Residential School Community Engagement Fund
The new Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund (IRSCEF) is part of the $25.1 million announced in the 2023 Budget to support burial investigations at former Indian Residential Schools (IRS).
Since the initial launch of the IRS Burials Funding Program, the provincial government has heard from Indigenous partners that additional funding is needed for the broader network of Survivors, Indigenous communities and organizations that may be impacted by or involved in ongoing investigations and activities.
The provincial government has allocated $7.1 million over the 2023-24 fiscal year to support an estimated 47 applicants with up to $150,000 to accommodate a range of community needs and, activities including:
o Community engagement
o Mental health and addictions support
o Research activities
o Public education and awareness
o Staffing supports
o Commemoration initiatives.
To date, Ontario has committed $62.3 million to support the identification, investigation, protection, and commemoration of burials at former Residential Schools across the province, which includes an additional $25.1 million announced in the 2023 Ontario Budget.
Read More: Ontario Launching New Indian Residential School Community Engagement Fund | Ontario Newsroom
Applications due Sept. 5 by 4 p.m. EDT. More: https://www.ontario.ca/page/available-funding-opportunities-ontario-government#section-6