Vanessa Grimaldi to Unveil New Sensory Rooms

Reality TV show star Vanessa Grimaldi was at Coronation Elementary School in Côte des Neiges on Wednesday, December 20 for a cheque presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony dedicated towards the building of four sensory rooms within the English Montreal School Board. Chairman Angela Mancini applauded the initiative.

Vanessa, who worked as a special education teacher for the EMSB’s Galileo Adult Education Centre in Montreal North before starring on ABC’s The Bachelor, launched her own No Better You Foundation last summer in order to advance education by providing specialized tools and programs for exceptional learners across Canada. EMSB Chairman Angela Mancini wishes to express her gratitude towards Ms. Grimaldi as proceeds from the first No Better You fundraiser held in July have been directed to the construction, maintenance and operations of sensory rooms at Coronation School in Montreal, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary in Rosemount, Edward Murphy in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Galileo Adult Centre.

The simple pleasure and joys such as running, riding a bike, and playing in the park on any sunny day, are sometimes not feasible for children and young adults with special needs. A Sensory Room provides new ways of learning while using all their senses. “It’s a therapeutic space for students,” Vanessa explained. “It can help stimulate or calm students down. It heightens awareness, provides security and promotes mental and physical relaxation, which helps individuals realize that they don’t have to feel like they have to be on guard all of the time.”