Goodwill opens its new facility
November 18, 2008
By MEREDITH CLARKE
Amid arrangements of colourful balloons and shelves neatly stacked with books, Goodwill Industries celebrated the opening of its newest facility on Adelaide Street North recently.
The concept combines the donation centre dropoff with a bookstore and Job Connect, where job seekers can get employment information and support.
In this bright new space, flooded with natural light filtering in from its numerous windows, several hundred people gathered for the grand opening. Goodwill CEO Michelle Quintyn opened the festivities, welcoming everyone to the region's 12th donation centre. She spoke about the important work Goodwill does, helping those who face barriers to employment find meaningful work and supporting the environment through recycling used goods.
Quintyn added that donation centre and community store revenues help fund many employment programs. She also announced there have been more than 100 jobs created within Goodwill's Great Lakes region in the past 18 months -- 10 of them at this site alone -- with more to come.
Among the dignitaries who addressed the crowd were Glen Pearson, MP for London -North-Centre; Deb Matthews, MPP for London-North-Centre; Jason Livingston, chairperson of the Goodwill board; Ted Lo of the Ontario Trillium Foundation; Doug Millar, manager of career services and Job Connect at Fanshawe College; and Paul Berton, editor-in-chief of The London Free Press.
Many of the congratulatory words touched on the value the donation centre will add to the neighbourhood, through serving the community and by its overall esthetic. The crowed cheered when it heard every time a donor gives clothing and items to Goodwill they are creating one hour of work for someone who needs it most.
Among those who mingled in the crowd were London-Fanshawe MP Irene Mathyssen; Coun. Paul Hubert; Sheila Simpson from Trillium Foundation; Bill Stewart, former Goodwill CEO; Shaun Elliott, YMCA of Western Ontario; Chuck Grawburg from PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Rick Odegaard, London Commercial Realty; John Michael Spriet of Spriet Associates; Dave Tomlinson, ADT Construction (who oversaw this project); Linda Rice, real estate agent; and Anne Boyd and Karen Oldham from the City of London.
Goodwill has been a part of this community for several decades. Its mission of helping others through an ingrained recycling philosophy has been its inspiration, and will continue to be as long as there are people to help.