Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington (FCSSGW) opened its doors with an official ribbon cutting on Sept. 16. The new office is within the walls of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce building on Tower Street South by Victoria Park.
FCSSGW offers a full range of services to help people deal with relationships, emotional well-being, physical and/or emotional trauma, financial and/or debt management as well as service coordination and intensive behavioural consultation for adults and children with developmental disabilities.
Agency services include weekly no-appointment walk-in counselling and employee assistance programs.
The agency offers several provincially-funded programs at no cost. Thanks to funding from the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin and private donations, residents are able to access services regardless of the ability to pay.
Fee-for-service counselling programs start at $10, depending on family size and income.
Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce Board member Aileen Hawkins was pleased to see the service making use of the space in the chamber building.
“We are on the grow in this community,” said Hawkins.
“It is exciting, it is scary, and the great thing is that we are going to have lots of new business people and businesses to enjoy living in the best place in the whole world.”
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott said he considered it an honour to be at the event to bring greetings from the province.
He thanked members of FCSSGW for the great work they do now – and in the future with the new office location in Fergus.
“I know there are lots of needs out there in the community and the work that you do is very important. It impacts so many lives,” said Arnott.
He added it is very important to provide support to families in times of crisis.
Arnott also spoke of the relationship with the chamber, commenting, “we really build upon the partnerships in our community.”
Mayor Kelly Linton said he checked the organization’s website and read the positive comments from the community.
He was reassured to see comments such as “practical advice” and “caring attitude.”
Linton said a group can say whatever it wants about itself, “but it is what people say about you … who have used the services.”
FCSSGW board chair Sandra Ellis said the organization is committed to providing services within Guelph and Wellington County.
“We are so pleased today to officially offer this office to provide that service to the community,” said Ellis.
She added, “I am so pleased that Fergus is the location where we opened … this service is needed in Fergus, Elora and the surrounding community.
“I believe with the location and the hours that staff have committed to being available, I think it will make a difference and people will feel it will make sense and will work for them.”
For more information visit www.FamilyServiceGuelph.on.ca
