Ontario Helping Pickering-Uxbridge Respond to the Challenges of COVID-19

 Funding for upgrades to sport and recreation facilities will help keep communities safe once public health measures lifted 

 Pickering, ON ― The Ontario government is providing close to $46 million to support 186 municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations experiencing significant pressures due to COVID-19, including the City of Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge. 

Funding through the Community Building Fund’s capital stream will help them complete much-needed sport and recreation facility infrastructure repairs – including retrofits and rehabilitation to meet COVID-19 public health requirements – to ensure they can continue to provide programs and services vital to their communities once public health measures to combat the growing surge of the Omicron variant are lifted. 

The Township of Uxbridge will be receiving $500,000 to address a community need by installing improved lighting to extend the hours of use after dark at the Fields of Uxbridge multi-sport recreation facility. 

The City of Pickering will be receiving $386,000 to address a community need by replacing flooring and bleachers and repairing water damaged roofing over the tennis courts in the community’s only multi-purpose recreation facility. 

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has supported those struggling the most,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “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 once their doors reopen.” 

In total, the province’s Community Building Fund is investing $105 million to support community arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation organizations that are experiencing significant financial pressures due to COVID-19. The fund is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) through two streams: Operating and Capital. The Capital stream, which closed on September 29, 2021, is providing organizations across the province with support for: 

  • Construction or renovation expenses, such as materials, labour for construction and/or installation. 
  • Fixed equipment costs, such as large-scale fixed equipment for installation (examples include heating systems, exhaust and air conditioning systems). 
  • Developmental costs or project management costs. 

“COVID-19 has been a challenge for so many not-for-profit tourism, culture, sport and recreation organizations, and I am proud that our government is supporting their recovery though the Community 

Building Fund,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “By helping our local municipalities weather the storm, we are ensuring people across Pickering and Uxbridge will have the opportunity to safely reconnect with the many things that make this community special.” 

On behalf of the City of Pickering, I acknowledge and thank the Government of Ontario for this significant investment in our sports and recreational infrastructure,” said Mayor Dave Ryan. “Pickering is not alone in its challenge to manage the lasting financial and community health impacts of COVID-19, and I am proud to see a collective effort in ensuring we continue to offer the programs, activities, and spaces that our residents rely on for their health, fitness, and well-being.” 

“COVID has demonstrated how important outdoor recreations is for the community”, said Mayor Dave Barton. “This Trillium grant will enable us to light our playing fields and our skate and pump park which will extend the hours amenities can be used, particularly in the spring and fall. Lighting enables us to host events that serves to bring visitors into our community and is a point of pride for residents. We are very grateful to the Province, the Premier and to Min. Bethlenfalvy for their continued support.” 

“Since its launch, Ontario has provided 834 Community Building Fund grants to community organizations, municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profit sport and recreation organizations – enhancing the quality of life for people across the province and supporting local jobs,” said Minister MacLeod. 

For a full list of Community Building Fund: Capital stream recipients, visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s website. 

QUICK FACTS 

  • The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, working to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario through investments of local grants to non-profit organizations. Its programs support the arts, culture, heritage, sports and recreation, human and social services, and environment sectors across the province. 
  • In October, the province announced more than $46 million through the Community Building Fund: Operating stream. 
  • As announced in the 2021 Budget, Ontario is investing more than $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support tourism, culture, sport and recreation sectors. This builds on investments of $225 million announced earlier, bringing the total support for these sectors to more than $625 million since the pandemic began. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

2021 Budget – Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy 

News Release: Ontario Supports Tourism, Culture, Sport and Recreation Organizations 

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID- 19.