On Monday November 6, local MPP Steve Clark met with TIWLT at the Glen Elbe Learning Centre (GELC) east of Athens to announce that TIWLT is the recipient of a $108,200 Capital Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
“We are blessed to live in an area with such a beautiful and natural environment. I want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this investment, which will allow the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust to connect more students to nature at its Glen Elbe Learning Centre,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
Don Ross, President of TIWLT added, “TIWLT has been strategically building a network of protected places in the 1,000 square kilometre area for 30 years – but for the first 28 years, has been all but invisible on the landscape – an organization few could name. The past couple of years has changed that, thanks to the gift of 111 acre property to TIWLT by the late Jane Topping. TIWLT never before had a property among the 6,000 acres we’ve brought into 4ever protection where we could interface and share with the community what this remarkable region means to both nature and the people of Canada.
This grant allows an accessible washroom and a kitchen to be built on the west side of the 1849 barn. By early spring, the washroom will be up and running. We’ll be able to ramp up our experience and education programs so that generations from this region will appreciate and understand how vital conservation is here, do their part in protecting 30% of nature, and saving the land they love, 4ever.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships.
Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation from all of us at TIWLT.
Don Ross, President, Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust with Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
Touring Glen Elbe Learning Centre. Steve Clark, Don Ross, Calder Schweitzer, Executive Director, TIWLT
Don Ross, interior of the renovated barn
Exterior, renovated 1849 barn
