It’s a special year for a long-time supporter of the Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC).

And on Wednesday, Grant-Marion Construction Ltd. in Cornwall made it a special day for the CTC, with a $5,000 cheque presentation.

“(The company) recognizes the value of having the (CTC) in our community, and they’re here to support it once again,” said Nolan Quinn, a CTC board member. “It’s been a very difficult year for (fundraising) for all organizations and charities. . .the (CTC) is appreciative of any and all donations.”

Grant-Marion Construction Ltd., with its offices on Marleau Avenue, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having been founded in 1971.

In a statement provided by the company, the challenges of fundraising during the pandemic were acknowledged, and that “we greatly admire the work (the CTC does) in this community.”

The centre continues to provide hope and healing to children and families who’ve had to face the trauma of physical and/or sexual abuse.

It hasn’t been around quite as long as Grant-Marion; the CTC opened 25 years ago, in 1996, providing free, confidential counselling to children and youth from Cornwall, SDG and Akwesasne, having sustained itself over the years thanks to fundraising efforts and strong support from residents and businesses across the region.

“Obviously the value of the (CTC) is immense,” Quinn said. “It’s an avenue of safety for kids. And, unfortunately the centre’s need will always be there.”

The centre in 2020 and now well into 2021 has had to re-invent some long-established events, and change much of the approach to raising money.

The annual Celebrity Walk and Breakfast, for example, last fall had a new format — a Drive-thru Breakfast.

Events including the annual Bike-a-Thon Plus last spring and the September celebrity roast couldn’t be held, so individual donations from community members and businesses became even more critical.