Township Of The Archipelago Receives $85,000 In Funding Through The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund

On Wednesday, MPP Norman Miller and Sandra Holdsworth, a volunteer with the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) took part in a virtual call with representatives from the Township of The Archipelago to congratulate them on receiving an $85,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from OTF. The Resilient Communities Fund was developed to help organizations rebound and recover from the impacts of COVID-19, ensuring local community needs are met across Ontario.

“We have all been reminded recently of the importance community plays in the quality of our lives. While many of us eagerly await a time when we can gather together physically to move on from the difficulties of this year; it is important that we support our communities in building infrastructure that will allow us to do this safely. I am happy to see the Ontario Trillium Foundation taking steps to support the Township of the Archipelago with an eye on the future, while taking to heart the lessons from our recent experiences,” said Norman Miller, MPP for Parry Sound–Muskoka.

Through the Resilient Communities Fund grant, the Township plans on designing and installing a heat recovery ventilator system (HRV) for the Pointe au Baril Community Centre. Built over 25 years ago, the Community Centre currently has no means of exchanging stale, indoor air with fresh air from outside.

“The Township of The Archipelago is very pleased to accept this grant, which will be used to improve the quality of experience at, and the health of our Community Centre and our residents in Pointe au Baril,” stated Reeve Bert Liverance. “We appreciate this financial assistance from the Ontario Trillium Foundation through the Resilient Communities Fund and the ongoing support of our MPP Norman Miller.”

Installation of an HRV system will allow the community to resume the many different activities that took place before COVID-19, like the use of the walk-in library, seniors’ events, pickle ball, yoga classes, book classes, wedding functions and other community-organized gatherings. Adequate air exchanges will dilute the potential concentration of COVID-19 in the atmosphere, which is a known potential risk method of transmission per the World Health Organization, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

The Township of The Archipelago was one of 559 non-profits selected as grant recipients in the second round of funding. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.