Mission Statement

Our Vision

Niagara's Children and Youth at their Best

Our Story

Niagara Children's Centre was born out of the vision of Dr. William J. Orr, a local physician who would become the Centre’s founding Medical Director in 1964. The Children’s Centre is now well-known throughout the Niagara region as a leader in providing rehabilitative and support services to children and youth with physical, developmental and communicative delays and disabilities.

The Centre’s family-centred care philosophy fosters programming that aims to help each child achieve their own unique potential to participate in all activities at home, school and in the community. Core services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation.

Their facility features an accessible, heated, salt-water pool that provides enhanced opportunities for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and recreation therapy services. A Gait lab, with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, provides 3-D analysis of motion with incredible detail to highlight irregularities and inefficiencies in walking patterns. The Centre’s School provides individualized education and therapeutic programming in small group settings to children and youth 4 to 21 years of age with multi- learning and physical exceptionalities.

Our People/Our Team

Niagara Children's Centre is driven by a dedicated group of 135 staff members who come together to create a welcoming and supportive environment for the children and youth we serve. The Children’s Centre is a place where families are at the heart of all they do. While the majority of their staff are rehabilitation therapists with specialized training in child and youth development, they also employ administrative and support staff to keep operations running smoothly, and a development team focused on fundraising for new and innovative programs. The organization is overseen by an 11-member board of directors and a leadership team. Together, they’re committed to a mission of seeing “Niagara’s children and youth at their best.” 

Achievement/Awards And Recognition

• Accredited by CARF International
• Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce- Excellence in Business- Non-Profit Award (2021)

Our Partners

• Niagara Children’s Centre School Authority