The Trillium Grant

Investing $824,500 in Greener Landscapes across Ontario

ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION GRANTS HELP PRESERVE LANDS AND FORESTS

Toronto, June 7, 2005 - Ontario's agricultural communities and wooded areas will benefit from four Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grants totaling $824,500. The funding was announced today by Ontario's Minister of Culture, Madeleine Meilleur and Minister of Agriculture and Food, Steve Peters.

These four Ontario Trillium Foundation grants will protect and enhance agricultural land and biodiversity in Ontario,  said Meilleur. "OTF funding will help introduce an innovative agricultural land trust and make ecological expertise available to more areas in Central and Southwestern Ontario. Resources offered to smaller volunteer groups through these four key organizations will help volunteers be more effective in protecting their environment." 

"This government is committed to assist Ontario's agricultural community to be strong and healthy," said Peters. "By preserving agricultural farmland, Ontario communities will have a healthy base for food production for future generations." 

The Foundation grants included in today's announcement will help build a greener and healthier Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the following key charitable and not-for-profit organizations:

• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO)

  $246,900 over five years to enhance educational programs, recruit and train volunteer farmer advisors and facilitators, participate in provincial and national networks and develop partnerships. EFAO will help communities increase the availability of locally grown ecological produce available to urban centres and decrease dependence on long-distance trucking.
  

• Ontario Farmland Trust

  $195,400 over three years to promote agricultural land trusts to farmers, municipal planners and the general public, resulting in the preservation of agricultural land through donations of land and easements.
  

• Carolinian Canada c/o Lambton Wildlife Incorporated

  $273,800 over three years to enable the smooth transition of Carolinian Canada into an independent and strong organization with a dynamic community base. Carolinian Canada is devoted to the conservation of biodiversity within Canada's most threatened landscape.
  

• The Canadian Chestnut Council

  $108,400 over three years to support scientific and community involvement in the development of a strongly blight-resistant strain of the American chestnut tree. Blight-resistant seeds and seedlings will be reintroduced into the forest and urban ecosystems.

"These regional and provincial organizations build Ontario's agricultural and environmental sectors for the benefit of all communities," said Hugh O'Neil, OTF Board Vice-Chair. "They provide leadership, increase volunteer involvement and promote the preservation of the natural environment." 

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector, through investments in community-based initiatives.

For more information, contact:

Rick Byun, Communications Officer, Stakeholder Relations, Ontario Trillium Foundation
Tel: 416-963-7969     1-800-263-2887 ext. 269     Email:  rbyun@trilliumfoundation.org