Rehab centre reopens new satellite locale

The Constance Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre inaugurated its new bigger and better West Island satellite office in Kirkland last Friday, taking time to honour two women who had worked over the years behind the scenes to improve the facility.

Constance Lethbridge’s West Island offshoot moved into its new home on Hymus Boulevard, just east of St. Charles Boulevard across from Meades Park, after being located in Dollard des Ormeaux for a decade. The new centre was dedicated to philanthropist Edith Strauss, who died two years ago, while a conference room was named after former board member Marylee Kelley, who died in 2004, and was instrumental in promoting the need for a West Island locale. Some of the latter’s sons, including Jacques Cartier MNA Geoff Kelley, attended the ceremony.

Renovations and set up cost for the new centre amounted to $1.8 million, with public funding from the health department, said Ghislaine Prata, Constance Lethbridge’s executive director, adding they have signed a 10-year lease for the premises. Constance Lethbridge’s main facility is located on de Maisonneuve Boulevard in Montreal’s NDG district.

The new satellite centre is almost five times larger than the old one, providing space for technical aids, such as for canes, prosthetics and wheelchairs.

“As of right now, without fully starting up our activities (at the new centre), we have at least 900 clients who are West Island residents, who were having to come to Lethbridge for technical aids,” she said. “Now, they will come here (to Kirkland). We also had 200 clients in our multi-disciplinary programs, who, once again, had to travel. When you have MS, the fatigue levels are extremely high and to travel in the middle traffic, it was really pathetic.”

Since there are no rehabilitation hospitals or centres in the West Island, an expanded Constance Lethbridge satellite office was desperately needed, Prata said. “There is a need out there and with the population demographics, the demand will grow.”

The professionalism and positive attitude of its staff make Constance Lethbridge a great place to rehab, said former client Dan McNeil who now volunteers and raises funds for the centre.

“It really makes a big difference of how you feel in your recovery,” he added. “He helps lift you out from, what quite frankly, really is a depressive thing.”

McNeil, a former executive who suffered a head injury about nine years ago, said he was so impressed with the care he received, he decided to join the centre’s foundation and start raising funds by visiting local businesspeople.

For more information, check www.constance-lethbridge.qc.ca or call 514-695-7565.

Chronicle, Jacques Pharand

Chronicle, Jacques Pharand