Montreal households of youngsters with disabilities say they’ve been left scrambling after a specialised summer season camp was cancelled attributable to deliberate renovations with no various in place.
Camp Massawippi, which operates out of the Mackay Centre College in Notre-Dame-de-Grace, won’t run this summer season due to upkeep work on the constructing.
The camp has lengthy offered structured programming for kids aged 5 to 21 residing with important bodily disabilities.
For households like Caline Saleh’s, the information got here as a shock.
“It was stunning information for us …as a result of as mother and father we depend on this camp for him to remain within the system. If he doesn’t go to the camp, it’s going to be a really hectic summer season for us,” she mentioned.
Her son has attended the camp for years, and she or he says it performs a crucial position in sustaining routine and stability past the college 12 months. Camp Massawippi says the choice to cancel was not theirs.
“We had been knowledgeable by our companions that there have been some repairs within the faculty that we’re utilizing and it was unimaginable to make use of a part of the college or a part of the 12 months, by way of sure weeks, that was additionally one thing that was explored, in order that website was unavailable.”
Mackay Centre College in Montreal’s NDG neighbourhood, the place Camp Massawippi operates.
The English Montreal College Board (EMSB), which owns the constructing, mentioned the renovations should be accomplished throughout the summer season months.
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“Might different measures be discovered? We’re definitely trying into that. However it’s a one-time factor — it’ll be a greater constructing for college kids and for future campers,” mentioned EMSB spokesperson Mike Cohen.
“We fully perceive the place mother and father are in and we want there was an alternate.”
Whereas some mother and father acknowledge the necessity for repairs, many say the dearth of a backup plan is what’s most regarding.
“There’s just a few different websites which have been talked about and I haven’t gotten passable responses to why none of that was potential,” mentioned mother or father Caroline Elias. Others say the brief discover has left them with few choices.
“I’m working full-time, my husband has deliberate obligations, we received the discover very late and in a short while, so we don’t know what we’re going to do.”
Households say the camp is greater than only a summer season exercise, it’s a very important help system for kids who require specialised care and familiarity.
“We really feel that Mackay and the camp is the most secure place for them. He’s very hooked up to the college and the camp, so it’s stunning for him and it’s very unhappy. It’s affecting him,” Saleh added.
Dad and mom say they’re now hoping the college board can discover an alternate earlier than summer season begins.
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