At the heart of most communities are the local groups and organizations that work to make life better for residents.
The Thorold Community Activities Group (TCAG) is one of those groups.
The TCAG was first founded in 1981 and provides programs for residents of all ages such as Zumba, yoga, pickleball, youth cooking classes, ballet and basketball. They also run licensed daycare and day camps.
Unfortunately, the TCAG needs roof repairs for their building on Richmond Street.
Fortunately for the group, the hard work they put into applying for grants paid off and they are receiving $52,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
On Feb. 13, there was a grant recognition presentation.
Tony Vandermaas, Thorold town crier and event MC, welcomed everyone.
“It's always nice when I can do what I can do one of these presentations of grants to one of the organizations of the city of Thorold,” said Vandermaas. “We're quite often find that they need as much help as they can get and it's great with everything they get.”
Jeff Burch, MPP for Niagara Centre, was the next to speak.
Burch spoke about how difficult it is and how much work goes into an application this is one.
“A congratulations to you and all of your staff this is obviously a much-needed grant, not directly for programming, but for the roof over the programming and I understand it's also going to be built in such a way that produces the carbon footprint,” said Burch.
William Thompson, Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer, said it is one of the leading foundations of granting organizations.
“We build healthy and vibrant community through our grants,” said Thompson.
Last year, said Thompson, the foundation invested in over 2,000 non-profit community projects and partnerships.
“We're proud to support an organization like yours. I know that the $52,000 capital grant to repair the roof and remove the tarp. We'll extend the building and the life of the community here,” said Thompson.
Thompson and Burch were then presented with thank-you cards made by the young children from the daycare.
Megan Gilchrist, executive director of TCAG, said the group is a non-profit so when they have capital expenses it can be a huge chunk of their budget so they turn to rely on community partners like the Trillium Fund.
As part of the roof repairs, Gilchrist said, “we will be ensuring that the materials that are put on the roof will be helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and also to help reduce our energy consumption and our long-term goals to eventually be able to raise enough money to put a green roof on the gym.
Terry Ugulini, mayor of the City of Thorold, thanked the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“This funding is part of the Ontario government investment of more than $37 million in capital grant funding to help 1,417 non-profit organizations across the province deliver much-needed community support programs,” said Ugulini.
“MPP Jeff Birch mentioned these are the fun events to go to because when we get funding from upper levels of government, or grants in this case from Ontario Trillium Foundation, this is so important for our community because we cannot afford to do that on our own as a municipality,” said Ugulini. “We need help from upper levels of government, and this is an example of what that will mean to our community to the Thorold Community Activities Group.”
Gilchrist invited everyone to come back in the spring to see the new product.
For more information, visit thoroldgroup.org.
