$2.2M in funding handed out for three community projects
The federal and provincial governments have announced more than $2.2 million in funding for a series of community-building projects in three Ontario communities.
In Milton, the governments have contributed more than $1.7 million to the expansion and renovation of the café and meeting rooms at Community Living North Halton, and the Crawford Lake Boardwalk. The total value of the projects rises to just over $2.6 million with contributions from Community Living North Halton and the Halton Region Conservation Authority.
Upgrades to the Community Living North Halton building include replacing existing carpet with vinyl flooring, adding new light fixtures, updating washrooms, expanding the café meeting area, and repainting meeting spaces. The upgrades will enable the organization to offer more space for programming and meetings.
Upgrades to the Crawford Lake Boardwalk include the installation of helical piles for boardwalk support and new decking and guardrails, and the refurbishment of rest stops, viewing areas and educational signage.
"The Lunchbox Café is a training café for adults with intellectual disabilities,” says program manager Cheryl Miller. “These renovation funds will allow us to expand and improve our current space, increase our visibility within the community and provide our trainees with additional hands on experience within our program. They will also allow us to update our meeting rooms, and continue to keep us connected to the community by providing space for private and corporate functions."
In St-Charles, meanwhile, the governments have pledged more than $300,000 for upgrades to the local community arena. The Municipality of St.-Charles is investing a further $107,000 in the work.
The arena upgrades will increase occupancy rates and allow the facility to safely host major community events. Once improvements are complete, the renovated facility will feature an updated fire alarm system and widened doors, a new ice resurfacer, new fitness equipment, and a new splash pad.
"The splashpad was a concept brought forward by local volunteers some time ago. They will no doubt will be excited to see this actually become a cornerstone of activities for our children,” said Mayor Paul Schoppmann. “The proposed improvements and modernization of the both the gym and arena will greatly aid in increased utilization of these facilities into the future."
Finally, in Ottawa, the governments are investing about $190,000 for the construction of an outdoor wood pavilion near the Trend-Arlington Community Centre. The project will use wood milled from the community's fallen trees, collected after the September 2018 tornado.
This project aims to enhance community living through increased access to new recreation and outdoor event spaces, strengthening community connections, and providing more opportunities for residents to get outside and be active.
"Our community showed tremendous resilience and spirit after the tornado that struck Trend Arlington,” said Sean Devine, president of the Trend Arlington Community Association. “Since that day, our association has worked to build upon that sense of community, and to create new infrastructure to gather and grow together as a community. And now the pandemic has demonstrated a great need for safe, outdoor public space. We are grateful for the federal and provincial support in helping us realize this legacy project which will not only memorialize our recent past, but also sustain us well into our future."