Provincial funding awarded to community service organizations in Whitby

Whitby organizations providing services for the disabled community in Whitby have been awarded more than $111,000 in provincial grants.

Sunrise Developmental Support was given $51,300 in funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Capital grant stream. The money will help expand access to local programs and activities and ensure residents can continue to benefit from the services that the organization provides.

Sunrise Developmental Support Services CEO Amber McKinley said the investment will allow the organization to retrofit two existing washrooms and construct a third universal, fully accessible washroom.

“Non-profit organizations across Ontario are delivering critical programming that helps people train for new careers, stay active, learn new skills and connect with their communities,” said Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho. “Our investment will help modernize and improve the spaces these organizations rely on so they can continue delivering the services that strengthen communities and drive local economic growth.”

The Abilities Centre and the Regional Municipality of Durham each received a $25,000 Seniors Community Grant for their Falls Prevention Exercise and Education program and the Seniors Empowerment and Connections Project.

The Abilities Centre will use their grant to provide education and exercise training to decrease fall risk and hospitalization with their 8-to 12-week exercise and education program for seniors at risk of falls, delivered twice weekly in hour-long small-group training sessions and supported by education sessions.

With 85 per cent of injury-related hospitalization and 95 per cent of hip fractures due to falls, reducing fall risk is critical to support an aging population and the Canadian healthcare system.

Durham Region will use their grant for the Seniors Empowerment and Connections project, which is seeking to engage and empower older adults including veterans and persons from equity-deserving groups across Durham Region, by offering culturally responsive social programming to strengthen relationships and foster new connections. The project will also promote safety and strengthen financial, health and mental well-being, and will offer trauma-informed workshops on elder abuse awareness and online/cyber safety.

“Seniors have made lasting contributions to our community, and they deserve opportunities to stay engaged, active and connected,” said Whitby MPP Lorne Coe. “These investments in the Abilities Centre and the Regional Municipality of Durham will help reduce social isolation, promote healthy living and ensure more seniors can participate fully in community life.”

The Ontario government has invested more than $887 million in 8,000-plus projects since 2018. These investments have created more than 12,000 full time jobs and generated $1.3 billion in economic benefits for communities across the province.