City of Peterborough providing $212,505 in community grants to 30 local groups and not-for-profits

The City of Peterborough is providing a total of $212,505 in community grants to 30 local community groups and not-for-profit and charitable organizations — including INSPIRE: The Women’s Portrait Project, Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, Peterborough VegFest, Peterborough Poetry Slam, Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, New Stages Peterborough, and The Theatre on King.

City council endorsed a staff recommendation for the 2022 grants at the general committee meeting on Monday (March 7).

A total of $15,525 will be provided to 18 community groups under the community project grant stream, which is intended for smaller organizations and smaller programs and events from $250 to $1,000. A total of $196,980 will be provided to 12 local not-for-profit and charitable organizations under the community investment grant stream, which provides supports for projects and special events, specific programs, or operating budgets from $1,000 to $15,000.

Here are the organizations receiving community project grants, with the amount of the grant and the organization’s stated purpose for the grant:

• INSPIRE: The Women’s Portrait Project ($1,000) – “The funding will be used to create a video that tells the story of survivors of domestic abuse through photographic imagery and audio files accompanied by interviews with front line workers. The video will be accessible on the INSPIRE website, on social media and at the exhibit.”
• Quilts for Cancer Peterborough County ($1,000) – “The funding is used to purchase cotton fabric, quilting thread, quilting batting and flannel. The quilt tops are 100% cotton fabric. The quilts are given to cancer patients free of charge.”
• Bonaccord Community Garden ($1,000) – “As part of our wider interest in making Bonaccord a welcoming and accessible space for everyone, this proposal is for seed money towards the construction of 2 elevated 4’x4’x36inch garden beds. Currently Bonaccord offers only ground-level plots that pose significant barriers for people with a wide range of mobility challenges.”
• Peterborough Friends in Music Community Band ($1,000) – “Subsidizing students/at-risk youth, to recognize that music is important in their lives ($333); assist with cost to purchase a keyboard and timpani pad to enhance our community performances ($333); new music for learning and performing ($333).”
• Kawartha Wildlife Centre ($1,000) – “Funds will support the continuation of our educational outreach programs within elementary schools within Peterborough. This program teaches students how to build bee, bird, and bat houses for installation in schoolyards and in surrounding greenspace. Programming encourages students to think critically and apply their skills to benefit local wildlife.”
• Peterborough Veterinary Outreach ($1,000) – “Funds will be used to purchase necessary consumable medical supplies for the animals that we serve. These include core vaccines (rabies, distemper, feline upper resp) and flea/tick and parasite treatments. We carry a very limited supply of pain medications and antibiotics. Other supplies include syringes/needles, hand sanitizer, face masks, etc.”
• Sheet Seven Community Garden ($1,000) – “This year we are hoping to double the number of raised garden beds (add 14) to expand our community garden and allow us to provide gardening space for an even greater number of people. This project funding reflects tool rental, lumber, and hardware costs.”
• Operation Catnip Peterborough ($1,000) – “OC will commit $2500 to help subsidize the cost of spay/neuters for low-income caregivers. We pay our participating veterinary clinics a reduced cost of $140/cat, which includes spay/neuter surgeries, rabies and FVRCP vaccines. We would appreciate the full funding available again, as prices have also gone up (last year $130/cat).”
• Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group ($400) – “This funding will be used for outreach and engagement within the local community. We want to build local awareness of the group, engage residents and partners in planning for positive changes to the park, through environmental education (Guided Nature Walk, Bird Walks, Heritage Walks).”
• Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival ($1,000) – “Funds will be used again to rent equipment and hire local technical personnel for our performance festival.”
• Peterborough Gleans ($1,000) – “We are requesting $1,000.00 from the City of Peterborough, as we did last year. These funds will be used for communication, co-ordination, and transportation to glean (pick) local produce for those who have low income and food insecurity in Peterborough. Eg.Lone parent-led families, Indigenous and welfare recipients.”
• Peterborough Community Medicine Garden ($800) – “The request is to provide weekly mentoring meetups to mentor and onboard new participants. Although current participants happily manage the gardens, only a handful are able to onboard and mentor new participants. The funds would enable our project to provide small honoraria for mentors to run weekly meet-ups.”
• Peterborough VegFest ($1,000) – “We hope to run a full in-person VegFest once again in 2021, on whatever scale is possible. Our free event features diverse food and product vendors with an emphasis on local businesses, as well as speakers, workshops, performers, and children’s activities.”
• Peterborough County Stewardship ($325) – “The requested funds will be used to support the building of habitat nesting boxes for community groups and individuals in Peterborough. Building materials are purchased locally and PCS works with Fleming College (Industrial Arts program) to build nesting boxes which are then sold to the public.”
• Peterborough Chinese Community Organization ($1,000) – “The funding will be used for a Chinese Culture Enhancement program involving the celebrations of Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival, a Chinese transitional arts show. The show will present Chinese transitional calligraphy, painting, and transitional Opera. We are excepting to have 450-500 clients to be serviced.”
• Peterborough Poetry Slam ($1,000) – “This year’s funds are intended to help us re-launch the PPS with a series of 15 virtual and/or in-person performances, as well as providing workshops, and writing-circles. We have worked virtually since 2020 and are eager to again expand audiences and support artists with safe, Covid-compliant virtual and in-person activities.”
• ME/FM Association of Peterborough & District ($750 – “The requested funds will supplement our 2022 budget, allowing us to continue providing education, encouragement and understanding to sufferers and family members during these uncertain times.”
• Dance Works ($250) – “This funding would allow the workshops to be shared amongst a variety of Impoverished communities such as persons living with disability. It would also allow for rental space within the City of Peterborough.”

