Working together on local projects – Announcement of selected projects

Desjardins Ontario Credit Union launched a call for applications with the goal of providing $500,000 for meaningful projects in Ontario. Submissions were accepted from April 19 to June 18, 2023. The following 20 projects were selected to receive financial support.

Sudbury and Northern Ontario

Project: Reopening of Camp Jeunesse en marche

Organization: Camp Jeunesse en marche in Temiskaming Shores

Region: New Liskeard

Amount granted: $50,000

Sector of activity: Education, Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

In the wake of the pandemic, the camp's infrastructure is in need of major repairs and the camp has had to cease operations and close its doors. Before it can offer day camps and summer camps, the organization has to meet all municipal and provincial requirements, as well as the requirements of the Ontario Camps Association. The organization also needs to make its facilities and programming accessible and inclusive for all. Renovation and maintenance work must be completed so it can start offering youth services again. The location is also a popular rental for local families on summer weekends.

Project: Greener Spaces program

Organization: Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Region: Greater Sudbury

Amount granted: $1,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The Greener Spaces program will use its existing greenhouse and garden beds at multiple locations. Individuals in the housing programs will be involved in all stages of plant development and have access to all food harvested at no cost. Gardening sessions provide an opportunity for learning, community connection and skill building. This project is guided by CMHA-Sudbury/Manitoulin's values of being person-centred, equitable and inclusive; with the goal of ensuring that its programs create opportunities for health and well-being. The objective is to enhance the mental and physical well-being of those we work with by teaching them about and helping them grow healthy, local food, while taking care of the natural environment.

The funds will be used to purchase additional greenhouse equipment.

Project: Greater Sudbury Basketball Growth program

Organization: Greater Sudbury Basketball Association

Region: Greater Sudbury

Amount granted: $4,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles, Education

Project description:

As a non-profit organization, the Greater Sudbury Basketball Association's focus is to build capacity and provide safe and fun programs for youth to learn to play basketball. They want to be able to offer programs at affordable prices for youth to play. They offer rep teams, house leagues, tykes training, and summer camps, along with Indigenous programs and other basketball events to support youth in playing basketball.

The funds will be used to purchase new basketballs and other equipment needed to successfully run the programs.

Project: Kivi Park well

Organization: Kivi Park

Region: Greater Sudbury

Amount granted: $20,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

Kivi Park, a vibrant community space in Sudbury, Ontario, is in dire need of an on-site well to overcome its water shortage. Without access to water, there are safety concerns surrounding Kivi hosting summer camps, and the park is unable to provide suitable facilities and amenities for families and older people. Addressing the water shortage would improve the overall guest experience. Kivi Park relies heavily on bringing in bottled water to offer to guests to ensure that they can stay hydrated while being active. A well will greatly impact the environment by reducing reliance on external water sources and promoting responsible use.

Project: Improving accessibility for youth and seniors who have been socially marginalized

Organization: Sudbury Canoe Club

Region: Greater Sudbury

Amount granted: $25,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The Sudbury region is home to a large number of younger and older people who have been socially marginalized and continue to experience barriers to accessing high-quality water sports within the city. Although the Sudbury Canoe Club (SCC) is a first-class facility located directly on Ramsey Lake, the Club continues to struggle with a number of physical and programming barriers which prevent a significant portion of our community members from accessing their activities. Through this initiative, the SCC will recruit a dedicated program director to develop and deliver programming targeting those individuals who are currently unable to participate. They will also address many of the physical barriers preventing easy water access with our paddling equipment.

The funds will be used to procure and install new accessibility structures (including ramps and docks).

Project: Culture at Whitewater Lake Park

Organization: Café Héritage Productions

Region: Sudbury

Amount granted: $25,000

Sector of activity: Economic development

Project description:

The infusion of capital will enhance one of Greater Sudbury's better green spaces. Whitewater Park is fast becoming the outdoor centre for festivals and events, and Café Heritage has and will continue to design, build, and implement activities that appeal to the entire family. Working with the city, Café Héritage wants to add a stage cover that will have a major impact in providing shelter and showcasing local artists, as well as hosting Winter Wonderland activities. Over 3,500 attend the Thursday evening summer concerts and the Winter Wonderland project will be open to the public during the holiday season.

