News

Ontario Helping Local Non-Profits to Receive $430,000

Funding will help non-profits respond to the challenges of Covid-19

NORTH BAY – Two Nipissing-area groups will share $433,700 for upgrades to sport and recreation facilities to help keep communities safe once public health measures are lifted.

“COVID-19 has been a challenge for so many not-for-profit sport and recreation organizations, and we are proud that our government is supporting their recovery though the Community Building Fund,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “Our Legions and municipal organizations are the bedrock of our community. By helping them weather the storm, we are ensuring people in our area will have the opportunity to safely reconnect with the many things that make this community special.”

Local Community Building Fund – Capital Stream recipients include:

• $310,200 for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 445 Callander
• $123,500 for the Township of Bonfield

Funding through the Community Building Fund’s capital stream will help them complete much-needed sport and recreation facility infrastructure repairs – including retrofits and rehabilitation to meet COVID-19 public health requirements – to ensure they can continue to provide programs and services vital to their communities once public health measures to combat the growing surge of the Omicron variant are lifted.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 445, Callander. This Trillium grant will assist the Callander Legion in continuing to support our Veterans and their families with significant repairs and renovations of our facility,” said Marc Picard, President. “The current building is 33 years old and this funding will enable us to meet the local community needs by extending the life and by maximizing the use of existing facilities. Several veterans, sporting groups and exercise classes use our indoor facilities. This will make us safer and more comfortable for our members, guests, and seniors to be active and healthy in our facility. These upgrades will also significantly reduce utility costs for the Branch going forward. We are extremely thankful to Minister Fedeli and the Trillium Fund for continued support of our Legion during these difficult times.” 

“On behalf of the residents of the Township of Bonfield, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for receiving these funds from the Trillium Community Building Fund,” said Randy McLaren, Mayor, Township of Bonfield. “These funds will be used to turn our outdoor covered rink and skateboard park into a fully weatherproof facility. The retractable side curtains will lengthen the winter ice season and in summer keep rain from blowing into the facility. It greatly enhances the four season use of the building.”

In total, the province’s Community Building Fund is investing $105 million to support community arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation organizations that are experiencing significant financial pressures due to COVID-19. The fund is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two streams: Operating and Capital. The Capital stream, which closed on September 29, 2021, is providing organizations across the province with support for:

• Construction or renovation expenses, such as materials, labour for construction and/or installation.
• Fixed equipment costs, such as large-scale fixed equipment for installation (examples include heating systems, exhaust and air conditioning systems).
• Developmental costs or project management costs.

For a full list of Community Building Fund: Capital stream recipients, visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s website.

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, working to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario through investments of local grants to non-profit organizations. Its programs support the arts, culture, heritage, sports and recreation, human and social services, and environment sectors across the province.

• In October, the province announced more than $46 million through the Community Building Fund: Operating stream.
  
  
• As announced in the 2021 Budget, Ontario is investing more than $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support tourism, culture, sport and recreation sectors. This builds on investments of $225 million announced earlier, bringing the total support for these sectors to more than $625 million since the pandemic began.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

2021 Budget – Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy

News Release: Ontario Supports Tourism, Culture, Sport and Recreation Organizations

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.