Five local organizations benefit from Ontario Sport Network’s Emergency Relief grants
In an attempt to assist “community level organizations looking to reintroduce vital sports and recreation programming to their community,” the Ontario Sport Network has distributed $7 million through the Emergency Relief Community Sport and Recreation Grant Program.
Of the 234 organizations to receive the funding, five are in the Kingston area:
- Gananoque Islanders (hockey team)
- Kingston Frontenacs (hockey team)
- Kingston Pickleball Club
- Loyalist Township Minor Hockey Association
- Third Shot Drop (pickleball organization)
According to the Ontario Sport Network, the grant monies will “aid in providing much needed economic support through sport and recreational activities, imperative to the well-being of Ontario communities.”
“We are proud to help so many organizations at a critical time as we come out of a two-year lockdown,” said Patsy Coyle, Managing Director of Ontario Sport Network. “This grant will contribute to their financial recovery and assist those who have suffered serious programming setbacks for the last few years. The impact to this sector has been immense. We continue to be committed to stabilizing the sport and recreation community across the province and thank the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for this purposeful initiative.”
The OSN Emergency Relief Community Sport and Recreation Grant Program was part of the provincial government’s $30-million investment announced in March of this year, which aims to “stabilize various levels of Ontario’s sport and recreation sector,” and is funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. In total, 315 grant applications were received and evaluated, and 234 organizations were selected to receive support after what the Ontario Sports Network called “a very competitive process.”
According to the Ontario Sports Network, grants were issued to organizations that “demonstrated the greatest financial need, clearly articulated a strategy to use the grant to sustain their programming, and demonstrated strong community impact from their programming.” Over 105 different regions and communities in the province will receive funds through the grant program, and benefiting organizations represent “a large cross section of different sport and recreation activities, 43 in total.”
“Our government is pleased to have contributed $7 million to ensure local sport and recreation organizations are able to continue offering opportunities for youth and adults to participate in physical activity,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Community-based organizations like these provide an accessible option for Ontarians to participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities. They are the foundation for health and wellness at the local level and play an important part in the economic stability of Ontario communities.”
To view a full list of the 234 organizations that received grant funding, click here.
To learn more about the local organizations that received grant funding, click on their respective links below:
