(l-r) Em Glasspool, Executive Director, Mysterious Entity Theatre; Mayor Paul Ayotte, Peterborough; Dr. Ramesh Makhaji (holding plaque), OTF Grant Review Team member; Jeff Leal, MPP (Peterborough); Judy Wilson, Project Manager, Mysterious Entity Theatre

Mysterious Entity Theatre will continue to produce high-quality theatre and workshops with a social conscience thanks in part to a $60,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Over the next two years, funding will be used to support new programming and production work that will address social causes in Peterborough.

(l-r) Back - Carolyn Johnston, Fundraising Chair; Nancy Borden , Vice president, Mrs. Betty McKitrick; Herman Iedema, Treasurer; Alice Thomson, Founding member; Manfred Ziegner, member; Meriel Child, Rental Chair of Land O’Lakes Curling Club Front - Dave McKittrick, President, Land O’Lakes Curling Club; Liz Churcher, Chair OTF Grant Review Team; the Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, MPP (Prince Edward – Hastings); Belcon Construction, Belleville

Land O’Lakes Curling Club will be installing a new steel roof for the club, thanks in part to a $52,000 grant from OTF. The repairs will help the Club offer quality playing conditions to community members to enjoy physical activity.

A new provincial website to assist women who have been abused, sexually assaulted or are victims of trauma was launched at the London Abused Women’s Centre. The website, Screening for Woman Abuse, Sexual Assault and Trauma, was made possible with a two-year $284,800 OTF grant.

Club de l’âge d’Or de St-Albert
St. Albert

(l-r) Doug Kerr, President, St. Catharines Rowing Club; Fred Steeve and Grace Ann Cambray, OTF Grant Review Team members; the Hon. Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP (St.Catharines)

Several former Olympians were front and centre at the St. Catharines Rowing Club for a dedication ceremony for six rowing shells, three of which were bought with the help of a $39,900 grant from OTF. The new boats will ensure that St. Catharines athletes can train and compete with professional equipment and reach their full potential.

(l-r) Luke Hordyk and Maria Kroeker, Perc Café employees; the Hon. Steve Peters, MPP (Elgin-Middlesex-London); Justin Dudycz (back), Kaylee Arndt and Becky Darling, Perc Café employees

Careers Opportunities for Elgin Youth celebrated the grand opening of Perc Café thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from OTF. The Perc Café will offer job training opportunities for local area youth, providing them with food preparation and customer service skills.

(l-r) Pat Else, OTF Grants Operation Director; Glen Murray, MPP (Toronto Centre); retired Senator, the Hon. Landon Pearson, Co-Chair; Chief Donny Morris, Co-Chair, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake)

The North-South Partnership for Children in Remote First Nations Communities (Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win) received a $580,000 province-wide grant from OTF. The Partnership is an unprecedented collaboration between 30 First Nations in Northern Ontario and private citizens, not-for-profit groups and universities in Southern Ontario.

(l-r) Rev. Shawn Lucas, President, Parkdale United Church Foundation; Cheri DiNovo, MPP (Parkdale-High Park); Steve Rohacek, Vice-President, Business Development & Customer Relations, Infrastructure Ontario

The Parkdale United Church Foundation marked the success of Green Phoenix affordable housing project with a tree planting ceremony at its King Street West location. Funding of $100,000 contributed to the addition of an accessible entrance to the basement of the building, which incorporates green building features that include a structural basis for a living wall and non-toxic, natural building materials used for floor and wall coverings.

(l-r) Mel Jamieson, Community Mapping Chair, North Bay Métis Council; Mary Lou Arrowsmith, OTF Grant Review Team member; Marlene Greenwood, the Hon. Monique Smith, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and MPP (Nipissing); Métis Senator Marc Lurin; Doris Evans, Elder

The North Bay Métis Council launched its new brand identity, and announced progress on a cultural map and community inventory, made possible with a two-year $149,500 grant from OTF. Funding is being used to develop a new brand identity, a map of the Métis cultural heritage, and an inventory of Métis history, culture and traditions in the area.

(l-r) Front - Francis Warriner; Amy Czaikowski; Gabby McInnis; Sherry Green, OTF Grant Review Team member; Deanna Weiler; Breanna Hart; Brook Mechefske; Maggie Hummel Back - Mickayla Hanselman, Leslie Ann Ciglen, members, Trout Creek Seniors Friendship Club; Frank Turbach, President, Trout Creek Seniors Friendship Club; the Hon. Monique Smith, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and MPP (Nipissing)

Trout Creek Seniors Friendship Club members demonstrated their love of quilting with new equipment purchased as a result of a $15,000 grant from OTF. Funding helped to purchase a quilting machine and four computerized sewing machines that allow seniors and youth learn how to make various quilts, which are donated to fire victims and cancer patients in the local area.

(l-r) Guy Jamieson, OTF Grant Review Team member; Carol Goldsmith, Chief Librarian, Petawawa Public Library; Mayor Bob Sweet, Petawawa; Kelly Thompson, Librarian, Petawawa Public Library; John Yakabuski, MPP (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke)

The Town of Petawawa celebrated newly updated Petawawa Public Library technology made possible with a $19,400 OTF grant provided in November 2009. The library has been able to purchase hardware and six computers for improved access and training for both the library and its clients.

(l-r) Ernie Hardeman, MPP (Oxford); Keith Cosby, President, Thamesford Taking Action Group; John Lessif, OTF Grant Review Team member

The Canadian Chestnut Council announced news Thamesford Taking Action Group (T’TAG) kicked-off its new project at the Thamesford District Recreation Centre thanks to a $40,400 grant from OTF. T’TAG will develop a Strategic Action Plan identifying specific initiatives and projects that could be undertaken to strengthen and revitalize Thamesford, with an emphasis on the future of Thamesford’s Old Mill.

 

Prior Chest Nuts Dragonboat Team members

The partnership between the Arnprior and District Breast Cancer Support Group (ADBCSG) and the Prior Chest Nuts Dragonboat Team was officially celebrated as the groups happily unveiled their new dragonboat and paddling equipment thanks to a $28,200 grant from OTF. The dragonboat will be used by breast cancer survivors in the Ottawa Valley for training and competitions.

(l-r) Bill Murdoch, MPP (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound); Jayne Jagelewski, Play Committee Chair, Municipality of Arran-Elderslie; Mayor Ron Oswald, Municipality of Arran-Elderslie; Liz Chalmers, OTF Grant Review Team member

The Municipality of Arran-Elderslie and 17 collaborating municipalities and organizations received funding of $115,000 from OTF to increase the level of physical activity through play. Over the next two years, the grant will be used to hire a PLAY Coordinator to implement programs with each of the municipalities and engage local volunteers.

(l-r) Councilor Rocky Letourneau, Welland; Renee Kiers, Owner, Renee’s Greenhouse; Dave Couture, representative of Peter Kormos, MPP (Welland); Louise Farquhar, OTF Grant Review Team member; Fete Kimpiobi, Executive Director, Sofifran; Yvette O Plentai, Project Coordinator, Club 2000 Niagara Inc; Simeon Kalond, Project Secretary, Club 2000 Niagara Inc.; Maxene Prophete, Project VP, Club 2000 Niagara Inc.

The Niagara AgriTourism Centre, initiated by Club 2000 Niagara, launched its project thanks in part to a $175,000 grant from OTF. The grant is being used to hire the project coordinator, who will oversee the Agricultural Projects’ vision to grow native crops from Francophone immigrant communities and provide employment opportunities in the Niagara region.

(l-r) Jerry Ouellette, MPP (Oshawa); Sharon Wright, Board Member, YWCA Durham; Kim Beatty, Board Member, YWCA Durham

YWCA Durham proudly celebrated the 20th anniversary of the assisted housing program at 55 McGrigor and recognized funding of $21,700 from OTF. The grant will be used to develop marketing materials and signage to enhance public awareness of YWCA Durham’s services and increase community support.

(l-r) Vijay Lekhi, OTF Grant Review Team member; Anny Chow, President, Spirit of Life; Reza Moridi, MPP  (Richmond Hill)

Members of Spirit of Life organizations shared news of its $56,100 grant from OTF and unveiled plans to conduct a community needs assessment study with the objective of establishing a Chinese Development Services Council. The support will help identify challenges faced by Chinese Canadians with developmental disabilities and their families in York Region so service co-ordination and delivery can improve.

(l-r) Gertie Beaucage, Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle; Jane Boake and Buddy, C.O.P.E. Canine Opportunity, People Empowerment; Aileen Carroll, MPP (Barrie); Angela Baldwin, Theatre By The Bay; Erica Angus, Associate Producer, Theatre by the Bay; Eileen Campeau, Gilda's Club Simcoe Muskoka; Shari Pryce, Learning Disabilities Association Simcoe County; James Thomson, Gilda's Club Simcoe Muskoka; John Pugsley, OTF Program Manager

Five organizations in the Barrie area celebrated their new grants, a combined total of $543,000 in funding from OTF. Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle received a one-year $75,000; C.O.P.E. Canine Opportunity, People Empowerment received a two-year $128,000 grant; Gilda’s Club Simcoe Muskoka received a two-year, $135,000 grant; Theatre By The Bay (Lapani Dramatic Theatre Inc) received a two-year $70,000 grant and Learning Disabilities Association of Simcoe County received a two-year $135,000 grant.

(l-r) Lisa MacLeod, MPP (Nepean-Carleton); William Schaubs, Board President, Watson’s Mill Manotick Inc.; Bob Wilson, OTF Grant Review Team member

The Watson’s Mill Manotick held its 150th anniversary celebration, and announced a new $25,000 grant from OTF. Over the next year, funding will be used to create a long-term exhibition of Watson’s Mill and its historical contributions and importance to the community.