Ontario Supporting Non-Profits and Municipalities Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over $500,000 in Funding to help non-profits deliver vital services to create a stronger Ontario

Brockville ― Today, MPP Steve Clark announced that five non-profits as well as the Municipality of North Grenville and the Town of Gananoque will receive a combined total of $527,300 through the Resilient Communities Fund. This funding will help them offset the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic so they can deliver the best service possible for the people of Leeds-Grenville and create a stronger Ontario.

“Non-profit organizations are a crucial and valued part of our community here in Leeds-Grenville,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “Countless people rely on their services every day, and even facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they still deliver. This funding will help them offset those impacts and continue supporting those who need it most.”

This funding will support COVID-19 recovery among the following municipalities and non-profit organizations:

  • : With a $141,000 grant over 12 months, the Legion will install a new septic system and adjust their floorplan to support safe in-person programming.
  • : With a $108,600 grant over 6 months, the Legion will renovate their heating and ventilation system and kitchen to support safe service delivery.
  • : With a $100,000 grant over 12 months, the municipality will renovate the Riverside Park multi-use pathway to a 1-kilometre accessible loop, encouraging active living for everyone in the community.
  • : With a $99,000 grant over 12 months, Girls Inc. will hire additional staff, develop communications, marketing and fundraising plans, and support staff to improve programming.
  • : With a $39,900 grant over 12 months, Beth Donovan Hospice will hire a fundraiser to implement their fundraising plan and build community partnerships to raise needed funds to continue our programs.
  • : With a $29,500 grant over 6 months, the Town of Gananoque will purchase a meeting room pod, computers and software to safely deliver and expand services.
  • : With a $10,200 grant over 6 months, the Elgin Lions Club will repair the ceiling of the community hall.

In total, the Ontario government is providing $95.8 million this year through the Resilient Communities Fund to help 1,146 non-profit organizations across the province recover and rebuild.

The Resilient Communities Fund provides grants of up to $150,000 to eligible non-profit organizations to cover a broad and flexible range of needs, such as:

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has committed to supporting those struggling the most,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “That’s why it’s been a priority for us to fund successful programs like the Resilient Communities Fund, which helps non-profits adapt and grow – ensuring they can continue providing the best service possible to the people of Eastern Ontario and make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation will continue to offer the Resilient Communities Fund in 2022-23 to help more eligible non-profit organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Application details and a full list of grant recipients to date are available on the OTF website.

QUOTES

“As Canada’s most active community, North Grenville continues to seek opportunities to expand our outdoor recreational amenities. With support from the province, we are able to build a multi-use pathway around the periphery of Riverside Park for individuals of all ages and abilities to enjoy.” – North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford

“Riverside Park is the crown jewel of the Municipality of North Grenville’s Park system. The municipality is undertaking a revitalization project at the park that will see a new accessible changeroom facility, a refrigerated outdoor rink, and a splash pad. The addition of a 3 meter-wide paved multi-use pathway around the park will further enhance the experience of residents and visitors, especially our senior population, providing a safe and accessible way to exercise while enjoying all the surrounding activities within the park.” – Mark Guy, Director, North Grenville

“We are very pleased to have received this grant it will enable us to continue our outreach to the more rural areas of our catchment area and to implement our fundraising plan to help offset some of the losses in fundraising revenue as a result of Covid. As an agency that is only partially funded by the Ministry of Health it is necessary for us to raise funds each year to continue to offer our services free of charge to all residents and this grant will enable us to continue to do this.” – Susan Walker, Executive Director.

“I would like to thank the provincial government for their support through the Resilient Communities Fund. This investment will help the Town of Gananoque and the Public Library to expand the office space and modernize operations, so we can continue delivering services that residents and businesses rely on every day and recover from the pandemic stronger than before.” – Ted Lojko, Mayor of the Town of Gananoque

“We are very pleased and excited to receive a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This will allow us to continue to serve our Veterans as well as the communities of Westport and Rideau Lakes.” – Karen Hodgson, President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 542

“The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 484 is proud to announce that we have received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant in order to update our kitchen and ventilation system. This project is long over do and our executive members and volunteers are very excited to have this work completed to ensure we are not only keeping our volunteers safe but also making it easier for the US to function in the most efficient way. We would like to take a moment to thank our local township staff and local MPP Steve Clark and his office for always supporting us and helping us through this process.” – Michelle Durant, President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 484

“Our stability matters to the community now more than ever as we experience a reckoning of social justice issues, the disproportionate effect the pandemic has had on women, and observed gaps in basic services. Thank you for helping us to invest in a different future for girls, one where they can own and uphold their inherent worth and so can everyone around them.” – Lesley Hubbard, Executive Director Girls Inc. of Upper Canada.

“Our request for assistance in repairing the ceiling of our community hall in Elgin is very necessary for the club, increasing the hall usage and capacity to generate revenue, hosting events and fundraisers. This hall usage is so impactful for our community being centrally located and of a large capacity for events. Continued maintenance is necessary for the club to serve our public for lions fundraisers as well as the public to utilize the hall for personal functions, like weddings, anniversary and birthday celebrations. Many other non profits benefit as well, utilizing this space for their functions as well, sometimes fundraising jointly with our club or on their own. Of course, with COVID-19, we all have suffered personally and financially and the Elgin Lions Club is not alone in these tragic times. Thus, this assistance for repainting our hall ceiling and securing the acoustic coating presently in repair, is greatly appreciated and couldn’t be more timely. The club is so grateful for this assistance and determined to continue serving a wonderful and caring community here in Rideau Lakes Township.” – Elgin Lion President Ted Dwyre, Elgin Lion Secretary Ross Hawkins, and Egin Lion Treasurer Carol Haapala

QUICK FACTS

  • OTF redirected provincial funding previously allocated for the 2020 Grow and Capital grant streams into the $83-million Resilient Communities Fund to rebuild the capacity of non-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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

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

MEDIA CONTACTS

Renee Jackson

Constituency Assistant

renee.jackson@pc.ola.org