Norman Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, was joined today by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover and District of Muskoka Deputy Chair Graydon Smith for a tour of the Baysville Arena and to celebrate the Community Building Fund grant for upgrades to the refrigeration system.
“In small communities like Baysville in Parry Sound-Muskoka and all across rural Ontario, the local arena or community centre brings families and residents together,” said MPP Miller. “I have played hockey in this arena and when I coached my kids’ hockey teams, they played here as well. I know just how important this arena is to families in the Township of Lake of Bays and to the residents across Muskoka so I am thrilled to see Ontario investing $500,000 in maintaining this facility.”
While this grant, administered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, was originally announced in January, COVID restrictions prevented an in person celebration of this grant at the time. Other Community Building Fund Capital Stream grants announced in January included:
- $500,000 for the Sundridge Strong Joly Arena new rink floor and boards
- $240,000 to Parry Sound to replace heating and air conditioning units in the community centre
- $32,100 for an air exchange system at the Bracebridge Senior Citizens Centennial Club.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has supported those struggling the most,” said Minister MacLeod. “These capital grants will help municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit organizations make repairs or upgrades needed to their sport and recreation facilities to adapt to the pressures of the pandemic so they can continue to deliver programming critical to the economic and social well-being of communities across the province.”
“Thanks so very much to Norm Miller and all the folks that made this happen. With this financial assistance from the provincial government we can make the necessary upgrades to our community center and continue to provide arena services to support our residents for years to come,” said Mayor Glover.
Minister MacLeod took the opportunity to highlight another opportunity for funding. The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund will be accepting applications starting March 9 until April 6 2022 from charities, not-for-profits, Indigenous communities and municipalities. Funding of between $10,000 and $200,000 will be available to help organizations rebuild their capacity, enhance their resiliency and meet the changing needs of their communities.
“I encourage all our municipalities, first nations and not-for-profit organizations to review the eligibility criteria at www.otf.ca and consider applying for funding through the Resilient Communities Fund,” said MPP Miller.
