Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, funded by revenues from charity casinos, has benefited many organizations in Leeds-Grenville over the past few months.

Recently Peter Galvin, chairman of the Grant Review Team, and Bob Runciman, Leeds-Grenville MPP, announced a new series of grants covering six projects.

In the past year grants to Leeds-Grenville organizations have totalled almost $730.000 and there are several other proposals under review.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Ontario government. Each year it provides a minimum of $100 million in grants to help organizations carry out programs promoting tourism, recreation and cultural activities.

“While the grants are impressive, they represent only a small part of the total contribution to activities being provided by volunteer organizations in the riding,” said Runciman.

The program is designed to encourage partnerships within communities to enhance a wide range of activities for residents. The scope of activities covered under the program is extremely broad allowing a great number of organizations to qualify for funding assistance.

The most recent the recipients are:

The Charleston Lake Environmental Association, $136,700 over 42 months to undertake a strategic plan, a watershed resource inventory, a water quality survey and other assessment activities that will lead to the development of a Lake Management Plan to ensure the protection of eco-systems.

The Delta Mill Society, $75,000 to help complete the structural and architectural restoration of the Delta Mill, which houses a museum retracing the region’s industrial history.

Loaves & Fishes of Brockville, $67,000 over 18 months to enhance the organizational capacity of the associated grassroots organization “Soup’s on” and to increase the number of meals served by people who are themselves often recipients of the service.

Eastern Ontario Forest Group, $26,700 to purchase specialized computer equipment to provide more accessible in-depth data to those interested in responsible land use and protection. The project is receiving an additional $35,000 in OTF funding from the Champlain catchment area.

Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 212 (Kemptville), $36,700 to install a stairlift and renovate the washrooms to make the building wheelchair accessible.

Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 105 (Cardinal), $18,000 to renovate the washrooms to make the building more accessible and enhance community use.

Other grants announced in recent months are:

The Tri-county Sexual Behaviour Clinic, $67,800 to develop and deliver a public education campaign on sexual abuse, including detection and prevention.

Rotary Club of Gananoque, $67,000 to enhance Joel Stone Beach to make it an attractive, accessible and safe swimming location for area residents and tourists.

The Rose Garden Family Support Centre, $50,000 over two years to enhance supervised child access for Parents.

Seeley’s Bay Firefighters Association, $37,500 to install an elevator in the community hall entrance to improve access.

Canadian Red Cross Society, Brockville and District Branch, $25,000 to train rural firefighters to become first aid and safety educators, who will then teach local residents.
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St John Bosco Children’s Centre, $24,900 to purchase equipment and furnishings for the childcare program.

Brockville Operatic Society Inc., $22,800 over three years to enhance performances with a scrim, backdrops, lighting and fly equipment.

Brockville Hydroplane Racing Inc., $20,000 to help establish hydroplane boat races.

Kemptville Lawn Bowling Club, $18,700 to purchase greenskeeping equipment.

Prescott Lawn Bowling Club, $13,400 to purchase groundskeeping equipment and repair the existing greens.

Brockville and District Baseball Association Inc., $12,100 to purchase new baseball equipment, help expand baseball knowledge, and develop a full-time OBA Midget Travelling Team.

The Delta Agricultural Society, $8,600 purchase equipment and supplies for a community hall to increase revenue from fund-raising events and attract tourism to the area through initiatives such as the “Maple Syrup Festival” and “Country Christmas”.