There were many smiles as Pathways Health Centre for Children unveiled its new "Smilezones" Monday morning.
The main waiting area and aquatics hallway were revitalized over the Christmas holidays and now have new seating, colourful murals, drawing boards, iPad stations, autographed hockey jerseys and sensory activities.
Jen Weed and her son Archer.
"I've seen parents sharing books with their children, entire families snuggling in bean bag chairs, I've seen children building towers, dancing around the fish tube and collecting around the new iPads," said Clinical Services manager Alison Morrison. "I love the murals that we now have, particularly how the Blue Water Bridge's frame our Canadian four seasons, and all of the activities that families can engage in across Sarnia-Lambton."
The upgrades to the Murphy Road facility were carried out by the Smilezone Foundation, with the support of an anonymous donor.
"It really is amazing what Smilezone does," said Morrison. "They descend on an organization and over two days demolish, build, paint and install."
Jen Weed says her 5-year-old son Archer -- who comes to Pathways for speech, occupational and physiotherapy -- loves the new space.
"As soon as he walked in, he looked at me and his words were 'it's new,' he noticed right away and explored everything," said Weed. "We spend a lot of time here and he spends a lot of time in hospitals as well, so, to come here and have such an inviting thing that made him feel so comfortable... for me it's a relief and for him it's a relief."
The Smilezone Foundation was co-founded in 2012 by Scott Bachly of Bachly Construction and former NHL player Adam Graves.
