Community rallies to rebuild play zone for special needs children after flood damage
The past 10 months have been an emotional journey for Rachel Ricci and her family.
"It was a really big disaster here. It was nerve-wracking. Stressful. I've never been in a flood before," Ricci said in an interview.
Rachel's labour of love, "Caden's lighthouse," is a multisensory play zone for children with special needs. She created it in 2020 with her own son, Caden, in mind. However, it was forced to close last July after a flood, and the community was heartbroken.
"When it closed, our family was devastated, first of all, for the lighthouse and the staff but also for ourselves and Timmy," said the boy's mother, Heidi Liesemer-Frank.
Liesemer-Frank says there aren't many spaces adapted for children on the autism spectrum.
"If we go to a regular play place and it's very chaotic. Timmy has sensory needs, he doesn't like it when it's loud. So we come here," she said.
After the flood, Rachel's options were limited. She was at a standstill until the community she helped build rallied around her.
"One of the parents that comes here created the fundraiser to actually give us a boost so we can pay the contractors to get the work going because waiting for insurance was just taking forever," she says.
That is just one way the lighthouse in Montreal West has become a second family.
"We stand up for each other. We're there for each other. We're supportive of each other."
Timmy's mom agrees. "If you're having a good day, that's great. The staff is going to rejoice with us. But if we're having a harder day, no judgment, and they're here to support us," she said.
Now that the lighthouse 2.0 has reopened, Rachel has a new goal, she says.
"We're hoping to expand and into a therapy centre in the future. I have my fingers crossed to create a center for adults because they need support, too."
For this community, it's Ricci who is the beacon of hope.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
Canucks hold off Oilers for 4-3 win in Game 3
Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, and the Vancouver Canucks hung on for a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.