Peterborough city council will be asked to approve a total of $188,135 in new grants to 43 community organizations in 2025, including the maximum $15,000 community investment grant to the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, New Stages Peterborough, Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, and Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.
Councillors will receive a city staff report when they meet as general committee on Monday (March 31) that recommends $20,965 in community project grants to 24 organizations and $167,170 in community investment grants to 19 organizations.
The report also notes that $36,900 in previously approved funding will be provided to four organizations, representing the third and final year of a multi-year funding agreement, for a total of $204,070 in expenditures for community investment grants to 23 organizations.
The grant recommendations come four months after city council voted against a proposed 25 per cent in funding to the city’s community projects grants and community investment grants program in the city’s draft 2025 budget, following strong public opposition about the potential impact of the cuts.
According to the staff report, the city’s community project grant program — which has a maximum grant of $1,000 for eligible organizations — received 37 applications for funding. A committee comprised of city staff reviewed the applications, and determined five organizations were ineligible to receive the grants.
The city’s community investment grant program, which has a maximum grant of $15,000 for eligible organizations, received 22 applications for funding. A committee comprised of appointed citizens reviewed the applications and recommended grants for 19 organizations.
The total approved 2025 budget for the community project grants program is $20,965, with $204,070 approved for the community investment grants program.
A complete list of the organizations recommended to receive grants and the amounts is shown below.
Community Project Grant Recommended Funding – $20,965
Social services
Hearts 4 Joy Skills Development Project – $1,000
Operation Catnip – $1,000
Peterborough Gleans – $1,000
Selah House – $1,000
Canopy Support Services-FASD Program – $850
Volunteer Peterborough – $850
Bangladesh Association of Peterborough Canada (BAPC) – $830
All Saints’ Anglican Church – $600
Peterborough Humane Society – $600
Arts
10-Minute Sunday Festival – $1,000
First Friday Peterborough – $1,000
Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival – $1,000
Peterborough Friends in Music Community Band – $1,000
Peterborough Pop Ensemble – $600
Health
Food for Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Programs (Peterborough Public Health) – $1,000
Peterborough Veterinary Outreach – $1,000
Quilts for Cancer Peterborough County – $1,000
Environment
Bonaccord Community Garden – $1,000
The Monarch Ultra – $1,000
Kawartha Wildlife Centre – $850
Culture
Abraham Festival – $850
Indo-Canadian Association of The Kawarthas – $800
Peterborough Chinese Community Organization – $600
Sports
Quaker Park Tennis Club – $535
Community Investment Grant Recommended Funding – $167,170
Arts
Kawartha Youth Orchestra – $15,000
New Stages Peterborough – $15,000
Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts – $15,000
Peterborough Symphony Orchestra – $15,000
Peterborough Children’s Chorus – $13,000
Peterborough Theatre Users Group – The Theatre on King – $10,250
Artisans Centre Peterborough – $7,500
Art School of Peterborough – $4,200
Peterborough New Horizons Bands – $1,600
Social services
Heads Up For Inclusion – $10,000
Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough Inc – $10,000
Bedford House / Bridges Peterborough – $7,500
PARD Therapeutic Riding – $5,000
Sports
Peterborough Swim Club – $11,000
Kawartha Komets Special Needs Hockey Program – $10,000
Environment
Camp Kawartha – $5,620
Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) – $4,500
Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee Inc. – $2,000
Culture
Trent Radio – $5,000
Community Investment Grant Confirmed Multi-year Funding – $36,900
Year 3 of 3
ReFrame Film Festival – $15,000
Public Energy Performing Arts – $9,900
B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop – $7,000
Peterborough Concert Band – $5,000
Items endorsed by general committee on March 31 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.peterborough.ca.
