$127K Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant to Help Empower Simcoe Build Healthy & Vibrant Communities

On Wednesday evening, local MPP Andrea Khanjin met with the members of Empower Simcoe to hear from them about the difference a $127,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is making. The organization’s Resilience Communities Fund grant was awarded in the spring and has enabled Empower Simcoe to rebuild and recover from the impact of COVID-19.

“It was wonderful to attend the Empower Simcoe’s Gift of the Heart Awards, and 68th Annual General meeting to hear stories in person of the positive impact that the $127,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant provided for our community” said Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil. “I can’t thank all the employees, volunteers, and everyone involved at Empower Simcoe enough for their unwavering dedication to providing quality care for so many individuals and families during these challenging times. Empower Simcoe’s resilience and adaptability inspires many and does not go unnoticed; and I am looking forward to continue to support this vital organization in our community.”

The grant is being used by Empower Simcoe to support employee development by providing assistance with staffing and administrative costs, and supporting leadership, resilience and mental wellness training by CL&F Consulting. It has also helped the organization purchase technological equipment and a Zoom platform license to ensure all staff and volunteers have what is needed to deliver programs virtually.

“This investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation allows us to develop and implement comprehensive training designed to support the self-care and resilience of volunteers and employees, including our essential front-line developmental service workers while continuing to offer high-quality supports during these challenging times,” said Dr. Claudine Cousins, Empower Simcoe CEO.

“All Empower Simcoe employees, especially our direct support professionals, will benefit greatly from this Resilience and Self-Care training,” says Empower Simcoe Supports and Services Supervisor Kayla Hall.” This training will enable us to cope more effectively with the day-to-day stressors in our careers and give us the right tools to continue to provide the highest quality of care for the people and families we support.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund.