Several community-led infrastructure projects in Halton get much-needed funding

Thestar.com
March 30, 2022

Community-led infrastructure projects across Halton will receive some much-needed funding courtesy of the Golden Horseshoe Hub in Southern Ontario.

The hub, which is a consortium of eight community foundations from Oakville, Burlington, north Halton and elsewhere, announced March 16 that they will work together to distribute more than $1.1 million to transform public spaces in response to COVID-19.

The group announced:

• BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association will receive $14,209 for its Clean Up Green Up: Expanding Vulnerable Community Connections project.

• Burlington Public Library will get $19,650 for their Connection For All: Post COVID Technology Access project.

• Milton Public Library will receive $50,000 for their Be Inspired: Indigenous-Centred Knowledge project.

• Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar will get $50,000 to bring adult and senior fitness equipment to Memorial Park.

• Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch will receive $48,559 for their Coping Skills for Change Virtual Groups project.

• Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS) will get $10,000 for their Crisis Line Support.

In total, 26 projects in Halton, Peel, Brant, Brampton, Hamilton and Niagara regions received support from the hub as part of the second round of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

Through this initiative, the Government of Canada, alongside Community Foundations of Canada, is working with the intention of building safer spaces and ensuring a high quality of life for people across the country, by helping communities adapt to the challenges of COVID-19.

The initiative was reportedly designed to fund eligible projects between $5,000 and $250,000 that fall under three main themes: creating safe and vibrant public spaces, improving mobility options and digital solutions.

“Inclusive, accessible public spaces are the heart of any community, and vital to healthy, vibrant, safe and successful communities that are better equipped to restore growth, create jobs, build a greener, more competitive and resilient economy and repair the damage done by the pandemic,” said Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff.

Wendy Rinella, CEO of the Oakville Community Foundation, said public spaces are the glue to our communities, noting they enable a feeling of belonging and of social cohesion.

“They are a big part of what makes communities safe, vibrant and connected,” she said. “As our region faces increased isolation due to COVID-19, these projects from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will help our community to connect safely and will benefit the mental and physical well-being of our residents.”

To learn more about the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, visit https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.htm.