Great Grants Award Winners: Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth (l-r) Janet Passmore, OTF Board of Directors member; Eleanor Robinson, the Gairbraid Theatre Company c/o Goderich Celtic Folk Festival, Great Grants Award – Arts and Culture; and Kathleen Pletsch, OTF Grant Review Team Chair Walkerton, June 4, 2008 – Six remarkable Ontario not-for-profit organizations will be honoured for the difference they have made in their communities at the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s 25th Anniversary celebration in Walkerton, June 4, 2008.  The afternoon will be hosted by John Weese of CKNX-AM 920 Radio.  There is much anticipation for this event, which was originally scheduled for November 2007, but was cancelled due to a snow storm. “The Great Grants Awards recognize the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Kathleen Pletsch, Grant Review Team Chair for Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth.  “2007 was our 25th year of strengthening communities and we celebrated by holding award events across the province. We look forward to meeting community members in the Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth area who help make Ontario a great place to live.” The Foundation presents the Great Grants Awards every two years. The award winners were selected by volunteers who serve on the local Grant Review Team. In the Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth region, six organizations were chosen for their outstanding achievements in the Arts and Culture, Sports and Recreation, Environment and Human and Social Services sectors. Great Grants Award Winners: Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth • Arts and Culture: The Gairbraid Theatre Company c/o Goderich Celtic Folk Festival In 2005, OTF granted the Gairbraid Theatre Company $60,000 over two years to launch a new summer theatre experience. Audiences enjoyed sold out performances and tourism received a substantial boost, creating new employment and volunteer opportunities. Partnerships with the municipality, the Huron County Museum and local heritage groups are helping to support the sustainability of the theatre.  • Sports and Recreation: Scenic City Order of Good Cheer OTF granted the group $55,000 to create an outdoor artificial ice surface in Owen Sound’s Harrison Park. Available for free-skates during the winter and basketball, volleyball and other sports during the off-season, the open air rink is one of the most popular sports facilities ever in the community. • Environment: Friends of Hullet In 2003, OTF granted the group $42,200 to turn a derelict building into a new and vastly improved educational centre. In two years, membership in the Friends of Hullet rose to 171, with almost 150 volunteers getting involved in learning activities and year-round tours of the 2,200 hectares of land.  • Human and Social Services: United Way of Perth County In 2003 with the help of an OTF grant of $61,000, the organization developed a multiple agency centre that lent space to small groups which would have had difficulty finding affordable space of their own. A development manager was hired to acquire further financial support and during the span of the grant, 214 grant proposals were submitted to foundations. With the increased exposure and accessibility for tenant agencies, the public became more aware of services available to them. • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplary volunteerism: The Cairn Committee c/o Owen Sound Marine and Rail Museum To increase the knowledge of local history, OTF granted $46,000 in 2004 to an arts project commemorating the bravery of early settlers. A cairn was sculpted by the great-granddaughter of a slave and was placed in Harrison Park. The cairn prompted a renewed interest in Owen Sound’s heritage with new volunteers participating in community projects.  • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities:  Victoria Jubilee Hall c/o Architectural Conservancy of Ontario OTF recognized the importance of this Walkerton heritage building and gave three grants in 1999, 2002 and 2007 totalling $44,500, to renovate and restore the hall. Over 20 organizations regularly make use of the facility and several have permanent residency in the hall.    Back to the events list