Eastern Ontario

Project: Upgrade of curling equipment

Organization: Alexandria Curling Club

Region: North Glengarry

Amount granted: $25,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

Alexandria Curling Club is a hub for recreational and social activities, run by volunteers. The club brings people together from surrounding areas and prides itself on providing a balanced mix of physical activity and socializing. The local schools also use the facility for their winter programs.

The aging equipment is nearing the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. The last upgrade was over 25 years ago. Upgrading the equipment will allow the club to continue providing an excellent curling experience and serving the community, as they have done for over 100 years.

Project: Upgrades to the outdoor space

Organization: Résidence Lajoie

Region: St. Albert

Amount granted: $34,000

Sector of activity: Humanitarian work and community service

Project description:

The purpose of this project is to upgrade the central courtyard in a housing complex for people from the community who are over the age of 60. The end goal is to provide the 75 residents and their guests with a welcoming space that will foster a sense of well-being and belonging, and to offer a gathering place where residents can enjoy good weather and outdoor activities in the courtyard. The caisse's investment will be used to purchase a pavilion, swings, benches, a barbecue and other amenities.

Project: Stronger Together

Organization: St. Joseph's Continuing Care Centre (SJCCC)

Region: Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

Amount granted: $50,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles, Education

Project description:

A first of its kind in Cornwall, SJCCC is building a 2,400-square-foot physical therapy space to house its inpatient rehabilitation program. This new space will feature state-of-the-art equipment, new innovative program options, including mental health programs and healthy lifestyle coaching, while empowering patients to be at the core of their rehab journey. The program will cater to the needs of adults who suffer from illness, injury, or surgery. This space will bring people together as a hub for motivation, where patients can interact with one another to encourage each other, and act as a solution to social isolation, improving mental health and well-being.

Project: Inspiring youth through stories of environmental change-making

Organization: St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences

Region: Akwesasne and Cornwall

Amount granted: $16,000

Sector of activity: Education

Project description:

The project will provide unique educational resources and experiences that inspire young people through the work of diverse individuals who are creating change in communities along the Upper St. Lawrence River as part of the larger Great River Rapport initiative. Eight multimedia educational resource packages will be developed. Each will feature 1 remarkable individual and include a full-lesson plan that incorporates photography, illustration, videos and activities. The packages will be offered in French and English. There's an urgent need for environmental education that inspires hope and action, because protecting our freshwater ecosystems is critical to the future of our economies and communities.

The funds will be used to cover the French language translation and virtual engagements with students.

GTA and Southwestern Ontario

Project: Building Black Youth Foundation's efforts to improve academic and educational success

Organization: Building Black Youth Foundation

Region: Toronto

Amount granted: $15,000

Sector of activity: Education

Project description:

This project will increase the Building Black Youth Foundation's hosting capacity and expand their current capabilities and incentives for youth by providing upgrades to their digital infrastructure, stipend payments and additional academic resources. This project will increase accessibility to youth across Toronto and Canada, providing them with remote internships. Additionally, youth will gain invaluable educational and work experience in their respective fields of study and careers and become more prepared for the workforce. This project specifically entails small developmental upgrades to digital infrastructure, creation of more academic materials and increased program outreach initiatives. This will help increase enrollment and memberships, enhance participants' employability and increase their overall success in the program.

Project: Pioneer trail

Organization: Club de l'âge d'or de Lafontaine

Region: Simcoe

Amount granted: $45,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The pioneer trail will be a trail behind Le Villageois seniors' residence in Lafontaine that runs for almost 1 kilometre. This project will highlight the region's history by showcasing pioneer families and the people that built Lafontaine. This will be done by creating a timeline in the garden's pavilions and installations along the trail that display the stories of the pioneer families on signs posted in the resting areas, which will also have benches and plant and flower beds. This trail can be used by Le Villageois residents, members of the Club de l'Âge d'Or de Lafontaine, community members and visitors.

Project: Training for the digital era

Organization: Conseil des Organismes Francophones de la Région de Durham (COFRD)

Region: Oshawa

Amount granted: $20,000

Sector of activity: Economic development

Project description:

COFRD will offer online training courses to help its clients start a business or increase their chances of finding work. Many COFRD clients are newcomers from various countries. They often don't know how to use computers. The courses will cover everything from the basics to Microsoft Office, internet research and software utilities. They'll also help participants learn more about IT tools and become proficient with them. These skills are in great demand on the job market and COFRD wants to give clients the tools they need to enhance their opportunities and take care of their families' needs. The money will be used to develop various courses and training.

