These organizations exemplify excellence, innovation and leadership in building healthy, vibrant communities. The 2009 Ontario Trillium Foundation Great Grants Awards recipients will be recognized by Ontario Culture Minister Aileen Carroll at a ceremony in Toronto November 5.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation 2009 Great Grants Award recipients are:

Actua (Ottawa) – Minister’s Award
The worlds of science, technology and engineering opened up for over 300,000 Ontario youth of all backgrounds as they participated in hands-on activities, on-site tours of labs and face-to-face time with scientists and engineers – all delivered by Actua, a charitable organization dedicated to providing empowering experiences to youth in science and technology.

Foodlink Waterloo Region – Chair’s Award
Foodlink Waterloo Region reconnects urban food shoppers to local farmers. It’s ‘Buy Local Buy Fresh!”  campaign now extends to 152 farms and local food processors including cider mills, bakeries, butchers, egg grading stations and flour mills, as well as restaurants and retailers. Foodlink is sharing its knowhow with 10 other regions across Ontario.

Faith and the Common Good (Toronto, Ottawa, Peterborough, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo) – CEO’s Award
The Greening Sacred Spaces program encouraged 101 faith communities (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu Sikh, Buddhist, Bahai, Unitarian, Zen, and Hare Krishna) to green their places of worship (and their own homes) through environmental audits and retrofits, educational presentations and public events in Ottawa, Peterborough, Hamilton, Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.

Salon du Livre du Grand Sudbury – Arts and Culture Award
Celebrating French language literature in all its forms, and taking French language books and writings to new audiences in non-traditional settings is the work of the Salon du Livre du Grand Sudbury. Its biannual francophone book fair attracted 30 000 participants in 2008, making it the fourth largest literary event of its kind in Canada.

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded Nation (Neyaashiinigmiing) – Environment Award
Two First Nation bands in the Grey-Bruce Huron-Perth region are blending traditional environmental knowledge with scientific expertise in order to lend an indigenous voice to important local land use planning discussions. The Chippewas of Nawash and the Saugeen First Nations Bands created an Environmental Office and initiated discussions with local industries and governments about proposed development projects and the environmental impact they might have on traditional territories

Fools for Health (Windsor) –Human and Services Award 
Wearing big red noses and colourful clothes, and using music, improvisational play, reminiscence and humour, the familial-clowns from Fools for Health bring smiles and laughter to seniors in long term care. Always working in pairs, familial-clowns skillfully use arts in healthcare and memory therapies to encourage seniors to share conversation, recall memories and relax with some friendly company. The result: participating seniors experience less anxiety and improved quality of life.

Youth Serving Agencies Network (Hamilton) – Sports and Recreation Award
Hamilton’s KICK Start program removes barriers of cost, language and cultural differences and gets kids involved in organized, low-cost sports and recreational programs. The program also provides newcomers the opportunity to practice English and become acquainted with other youth and families. New community partnerships have been established and private businesses are participating.

QUOTES
“Great Grants Award recipients are remarkable organizations that have had a profound impact on the communities they serve,” said Ontario Culture Minister Aileen Carroll. “The work of these committed volunteers and staff continues to enrich the fabric of their neighbourhoods, their communities and the province of Ontario.”
“The Foundation is honoured to have such a worthy field of recipients reflecting all parts of the province,” said OTF Chair Helen Burstyn. “We thank them for their dedication, their spirit of innovation, and for making the possible, real.”

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario Trillium Foundation Great Grants Award recipients were selected from among some 4,500 groups that received OTF support between April 2005 and December 2008
• The seven Great Grants recipients, along with 12 nominees, will be honoured at an awards luncheon November 5th in Toronto
• The OTF grants funding to approximately 1,500 organizations each year

MORE
View photos of Great Grants Awards recipients (pps 800kb)
View profiles of all Great Grants Award finalists (pdf 40kb)
Learn more about the Great Grant Awards (pdf 30kb)