MPP David Piccini News Release
- friendsofwesleyvil
- Jun 4, 2024
- 3 min read
Ontario Supports the Restoration Efforts of the Friends of Wesleyville
$143,100 in Ontario Government grants providing additional supports to the efforts to restore Wesleyville Village and make it accessible for all.
News June 2nd, 2024
Wesleyville, ON: On Sunday, MPP David Piccini was at the Friends of Wesleyville Village’s Country Market and Nature Fest to officially congratulate them on the work happening as a result of receiving two grants, totalling $143,100 from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The celebratory spirit of the event continued when MPP Piccini donned the role of auctioneer for the delicious baked goods donated by local politicians in support of the Friends of Wesleyville Village.
Accessibility ramp at Wesleyville community facility - thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation. Pictured here: seven happy Friends of Wesleyville directors, along with Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky (second left), and Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation surround MPP David Piccini and Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer Elaine Sheppard (right front).
“The Ontario Government is committed to supporting culturally significant sites to be accessible for everyone in the community,” said MPP David Piccini. “This funding from OTF will support the Friends of Wesleyville Village in their efforts to restore the Village and its landmarks to make it a key fixture in the Town of Port Hope”.
The first of the grants, a $97,200 Capital grant was awarded in the fall of 2023 to help the local heritage group with its work to restore the Wesleyville church, the site of many community activities, following a fire in 2021. The grant helped with the costs of installing a new access ramp, as well as a sidewalk leading up to the front of the building and installing entrance doors and a new door from the loft to the auditorium.
“These two Ontario Trillium Foundation grants help the Friends of Wesleyville Village achieve our mission to conserve this heritage property for community uses,” said Kathy Dennis, Chairperson of the Friends of Wesleyville Village.
MPP Piccini also had the opportunity to officially share the good news about the two-year, $45,900 Resilient Communities Fund grant that the Friends of Wesleyville Village received earlier this year from OTF. The Resilient Communities Fund grant program was designed to help non-profit organizations to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Funds from this grant will be used to build on its organizational resilience and sustainability for the conservation of four historic buildings and the natural environment in Wesleyville Village, a provincial heritage property in the Port Hope area. Since receiving the grant, the volunteer-run group has employed a part-time Community Program Coordinator and purchased donor-management software to help with raising funds and developing plans for conserving the heritage village for future generations of Ontarians.
“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
If you’re looking to visit the Friends of Wesleyville Village this summer, they’re located at 2082 Lakeshore Road - just 10 kilometres west of downtown Port Hope, Ontario. www.wesleyvillevillage.com
Media Contact:
Ben Williams
Constituency Assistant
Office of MPP David Piccini
O: 905-372-4000
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