Niagara Region community projects receive federal funding

OTTAWA—Projects in the Niagara Region will receive federal funding as part of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

The projects are among the more than 250 that are receiving funding following the first round of applications.

Some of the projects the funding will support include:

• The Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum is receiving $10,000to transform its courtyard into a an accessible outdoor space and become a public WiFi hotspot, add more seating, install a tent that offers shelter from the elements and to make additional safety improvements so the museum can offer COVID-friendly programming.
• The Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #230) is receiving $13,000 to adapt its community spaces to support safe and distanced recreational activities for community members including the purchase of seated exercise equipment, refurbishing a horseshoe pit, setting up new picnic tables to better mark and manage space and installing a roof over the outdoor stage. 
• Heartland Forest Nature Experience is receiving more than $24,000to promote the participation and inclusion of seniors and people with disabilities in outdoor nature activities with the support of WiFi hot spots, interactive trail maps with braille and mobile apps.  

A second call for applications for funding under the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will close on June 25 at 5 p.m. PST. Applicants can apply for funding ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 for eligible projects.

“Federal funding through the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will help organizations across the Niagara Region meet increased demand for accessible places where people can gather outdoors safely and will help create greater access to the internet, a vital resource in this ever increasing digital world,” said Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities, in a statement.