“The McGuinty government recognizes the numerous benefits that arts, culture and recreational programs bring to our communities,” said Minister Carroll. “These Ontario Trillium Foundation grants will have a powerful impact on local economies and improve the quality of life for Ontario families."

Grants will enable groups to create more social, cultural and recreational activities, remove barriers to full participation and promote healthy living. The Foundation, through the Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin and Sudbury Grant Review Team and its Chair, Huguette Roy-Perron, believes this is the way to build healthy and vibrant communities.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Ontario's 2008 spring budget boosted the Foundation's annual funding to $110 million from $105 million, which will be further increased to $120 million by 2009-2010.

The Community grants listed below were ratified on June 26, 2008.

Algoma Paddlers Canoe & Kayak Club Inc.
$17,000 over one year to purchase canoes and kayaks to enable more people to participate in paddling sports and promote active, healthy recreational activities in the community.

Association Canadienne-Française de l'Ontario (du Grand Sudbury) Inc.
$45,000 over one year to hire a project co-ordinator to engage Francophone youth as volunteers in Greater Sudbury and outlying areas.

Bruce Mines Pastoral Charge
$15,000 over one year for insulation, new windows and doors at the Bruce Mines United Church. The upgrades will improve the facility’s energy efficiency and make it a safer and more comfortable gathering place for community groups.

Capreol Curling Club
$50,000 over one year to replace the roof and renovate the entrance of the curling club. These repairs will help ensure the continued use of the building and its accessibility for people of all ages and abilities in Capreol.

Centre des aînés de Hearst c/o Club Soleil des Aînés
$120,000 over three years for staff to ensure the smooth merger of two independent not-for-profit seniors' centres. The collaborative will provide greater efficiencies to meet the needs of Francophone seniors in Hearst.

Children First c/o Sudbury Manitoulin Children's Foundation
$150,000 over three years to hire a volunteer and fund development co-ordinator. The new position will increase volunteerism and raise the profiles of the collaborative and member charities in Greater Sudbury and area.

Community Living Algoma
$58,700 over one year to fund a community inclusion facilitator. The position will identify and implement opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to play active and integrated roles in community life that match their personal goals.

Corporation of the Town of Blind River
$25,000 over one year to purchase and install play structures for community parks. The improvements will provide safer play areas and encourage children to be physically active.

The Corporation of the Township of Assiginack
$15,000 over one year to replace the steel roof on Burns Wharf building and to re-side the north and east walls of the Manitoulin Roller Mills. The repairs will enable the buildings to remain open for community use in Manitowaning.

Corporation of the Township of White River
$33,300 over one year to purchase new playground equipment, which will provide a safer play area and encourage physical activity for children in the community.

Elliot Lake Lifelong Learning
$27,500 over one year for leasehold renovations, classrooms and a computer lab. These modifications will enable the organization to expand access to lifelong learning opportunities for seniors in Elliot Lake.

Espanola Historical Society
$15,000 over one year to create a small accessible heritage park. A mural depicting the colourful history of the town of Espanola will be incorporated, increasing residents' and visitors' awareness of the community's history.

Kapuskasing Public Library c/o Township of Kapuskasing
$30,000 over one year to equip the library's resource centre with shelving and computer-furnishing equipment. These upgrades will provide increased access to learning for people of all ages and abilities in Kapuskasing.

KidsHope: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Inc.
$30,000 over one year to hire a co-ordinator who will produce a fundraising and marketing plan. This will help to ensure the continued sustainability of the organization's drug and abuse prevention programs in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

Kinsmen Club of Sault Ste. Marie
$12,000 over one year to purchase an ATV, lawn sweeper and wood chipper, which will improve and maintain Kinsmen Park for hiking, cycling and other outdoor activities.

Le Froche c/o Le Carrefour Francophone de Sudbury
$50,000 over one year for staff, fees and travel expenses to engage Francophone youth in organizing various Francophone festivals including le FROCHE, St. Jean-Baptiste and Winter Carnival in Sudbury.

Le Groupe SONnord
$3,000 over one year to purchase a tenor saxophone that will enable the group to continue providing concerts for people of all ages and abilities in Kapuskasing and area.

Neegoni Wabun Gi Gay Win Lodge Inc.
$23,500 over one year to build the administrative capacity of the Aboriginal healing lodge in Algoma. This will help the organization administer its grants and respond to requests for traditional healing. Another OTF grant will support this activity.

Providence Bay Curling Club
$15, 000 over one year to install non-skid flooring, steel washroom doors, new fire equipment and ceilings. The upgrades will increase safety and ensure accessibility to the club for people of all ages and abilities in Providence Bay.

Rainbow Routes Association
$50,000 over one year to fund the Learning Through Trails program, which will increase children and youths' knowledge about ecosystems and natural environments in Greater Sudbury.

The Sault Ste. Marie Community Theatre Centre
$15,000 over one year to update the software and hardware systems of the theatre box office. The new tools will improve ticketing operations and introduce on-line ticketing.

Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA
$30,000 over one year for renovations and equipment for an exercise and gaming room to increase physical activity for youth.

Sault Ste. Marie Sports Council Inc.
$45,800 over one year to fund a full-time co-ordinator. Activities for sports and recreation groups in the community will be organized and citizens encouraged to participate in order to improve their fitness and health.

Seizure and Brain Injury Centre
$50,000 over one year to hire a project co-ordinator. Outreach will be conducted to individuals affected by seizures and acquired brain injury in the First Nations communities in Cochrane and Chapleau.

United Way / Centraide Sudbury and District
$90,000 over two years for staff and costs to measure and evaluate programs and services in both official languages in Greater Sudbury and area.

United Way of Sault Ste. Marie
$6,000 over one year to purchase a modular meeting table and 25 chairs for the United Way boardroom. The facility will then be able to accommodate various meeting formats for community groups that use the room.

Vincent Place Inc.
$50,000 over two years for a transitional case manager. Residents of this shelter for homeless men in Sault Ste. Marie will then be given more assistance to find long-term housing, prepare for employment and integrate into the community.

Warren and Area Historical Society
$5,300 over a year to purchase furniture and equipment that will ensure the new Maggie Track Museum can preserve and exhibit historical artifacts for the community of Warren and its visitors.

Wawa Cross-Country Ski Club
$12,500 over one year to purchase a new snowmobile, which will enhance the grooming of the club's cross-country ski trails and provide a safer and better recreational opportunity for users.
 
Weengushk Film Institute
$75,000 over 18 months to purchase production equipment that will help the organization initiate a film-and-television training program on Manitoulin Island for Aboriginal youth. Another OTF grant will support this activity.