Here are the organizations receiving community investment grants, with the amount of the grant and the organization’s stated purpose for the grant:

• The Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts ($15,000) – “To increase the effectiveness of our social programming to Peterborough’s Marginalized populations, to professionally develop our staff, and to adapt for performing conditions in 2022.”
• New Stages Peterborough ($8,000) – “New Stages Peterborough is requesting a Community Investment Grant towards operating costs for our season in 2022-2023.”
• Creating Space Community Arts Studio ($3,630) – “Please continue to sponsor this volunteer-run community arts studio, fostering connection, belonging, and resilience through free low barrier art making for 460-1400 community members annually.”
• The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough ($8,000) – “The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough is requesting $10,000 to support its’ Summer School to be held in August 2011 for students with Down syndrome.”
• Peterborough Theatre Users Group ($15,000) – “City funding will support the operations of The Theatre on King, an accessible community art space offering para-professional arts experiences and training.”
• Heads Up for Inclusion ($8,000) – “HUI is seeking support to continue development of a virtual platform, allowing persons with barriers to inclusion to connect to each other and their community.”
• The Art School of Peterborough ($8,250) – “The Art School of Peterborough requires financial assistance to help with the cost of clay for online pottery workshops and community outreach programs.”
• Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario ($1,000) – “The investment grant allows Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario to continue to inspireand prepare students to succeed in a global economy.”
• Trent Radio ($3,250) – “Supporting our local Producer Oriented Radio Undertaking which provides a media platform for community engagement, as well as training in communication and broadcasting.”
• Peterborough Concert Band ($3,200) – “The Peterborough Concert Band looks forward to continuing its 160 year tradition of live music for the citizens of Peterborough with this generous grant.”
• Artisans Centre Peterborough ($9,250) – “ACP is requesting funding to support an accessible artisan facility in downtown Peterborough and the advancement of its instruction in artisan disciplines.”
• P. R. Community and Student Association (Sadleir House Facility) ($1,400) – “We are requesting $15,000 to assist us in covering operating costs to cover the day-to-day costs associated with running a community facility.”

The city’s approved 2022 budget has allocated $20,350 for community project grants and $212,642 for community investment grants, leaving a surplus of $4,825 and $15,662 for each stream.

Surplus funds will be used for emerging 2022 community requests that are approved, and any unused funds at the end of the year will be carried over to the 2023 budget for the community grants.