Bay of Quinte organizations awarded $282,500 in Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities funding

PICTON – Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, was joined by Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Neil Lumsden today as he announced the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has awarded $282,500 in Resilient Communities Fund grants to three local organizations.

The following local allocations were awarded:

“These community organizations deliver programming that promotes civic engagement among all ages and helps grow the economy in Bay of Quinte,” said Smith. “We are supporting that important work and leveraging a greater impact through these targeted Resilient Communities Fund investments.”

The Resilient Communities Fund was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help organizations to recover and build capacity, resilience, and sustainability. Applicants can apply for grants for medium-to-long-term projects that develop new approaches to generate revenue, start new activities to fill a community lead, adjust strategies, or plan for future challenges. Those applications are evaluated by non-partisan regional volunteer-led grant review teams.

Since its inception, the Resilient Communities Fund has supported 3,048 projects across Ontario with $268 million in funding. The latest round of funding is supporting 295 organizations with a $31-million investment.

“Our government knows that non-profit organizations contribute to the success of communities across the province. They deliver programming that helps people live healthier, happier lives,” said Lumsden. “That’s why we’re proud to support three organizations in Bay of Quinte that are making a difference in the lives of the residents they serve. Together we are creating communities in which Ontarians are proud to live, work and play.”

The organizations welcomed the funding.

“The Resilient Communities Fund will enable the Regent Theatre to build our resilience and sustainability by delivering a unique film festival experience. Designed to attract local, regional, and international attendance, our festival responds to demonstrated audience hunger for eventized entertainment experiences, which The Regent and the county at large are ideally positioned to deliver,” said Alexandra Seay, the Executive Director of the Regent Theatre Foundation.

Darlene Thompson, the Executive Director of The ROC Youth Services said the grant provides resilience and sustainability for her organization.

“We are thrilled to develop and implement these plans enabling us to provide team-building activities, professional development opportunities, volunteer-recognition events and best practices related to human resources management,” said Thompson.

Capt. Darius Soo Lum, a Public Affairs Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces working with Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers said 173 Royal Tiger Air Cadet Squadron will put the funds to good use.

“Through the Resilient Communities Fund, 173 Royal Tiger Air Cadet Squadron in Trenton will be able to provide youth in the Quinte Area with expanded learning opportunities, such as flight simulation, music training, and aerospace education using drones and rocketry,” said Soo Lum. “The Cadet program offers youth aged 12-19 exciting, fun, and challenging experiences at no cost to cadets and their families, and with the support of the community and the Fund we will be able to continue to offer a dynamic youth program.”

QUICK FACTS

The OTF divides Ontario into 16 catchment areas. Bay of Quinte is part of the Quinte, Kingston, Rideau area, which reaches as far east as Lanark County. In this installment, 16 projects shared $1,256,900. The Regent Theatre Foundation received the largest of these allocations.
The next intake for the Resilient Communities Fund is Oct. 25, 2023. Projects can run from six months to two years and the amount awarded per year ranges from $10,000 to $100,000. The application will be available Sept. 27 at Resilient Communities Fund | Ontario Trillium Foundation (otf.ca).
Recipients will also hold their own recognition events to celebrate these grants.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

MEDIA CONTACT

Adam Bramburger, Constituency Assistant for Todd Smith, MPP Bay of Quinte

613-962-1144 (o), 613-876-1734 (m), adam.bramburger@pc.ola.org