation. Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, Mayor Ted Comiskey and Fusion youth joined OTF representative, Sheila Simpson, and Oxford Community Foundation Representative, Tanya Murray in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of the new space.
“Fusion has done it again,” said Mayor Ted Comiskey. “They moved a state of the art moment into Ingersoll again, with their great-looking kitchen. It is superb, and the programs that are going to come out of there are going to benefit youth for many, many years to come.”
It is because of the significant contribution from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that youth in Ingersoll and surrounding area will now have the opportunity to gain basic food preparation skills, learn new and creative recipes, increase their understanding of food costs and meal budgeting, increase awareness of locally grown and produced foods, learn about food traceability and become educated through local programs such as Garden Fresh & Buy Local Oxford.
In addition to the renovated Kitchen and Cafe, Fusion used the funds received from Oxford Community Foundation and Cold Springs Farms to create an outdoor patio and garden space. Youth and Community participants will learn to plant, grow and cultivate herbs and vegetables while using them in their everyday cooking of healthy meals.
Tonya Murray from the Oxford Community Foundation had this to say at the ceremony, “We are big supporters of the Fusion Youth Centre...because they are so unique and innovative, and you can tell that they are having such an impact of the youth in the community.”
The Fusion Youth Centre, a municipally funded youth centre, first opened its doors in 2006 to meet the Town of Ingersoll’s strategic plan objectives. Fusion’s vision is “to be the leading youth service facility where all youth want to be.” The mission is “youth directed initiative will guide our team in providing a fun, safe and inclusive environment where youth know they belong and are empowered to make positive changes in their lives.”
Fusion serves all youth between the ages of 12 to 18, inclusively, in Ingersoll and surrounding area. This project will build capacity in the Centre and community, create innovative approaches to youth programming, engage participants in civic engagement activities, build new and strong collaborations and provide inclusive opportunities for all ages, demographics and abilities.
Quotes:
"It's a great kitchen, a great facility, and not just the kitchen, but the eating area and the sitting area, even the place where you can play a game of pool. That's what it's all about; learning things, doing things, but mostly enjoying what you're doing."
— Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford
“Fusion has done it again. They moved a state of the art moment into Ingersoll again, with their great-looking kitchen. It is superb, and the programs that are going to come out of there are going to benefit youth for many, many years to come.”
— Ted Comiskey, Mayor of Ingersoll
"For something like this to be possible in such a small community is really quite spectacular. I think the most extraordinary part about the Fusion Youth Centre is how you can learn cooking, math, science, art, music, you can play in our gym, but what's that for? It's for getting on the right track to success, and to being the best person you can possibly be."
— Mitch Beauregard, Fusion Youth Member
“We are big supporters of the Fusion Youth Centre...because they are so unique and innovative, and you can tell that they are having such an impact of the youth in the community.”
— Tanya Murray, Oxford Community Foundation Representative
"I'm honored to be part of this project. It's been a great experience both for the centre and for the youth. This project came together with a number of partners and people we worked with. There's a lot of people to be thankful for, and without the funding, without the in-kind support, without the youth, and without the staff input, we wouldn't have this space."
— Jason Smith, Manager of Fusion Youth Centre
Media Contact:
Jason Smith
Manager
Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre
Cell: 519-200-4227
jsmith@ingersoll.ca
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