The Colamartini Playroom

About This Space

Who Rocco & Joanne Colamartini

When November 2025

What New Children's Playroom

The Story

At Ronald McDonald House® South Central Ontario we often say that our House is more than a place to stay - it's a place to live. Everyday, 20-30 children call our House "home" while their sibling is in the hospital. With families facing some of the hardest moments of their lives, creating a sense of normalcy and joy for these young guests isn't just nice to have, it's essential.

Over time, it became clear that we needed more space for kids to be kids. A place where imaginations could run wild, friendships could bloom, and laughter could fill the halls.

The Colamartini Family and Mountainview Building Group

When we shared this vision with our incredible friends at Mountainview Building Group, they didn't hesitate for a moment. They saw the need, felt the importance, and jumped at the opportunity. Together, we transformed a set of under-utilized spaces - once a lounge, storage area, and offices - into something truly magical.

Today, we are thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new Colamartini Family Playroom, a vibrant, fully reimagined space designed for children of all ages. It features:

A colourful ball pit,
A climbing wall and slide,
A craft and creativity zone,
A fully turfed sports court,
A thoughtfully designed parent lounge; and,
Toys, games, and so much more!

From the moment the space opened, the feedback has been nothing short of heartwarming. At our recent Light the House event, 19 alumni families (many of whom stayed with us long before this playroom existed) returned to celebrate. Watching their children explore the space with absolute wonder filled our hearts with joy! As one parent told us, "This room is everything we didn't know we needed back then."

This space is named in honour of the Colamartini family, whose dedication to our mission spans many years. Rocco Colamartini and his team led the design & build, while Joanne Colamartini - an interior designer - brought the space to life with warmth, creativity, and heart. As Mountainview's President, Mark Basciano, put it, "Choosing the Colamartini name was an easy and meaningful decision. Rocco, Joanne, and our entire team absolutely love this mission. Being able to build something that brings comfort and joy to these families means everything to us."

Our CEO, Mario DeDivitiis, shared his gratitude, "This playroom is more than a beautiful space, it represents what community can do when we come together for families facing the unimaginable. We are profoundly grateful to Mountainview Building Group and the Colamartini family for helping us create a place where kids can play, laugh, and just be kids."

Thanks to the generosity, vision, and heart of Mountainview and the Colamartini family, every child that comes through our doors will now have a place to escape, imagine, connect, and heal.

And that is the magic of the House that love built.