Our supporting funders include the Ministry of Social Services, the Ministry for
Women's Equality, United Way, Simon Fraser Union Board of Health, B.C. Telephone
Community Fund, CKNW Orphans' Fund, the Vancouver Foundation and the Vancouver
Sun Children's Fund. We have also conducted our own fundraising events and recently
participated in a casino.

We publicize our program through local community newspapers, posters, and
participation in community events such as the Children's Festivai. We distribute our
brochures through libraries, health units, the Public Health Nurses on their home visits,
Welcome Wagon and other community services.

Currently we run our drop-in program out of a community centre (Victoria Hal! or
"Dogpatch Hall"), a space which is regularly rented out to other users. Consequently we
must spend 2 hours to set out and take down our equipment each day. Administration,
which 1s vital to our operation, is hindered by our lack of office space.

The City of Coquitlam has recognized the importance of our program and did offer
us a house for a new, more appropriate location but unfortunately it was vandalized and
bumed down.

We need your assistance in relocating our program. The ideal location for Family
Place would be a house with enough rooms for a play area, an office, a thrift-shop/toy
lending library, and parent workshops and an enclosed yard. We have also considered the
option of a modular unit designed for our needs.

We understand that the Leigh Square Medical Building is presently vacant and
could efficiently meet our needs if it was renovated to legal safety standards. We have
received $20,000 for renovations and equipment for our new location and we have
several skilied volunteers willing to donate their time and abilities to renovate an
appropriate location. We would be willing to pay some maintenance costs.

We have spoken with Port Coquitlam Family Studies regarding sharing space and
would be open to doing so with other non-profit organizations, particularly those which
would complement our program.

In conclusion, we ask that you reverse the motion to demolish the Leigh Square
Medical Building and that it be renovated as required for the use of Tri-City Family Place
and other non-profit organizations vital to our community, or that you assist us in
securing alternate space.

Thank you for your consideration and action on this matter.

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