THUNDER BAY — This week, 35 Indigenous communities, charities and municipalities, including four in the Thunder Bay region, received $25,000 in funding from the Hydro One Energizing Life Community Fund.
The funding aims to support initiatives that promote physical, emotional and psychological safety and well-being.
EcoSuperior was among the four regional recipients, which also included the Children's Centre Foundation Thunder Bay, Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation and Wunnumin Lake First Nation.
"Whenever we receive funding support, it's, it's very important to EcoSuperior because we are not-for-profit without core funding," said Ashley Priem, the centre's co-executive director.
The funds will be directed toward the creation and installation of what Priem calls Thunder Bay's first traffic garden.
"It's like a playground in a space that's designed to provide hands-on skills for kids to learn biking skills, road safety and how traffic works," she said.
"It's basically a controlled environment where kids can gain confidence and master these very important life skills."
The project fits into the Hydro One funding application criteria, where recipients create a more inclusive community through interpretation and translation services while providing a supportive environment for families with young children.
The money is also aimed at helping to deliver programs and experiences that equip girls to overcome barriers and provide a supportive community for adults with different challenges to develop friendships, purpose, and new skill sets.
Priem noted that EcoSuperior frequently applies for funding and is waiting to hear if they were successful in receiving an eco-action grant to support a new litter trap project.
The Children's Centre Foundation will use the funding to provide a variety of children's mental health, child development and parenting services to infants, children, youths and their families.
Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation will build a greenhouse on reserve lands, and Wunnumin Lake First Nation will install the community's first public charging station. They will also acquire a small fleet of electric boats, small vehicles and tools to encourage broader adoption of zero-emission technologies.
Over the last four years of providing the Energizing Life Community Fund grants, Hydro One received a record amount of applications from across the province this year.
At least 20 per cent of Hydro One's corporate donations and sponsorships are designated to Indigenous communities and initiatives that benefit those communities. A statement from Hydro One says in alignment with this commitment, approximately 23 per cent of the Energizing Life Community Fund grants will benefit Indigenous communities and organizations.
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative