Harinder Takhar’s Member Statement regarding “Creation Of A New Youth Centre at ESCO” on Nov. 1, 2017.

Mr. Harinder S. Takhar: It is a privilege to speak in the Legislature today about the new office of Epilepsy South Central Ontario—also known as ESCO—in Mississauga, as well as the new Caroline Cunningham youth centre. The youth centre was made possible by the generous donations of the Cunningham family and the Care-Alive Foundation. The centre has been named after Caroline Cunningham, who dedicated her life to improving the lives of people living with epilepsy. After her death in 2007 from sudden unexplained death from epilepsy, her family and friends founded Care-Alive, a foundation bearing her name, which raises support and awareness for epilepsy.

ESCO received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grow grant in the amount of $290,100 over two years to assist in maintaining the youth empowerment program, which positively impacts approximately 250 youth. Programs such as ESCO’s summer camp initiative help youth understand they are not alone, that having a seizure is not something that should alienate or embarrass them, while also nurturing confidence.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank ESCO and the Cunningham family for helping to establish a great resource such as the youth centre. With its creation, Caroline’s legacy lives on and continues to inspire others.

We have in the gallery today the Cunningham family, and also a representative from ESCO. So I really want to say thanks to them for the work that they have done