Federal and provincial officials joined residents of the McAdam region today to celebrate the grand opening of a 550-square-metre expansion at Lakeland Industries Sheltered Workshops Inc., an organization that teaches employment and life skills to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“Through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), the Government of Canada is proud to support this important organization,” said the Honourable Greg Thompson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “Lakeland Industries expansion project is a great example of what the ICF is all about, as it creates long-term local economic opportunities based on the community’s strengths.”

“The Province of New Brunswick is proud to invest in this very important project,” said Finance Minister Greg Byrne, on behalf of Business New Brunswick
Minister Victor Boudreau, who is also minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. “Today’s celebration is a result of hard work and dedication of the entire community working together to help provide a safer and more efficient work environment at Lakeland Industries,”

“After more than five years of planning by this dedicated Board of Directors, our vision became reality today”, said Claudia Young, Chair of Lakeland Industries Sheltered Workshops.

Lakeland Industries Sheltered Workshops uses a series of workstations to manufacture and assemble various products such as survey stakes and pallets. The expansion project allowed Lakeland to provide a safer and more efficient work and training environment as well as facilitate work performance. Thanks to this initiative, between 10 and 12 more individuals with disabilities will find employment with the organization while 2 to 3 additional counsellors will be hired to supervise the operations. Lakeland Industries currently employs 24 mentally and physically challenged adults and 4 counsellors.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund has invested $500,000 in the expansion project. The Province of New Brunswick and Lakeland Industries each contributed $100,000 to the initiative.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Greg Thompson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest, and Greg Byrne, Minister of Finance joined with Claudia Young, Chair of Lakeland Industries Sheltered Workshops, today to take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the expansion of the facility in McAdam.

Lakeland Industries, an organization that teaches employment and life skills to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, added a 550-square-metre expansion to provide a safer and more efficient work and training environment, facilitate work performance and increase the number of employees and support staff.

This project was made possible thanks to a federal investment of $500,000 from ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund and a $100,000 contribution from the Province of New Brunswick.

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INFORMATION:

Erin Filliter
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Revenue,
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency, and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
613-941-7241

Frank Carroll
Mayor of McAdam 
506-784-2293

Stéphanie Bilodeau
Senior Communications Officer 
ACOA NB	
506-452-3034

Bruce MacFarlane
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606