Project: Educating people about healthcare services offered in French and encouraging them to ask for these services

Organization: Erie St.Clair/South West French-language health planning entity

Region: Windsor and Welland

Amount granted: $20,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The project's goal is to inform the minority French-speaking community about the importance of asking for and receiving health and wellness services in French. To do so, the organization will work jointly with the French-language health planning entity for the Waterloo, Wellington, Hamilton and Niagara regions to offer workshops and training to encourage the community to actively request services in French. It also encourages bilingual professionals and service providers to offer services in French. The project will make it easier for professionals and the community to share knowledge and access to resources, strategies and tools. The organization will make suggestions, offer possible solutions and resources for healthcare providers and French speakers.

Project: Bookmobile

Organization: Lincoln Pelham Public Library (LPPL)

Region: Welland

Amount granted: $25,000

Sector of activity: Education

Project description:

The LPPL will purchase a cargo van to be retrofitted for use as a fully accessible bookmobile. The bookmobile will provide an outreach model for library services, including access to technology, Wi-Fi within the bookmobile, library collections, community programs, and knowledgeable staff for those unable to travel to any of the region's 4 permanent library locations. This bookmobile will serve residents on a scheduled route and will engage the public at community events to increase awareness of the library and the services it offers.

Ottawa region

Project: Coeur sur la Main – Back-to-school celebration

Organization: Famille éclose

Region: Ottawa

Amount granted: $5,000

Sector of activity: Education, Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

Coeur sur la Main is a project that supports children with disabilities or with severe or chronic conditions. It's also a platform where mothers who have children with disabilities or severe conditions can talk to each other, which will be good for their mental health. The money will be used to help single-parent families buy the supplies they need for the school year.

Project: Adjustable healthcare planters

Organization: Forget for a Moment Foundation

Region: Ottawa and Eastern Ontario

Amount granted: $45,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

Install 30 adjustable healthcare planters in 30 healthcare centres for long-term care and seniors' residences in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. This would bring the outdoors inside for people who can't go outside. Residents can take care of the plants themselves or just enjoy a little dose of nature year-round. The positive impact of direct contact with nature often helps patients and residents recover faster and take fewer prescription drugs, which means they'll require less monitoring. This could result in significant savings for long-term care facilities.

Project: Making paddling accessible for all

Organization: Petrie Island Canoe Club

Region: Ottawa

Amount granted: $20,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The Petrie Island Canoe Club offers programs for all members of the community, including participants with mental and physical disabilities. The dock they have allows them to deliver their paddling programs in a safer way and promote the health and healthy lifestyles of our participants: children, youth, adults, and people with mental and physical disabilities. The dock is designed to give this last group easier access to their boats. However, since the dock is far from the parking lot and the boat storage, Mobi-mats will fill that gap for the participants with physical disabilities and make paddling accessible for all.

Project: Thriving at any age

Organization: Résilience Active des Familles Immigrantes en Ontario (RAFIO)

Region: Ottawa and Eastern Ontario

Amount granted: $20,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

The project aims to improve the mental health and well-being of older immigrants by offering recreational and social activities tailored for their needs. The project includes outings, embroidery workshops, a variety of games and information sessions on mental health. The project's goal is to help older immigrants thrive and to prevent problems like social isolation and depression. The proposed activities will help them stay connected and socialize with others with similar interests, explore new places, take part in activities that sharpen their memory and skills and feel more involved in their community.

Project: Wheelchair Basketball Youth Development Program

Organization: Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Region: Ottawa

Amount granted: $35,000

Sector of activity: Health and healthy lifestyles

Project description:

This organization works with schools in Ottawa and the surrounding area to showcase wheelchair basketball to students with and without a disability. It gives them the opportunity to try the sport and puts them in contact with their local club so they can keep playing regularly. This project will allow students with a disability to have access to programs to live a healthy lifestyle and potentially train to one day compete at the national level, or even earn medals at the Paralympics. In addition, this is a great education effort for students without a disability.

Funds will be used to purchase 10 new youth wheelchairs for the program.

Do you have a project that could use financial assistance? Fill out the partnership application form - External link. in our Community involvement section today.