Ontario Helping Non-Profits in Leeds & Grenville Respond to the Challenges of COVID-19

Funding for upgrades to sport and recreation facilities will help keep communities safe once public health measures lifted

LEEDS & GRENVILLE ― The Ontario government is providing close to $46 million to support 186 municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit tourism, culture, sport, and recreation organizations experiencing significant pressures due to COVID-19, including five organizations in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand-Islands and Rideau Lakes. The five organizations and their respective funding include:

LOCATION	AMOUNT
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #96 – Brockville	$201,000
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #475 – Toledo	$43,000
Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley – Baseball Diamond	$380,000
Township of Front of Yonge – Pickleball Court	$49,900
Brockville – YMCA of Eastern Ontario	$427,300

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has supported those struggling the most,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “These capital grants will help municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit organizations make repairs or upgrades needed to their sport and recreation facilities to adapt to the pressures of the pandemic so they can continue to deliver programming critical to the economic and social well-being of communities across the province once their doors reopen.”

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. This will 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.

“COVID-19 has been a challenge for many not-for-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations, and I am proud that our government is supporting their recovery though the Community Building Fund,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “Organizations such as the Legions and local sport and recreation venues are the bedrock of our community. By helping them weather the storm, we are ensuring people across Leeds & Grenville will have the opportunity to safely reconnect with the many things that make these communities special.”

“The Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley is grateful for the generous support we are receiving from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund, which will allow us to move ahead with some significant projects at our various ball parks,” said Brant Burrow, Mayor of Elizabethtown-Kitley. “These efforts will mean that amenities such as our bleachers and dugouts can now be refreshed and upgraded, as we look to revitalize our parks for the next generation. We have always known that recreation, especially outdoors, is vital for a healthy community. But COVID has certainly brought its true value – both physical and mental – into very sharp focus.”

“It’s critical that organizations like these are able to receive these funds to improve and maintain their operations,” said Front of Yonge Warden Roger Haley. “Their communities depend on them to provide recreation and other important services; especially in times like we have been facing these past several months. This funding is greatly appreciated.”

“The YMCA has a long history of meeting community needs and with this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we are able to step up again,” said Rob Adams, CEO, YMCA of Eastern Ontario. “The Y provides a tremendous asset for our region as the only full-service Community Centre in Brockville and area. It also responds to a request from Brockville Council to see how the Y might be able to assist in providing a space for pickleball. Refurbishing our tennis courts for multi-sport use permits a wider range of users to access healthy programs, including accessible, safe, lit spaces for basketball, racquet sports and other programs.”

“The Toledo Legion is very grateful for the support that we have received from the Trillium foundation,” said Mark Stevens, President, Royal Canadian Legion Toledo/Kitley branch. “This grant, combined with the one we received last summer, is going to put us in a strong position to come out of the Covid restrictions as a cornerstone of our community. Helping Veterans, Seniors and Youth in the Kitley/Toledo area.”

“The Royal Canadian Legion is thrilled to have our grant accepted,” said Karen Bond-Golden, Executive Member, Brockville Royal Canadian Legion. “This money will be put towards a new roof which is in need of replacement and also a new ramp to Provide access to our upper lounge which will accommodate people with mobility issues. Our Legion is the hub of our community and keeping the building update and safe is a priority.”

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.

“Since its launch, Ontario has provided 834 Community Building Fund grants to community organizations, municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit sport and recreation organizations – enhancing the quality of life for people across the province and supporting local jobs,” said Minister MacLeod.

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.

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For more information, contact:

Doug Brewer

MPP Steve Clark’s Office

Office: (613) 342-9522

Cell: (613) 246-4278