Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Progressive Conservative MPP Bill Walker says $725,300 is coming to the community through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund.
The Blue Water Curling Club in Owen Sound will receive $164,600 to replace its outdated mechanical equipment for the ice plant.
The City of Owen Sound is getting $400,000 to purchase compressors for the arena facility and upgrade the arena’s cooling system to improve the overall efficiency of the arena. That work is scheduled to begin at the Bayshore June 1st, with an estimated completion date of August 5th.
Meanwhile, $160,000 is going to the Town of Hanover to purchase and install accessible playground equipment for two community parks to replace outdated equipment.
Walker made the virtual funding announcement on February 25 along with officials from the City of Owen Sound, Town of Hanover, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Blue Water Curling Club.
He says in a statement, “COVID-19 has been a challenge for so many not-for-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations, and I am proud that our government is supporting their recovery though the Community Building Fund,” adding, “I’m pleased to see our local communities and organizations benefiting from this commitment and this funding is a huge boost for our entire area.”
In total, the province’s Community Building Fund is distributing $105 million throughout Ontario to support community arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation organizations that are experiencing significant financial pressures due to COVID-19.
The fund is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two streams: Operating and Capital. The Capital stream, which closed on September 29, 2021, is providing organizations across the province with support for construction or renovation expenses as well as fixed equipment costs, such as large-scale fixed equipment for installation (examples include heating systems, exhaust and air conditioning systems).