In the fall of 2024, the Jury Lands Foundation received the great news that it had received a one-year, $81,800 Seed grant to develop and offer a range of fun and educational programs that will engage people in the community and attract residents and visitors alike to the Jury Lands site.
Over the past decade, the foundation has worked with the Municipality of Clarington and the community to forward the cause of the conservation of the Camp 30 site. Funds from the grant are being used to:
- Hire a mural artist,
- Create a promotional video,
- Help with marketing costs,
- Pay for a website developer, and to
- Help with the costs of hosting events onsite – ranging from movie nights, a concert, and a community market day.
“The Jury Lands Foundation is extremely grateful to have been granted funds through OTF providing much needed financial support that will allow for the expansion of their educational and active programming in 2025,” said Marilyn Morawetz, Jury Lands Foundation. “The Jury Lands on Lambs Road in Bowmanville gained national and international notoriety as Camp 30, a POW camp during World War II. With this OTF grant that we got in October, we’re now able to offer programming to support and enrich the community as well as to serve as a resource by offering family and youth activities, opportunities for artistic expression, market events, concerts, gardening projects, and educational speakers and tours highlighting the site’s significant history.”
Three local non-profit organizations in Clarington have recently received grants from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
When combined, the four, multi-year grants to the three institutions total a $744,600 investment in the area:
- Jury Lands Foundation ($81,800 Seed grant);
- Bowmanville Older Adults Association (BOAA) ($119,300) as also Grow grant and a $11,800 Seed grant); and
- Autism Home Base ($531,700 Grow grant).
“Our government believes that organizations like the Jury Lands Foundation, the Bowmanville Older Adult Association and Autism Home Base enrich the lives of residents of our community, promotes tourism and provides valuable resources and services to the clients who are best served,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “As the Ontario Trillium Foundation is funded by the Ontario government, this seed and grow grant funds will offer more accessible services and offer programs which will make our community more vibrant and inclusive for everyone.”
Autism Home Base: Culinary program support
Autism Home Base received the good news that its three-year, $531,700 Grow grant will its staff expand and deliver on culinary programs that will help to connect neurodivergent adults and caregivers to a supportive peer community through innovative cooking and communal dining programs as a foundation for building friendships that will help them to be engaged in the community. Funds from the grant will be used to help with staffing and administration costs, as well as appliances, program supplies and communications and marketing.
“This transformative support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will allow us to develop an adaptive and robust culinary program,” said Judith Hanson, CEO and Founder of Autism Home Base Durham Inc. “Cooking and sharing meals together is a powerful way to build community. With this funding, we can offer more opportunities for Autistic adults and their family caregivers to connect, build friendships, and feel a true sense of belonging while learning important daily living skills.”
Bowmanville Older Adult Association: Expanding indoor cycling
The Bowmanville Older Adult Association also learned this spring that it too was receiving a $119,300 Grow grant so that it can expand on its outdoor senior cycling program. Over the course of the grant, the BOAA will be using the funds to help purchase eight new bikes and deliver over 280 low-barrier, accessible, indoor cycling classes each year over the grant’s two-year period. Funds from the grant will also be used for helping with some staffing costs, promoting the classes, purchasing a storage shed, as well as program advertising in the community.
At the event, the group also highlighted the creative art workshops for local seniors that it’s been offering because of the year-long $11,800 Seed grant it received last fall from OTF.
“Bowmanville Older Adult Association is thrilled to receive both the Seed grant and Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Seed grant has already inspired our older adults through immersive art gallery tours, and ongoing workshops engaging in their creativity. Seniors are looking forward to holding a gallery show to celebrate their creative endeavors. Through the Grow grant, we can continue to build the health and resilience of our older adults through indoor biking year-round. Bowmanville Older Adult Association graciously thanks Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support.”
