Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce

 
(l-r) John Krall, President, Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce; Peter Hammond, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Peter Kormos, MPP (Welland); Ralph Defazio, Principal, Notre Dame College School

The Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce unveiled plans for a Special Events Resource Centre today, thanks to a $72,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).  Peter Kormos, MPP for Welland, joined OTF representative Peter Hammond in congratulating the Chamber of Commerce on the launch of the initiative at an event held at Notre Dame High School.

The OTF grant will be used to purchase equipment for local not-for-profit groups to host festivals and events and provide access to resources by creating a Special Events Resource Centre. Funding will also help to develop a volunteer registry that will be made available to local community organizations. 

Seventeen Voyces

 
(l-r) Levit Koloko, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Kevin Reeves, Founder and Music Director, Seventeen Voyces; Yasir Naqvi, MPP (Ottawa Centre)

Seventeen Voyces chamber choir of Ottawa celebrated a $30,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre, joined OTF representative Levi Koloko in congratulating choir members and its music director and founder Kevin Reeves at a concert held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe.

Over the next three years, funding from OTF will be used to strengthen the capacity of the choir to deliver high quality and innovative concerts in Ottawa. It will also enable the organization to reach more youth and seniors and increase its fundraising activities.

Community Environment Alliance of Peel

 
(l-r) Fiona Blondin-Fiorini, Board Member, Ontario Trillium Foundation; Ranjana Mitra, Executive Director, Community Environment Alliance of Peel; Margaret Commodore, President, Community Environment Alliance of Peel; Linda Jeffrey, MPP (Brampton Springdale)

The Community Environment Alliance (CEA) launched a youth-led, youth-focused initiative called Shape the Future, thanks to a $375,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Linda Jeffrey, MPP for Brampton-Springdale, joined OTF Board Member Fiona Blondin-Fiorini in congratulating the Brampton organization at the launch ceremony.

Over the next five years, the OTF grant will help support the development and implementation of the Shape the Future program in Peel and the Carbon Neutral Community campaign. The initiative will mobilize youth power, youth spirit and youth action in shaping a smart, sustainable future for the community.

The Plattsville & District Heritage Society

 
(l-r) Ernie Hardeman, MPP (Oxford); Jennifer Harvey, Author, Once Upon a Time in Washington; Brian George, Grant Review Team (GRT) member

The Plattsville & District Heritage Society celebrated the launch of Once Upon A Time in Washington by Jennifer Harvey, thanks to a $11,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, joined OTF representative Brian George in congratulating the Society for the release of their second publication.

Polish Canadian Club (London)

(l-r) John Lobodzinski, Host; Peter Olejnik, President, Polish Canadian Club; Denis Gadwas Grant Review Team (GRT) member;  Peter Pytlik, Secretary,  Polish Canadian Club; Khalil Ramal, MPP (London-Fanshawe); Chris Bentley MPP (London West)

On January 19, The Polish Canadian Club (London) was excited to share news of their Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant with community members.  Khalil Ramal, MPP for London-Fanshawe and Chris Bentley, MPP for London West, joined OTF representative Denis Gadwa to congratulate the Club at their annual New Year’s banquet.

The $45,000 grant will be used to repair the existing roof at the 554 Hill Street facility. 

Bonnechere River Watershed Project

(l-r) Alan Fox, Bonnechere River Watershed Project; Diane McKinnon, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Kathryn Lindsay, Chair, Watershed Plan Committee, Bonnechere River Watershed Project; John Yakabuski, MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke; Gail Cole, Town of Renfrew

The Bonnechere River Watershed Project (BRWP) launched a pilot project to develop an on-line information resource tool, thanks to a $21,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, joined OTF representative Diane McKinnon and Town of Renfrew representative, Gail Cole, in congratulating BRWP representatives, Alan Fox and Kathryn Lindsay, for spearheading the project.

The on-line information resource tool is for watershed education and planning. The community will define and compile information of interest on the environment, heritage, social, cultural and economic aspects of the watershed segmented by river reach. The initial focus of the project on the reach between Renfrew and Douglas is particularly timely given the 150th anniversary in 2008 of the incorporation of the Town. 

Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society

(l-r) Marty Halloran, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Councillor Craig Desjardins, Chair of Quinte West Public Library Board; Lou Rinaldi, MPP (Northumberland-Quinte West); Richard Hughes, Chairman; Carole Foshay, Past Chair of Quinte Branch, OGS

On January 7, the Quinte Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) celebrated some good news with the community at the Family History Research Library, located in the local History Room of the Quinte West Public Library. Thanks to a $12,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), Quinte Branch has been able to purchase new equipment to advance their goals of assembling, preserving and promoting the Quinte area’s family heritage and culture. To mark this special achievement Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland-Quinte West, joined OTF representative, Marty Halloran, and presented the group with a plaque.

The Quinte Branch of the OGS owns a significant collection of historical records of birth, deaths and marriages including census data, and newspapers contained within 1,200 volumes of printed materials.  The branch also has 300 microfilms, and 500 microfiche.  Thanks to the OTF grant awarded this past November, the Society has been able to purchase a microfilm reader/scanner system, computer, storage cabinet and table to better store and allow access to family history for the Quinte area community. The Society expects they will be able to double the amount of research inquiries they can handle each week with the addition of the new equipment and the on-line listing of their collection.

Kaleidoscope Arts in Education c/o Muskoka Lakes Music Festival

(l-r) Bill Roberts, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Norm Miller, MPP (Parry Sound-Muskoka); Gayle Dempsey, Director of Development, Muskoka Lakes Music Festival; Tony Clement, MP (Parry Sound-Muskoka); Catherine Belyea, Featured Reader, CBC Radio

The Muskoka Lakes Music Festival’s Kaleidoscope Arts Education programs will reach more children in Muskoka, thanks to a $53,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, joined OTF representative Bill Roberts in congratulating the Festival organizers at a special event in support of the programs.

With the help of the Foundation and the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival and its partners, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Arts Festival of Muskoka will offer local students the KITS (Kaleidoscope in the Schools) program.  Funding will be used to enrich student and community-based learning experiences by linking schools and children with professional artists to deliver arts-based education programs.

Palmerston Curling Club

(l-r) John Wilkinson, MPP (Perth-Wellington); Carol Dietrich, Representative, Ontario Curling Association; Mayor Dave Anderson, Township of Minto, Barb Dobson, Palmerston Curling Club; Michael Dobson, President, Palmerston Curling Club

On November 1, 2007, the Palmerston Curling Club opened its doors to a new season of curling with new equipment and a fresh look thanks to a $31,900 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).  John Wilkinson, MPP for Perth-Wellington, joined Club members and town officials at the open house to celebrate their accomplishment and showcase the improvements made to the facilitie.

In October 2006, OTF provided a grant to the Palmerston Curling Club to install new inserts in the curling rocks, purchase an ice scraper and improve the general appearance of the Club.  New carpeting and lighting have been installed to revive the Club area. With these improvements, the Club will offer additional programs and a venue for the local community to enjoy the sport of curling.

Helping Families Succeed c/o Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society 

(l-r) Jeff Leal, MPP (Peterborough); Maureen McKeen, Director of Health Promotions, Peterborough County-City Health Unit; Shelly Lacarte, Manager, Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society; Janice Sanderson, Grant Review Team (GRT) member; Gail Chislett, Health Promoter, Peterborough County-City Health Unit

On October 24, 2007, the Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Aid Society and the Peterborough County-City Health Unit celebrated their Nobody’s Perfect initiative, Helping Families Succeed, made possible by a $42,600 multi-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough, joined OTF representative Janice Sanderson in congratulating Nobody’s Perfect volunteers and Advisory Committee members for their efforts on behalf of local families. 

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society is mandated by the Province of Ontario to ensure the best interests, safety, and well being of children. The Peterborough County-City Health Unit coordinates the delivery of Nobody’s Perfect. This education and support program for parents of young children is offered as an eight-week series of two-hour sessions. It is an opportunity for clients to learn skills so that they can become better parents.