Water-Wise Not-for-Profit Used $235,800 in OTF Grants to Build Capacity

GEORGINA, ON ― On Thursday, MPP Caroline Mulroney met with the team at Ontario Water Centre’s flagship project, ClearWater Farm, to hear how two Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants awarded in 2022 and totalling $235,800, have made an impact on its programs and facilities in the years to come. The Centre received an $85,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant in March 2022, and in November, it learned that it was also receiving a $150,000 Capital grant to expand its landscaped, lighted and gravelled parking lot to make its waterfront recreational site more accessible for community events and activities.

“I am proud that our government continues to invest in local non-profit organizations in York-Simcoe,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “The OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund and the Capital grants will support the Ontario Water Centre, which provides youth with educational programing on sustainable farming and water protection.”

The grant was used to help with staffing costs, as well as the development and implementation of long-term plans to help the Centre recover from the impacts of the pandemic and to develop new strategies for building capacity, resilience, sustainability, and meeting the changing needs of the community. Funds were also used to help with some administrative costs as well as with capital costs for upgrading onsite residential facilities to accommodate new Agripreneurs.

“We are so appreciative of the continued support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Jennifer Gidge, Communications Coordinator of the Ontario Water Centre. “This funding will allow our ClearWater Farm to develop and host hundreds of young people and their families to engage in land-based learning and to connect with nature.”

The Ontario Water Centre has long provided nature-based educational programming for children while preserving the land and growing healthy food for the community. Its brand-new timber-frame barn will allow programming to be run all year round and provide a beautiful venue for events. If you wish to learn more about the programming or to host your event on the lakeside property, please visit ontariowatercentre.ca or clearwaterfarm.ca.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

MEDIA CONTACT

Marisa Patricelli
marisa.patricelli@pc.ola.org
905-895-1555