TORONTO— Hydro One announced the 2022 recipients of the Energizing Life Community Fund. Across Ontario, 24 Indigenous communities, charities and municipalities have been selected to each receive $25,000 in funding to support initiatives that promote physical, emotional and psychological safety and well-being.
For the second year, the fund will support initiatives that promote physical, psychological and emotional safety across Ontario. Energizing Life Community Fund grant recipients provide critical local services such as service dog training for youth with autism, interactive technology to foster social engagement for seniors and environmental educational programming for Black and racialized families.
“In every corner of the province, Indigenous communities, charities and municipalities are addressing critical local needs and promoting well-being and safety. Hydro One feels a deep responsibility to be present and support local organizations who are working tirelessly to energize life in their communities, from developing mental health programs for adults to promoting physical activity among children,” said Jason Fitzsimmons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Customer Care Officer, Hydro One. “We want to congratulate and thank the recipients of the 2022 Energizing Life Community Fund for all they do in their local communities.”
As Hydro One indicated 24 organizations and communities were selected to receive $25,000 from the Energizing Life Community Fund for their ability to make a difference and energize local communities, including communities such as: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Nation, and Pays Plat First Nations.
“Myles Ahead is committed to reducing barriers in accessing mental health services for young people and their families,” said Leslie Kulperger, founder and executive director, Myles Ahead, Advancing Child and Youth Mental Health. “The Hydro One Energizing Life Community Fund will be instrumental in creating a framework to help establish new youth hubs in underserved regions across Ontario.”
Last year, recipients of the fund promoted physical, psychological and emotional well-being through a wide variety of initiatives, including the creation of a new fitness trail in Tweed, the development of safety-learning simulations for children in Windsor and Essex, and the construction of accessible public change rooms to promote inclusivity in Dryden.
In 2021, Hydro One made a commitment to direct at least 20 per cent of its corporate donations and sponsorships to Indigenous communities and initiatives that benefit Indigenous communities. In alignment with this commitment, close to 25 per cent of the Energizing Life Community Fund grants will benefit Indigenous communities and organizations.
Hydro One’s community investment program focuses on building safe communities in Ontario. The company supports programs, events and initiatives that focus on safety training and safe play. Some of its partners include the ACT foundation, Jack.org, Coaches Association of Ontario and Scouts Canada. To learn more about the Energizing Life Community Fund, visit www.HydroOne.com/EnergizingLife
Pays Plat First Nation will use the support from Hydro One to make enhancements to their Community Centre, upgrading their heating and cooling systems and providing a more safe and accessible space year-round.
PAYS PLAT FIRST NATION -- Pays Plat First Nation is an active healthy community that strives to provide modern amenities for its citizens, while at the same time staying in touch with their history and traditional ways of life. It has many assets that are beneficial to its residents including a community hall, fire hall, water treatment plant, pow wow grounds, multipurpose facility and a business centre.
Every year they offer many cultural activities including an annual Pow Wow in July. This annual event occurs the third week of July at the Pow Wow grounds in Pays Plat. There everyone can enjoy traditional ceremonies, drummers, dancers and traditional food. Several vendors are also on-site offering traditional arts and crafts from Pays Plat as well as food and traditional delicious dishes.
Meghan Collie, Communications, from Hydro One, shared information about Pays Plat First Nation and why they were selected as one of the 24 recipients of the 2022 Energizing Life Community fund.
Collie explained the program and Hydro One’s commitment to helping indigenous communities and organizations, by stating that, “Through our community investment program, we are committed to directing at least 20 per cent of our corporate donations and sponsorships to Indigenous communities and initiatives that benefit Indigenous communities. 25 per cent of the 2022 Energizing Life Community Fund grants will benefit Indigenous communities and organizations”.
When selecting recipients for the Energizing Life Community Fund, she further indicated that, “Hydro One looks for initiatives focused on improving community physical, psychological or emotional safety and committed to supporting cultural diversity in their communities”.
Pays Plat First Nations has continued to make improving the daily lives of their community a primary focus. They have indicated that the Energizing Life Community Fund grant that they will be receiving from Hydro One’s initiative, will go towards renovating their Community Centre in order to equip it with upgraded facilities such as its heating and cooling systems.
Their community demonstrates the criteria that Hydro One looks for when determining which communities will be chosen to be awarded this funding.
“Support from the Energizing Life Community Fund enables communities and organizations to implement an initiative with clearly articulated outcomes as it pertains to the safety and well-being of Ontarians. The three recipients of the Energizing Life Community Fund in the Thunder Bay area include Our Kids Count of Thunder Bay, Pays Plat First Nation and Animbiigoo Zaagi igan Anishnaabek”, stated Collie.
Being one of the 24 recipients of the 2022 Energizing Life Community Fund, Pays Plat First Nation represents a community which Hydro One is proud to support. This community historically has worked hard to develop and maintain a place where their citizens can live, work and protect their culture, traditions, language and way of life.
