Province spends $75,000 to help get you to the watershed

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

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Funding Supports Safe and Accessible Access Points Along the Lake Superior Water Trail

The Ontario government is investing in access points along the Lake Superior Watershed to complete the portion of the Trans Canada Trail in time for Canada’s 150th birthday and the trail’s 25th anniversary in 2017, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“Celebrating this important anniversary by making improvements to the Lake Superior coast benefits not only local users but Sault Ste. Marie’s tourism industry,” said Orazietti. “New enhanced, safe, and accessible access to the Lake Superior water trail will ensure that our waterfront remains an outstanding, high quality natural resource while ensuring coastal communities continue to benefit from the recreation and tourism opportunities.”

The investment will be made through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $74,800 to the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy for a 24 month project.

Funds from the grant will allow the non-profit organization to hire a project coordinator, and will provide operational capacity for the development, signage, and launch of 17 access points along Lake Superior.

Ten key access points will be completed in the first year of this project, with the remaining seven being completed in year two.

A total of ten secondary access points will be completed over the two year time frame.

Amenities including universal docks, washroom facilities, and signs will be purchased and installed at key access points.

“Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy is pleased to receive funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a Water Trail Project Coordinator for the Trans Canada Trail Lake Superior Water Trail,” said Mary Ellen Szadkowski, President of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy.  “This water trail is a 1,000-kilometer section of the Trans Canada Trail from Gros Cap Harbour in Prince Township to Fisherman’s Park in Thunder Bay. The coordinator will work with the community, the park and First Nation partners to establish 14 priority access points along the coast for the enjoyment of both land and water travellers.”

Trans Canada Trail (National) and Trans Canada Trail Ontario will assist in the execution of the project, and Tourism Northern Ontario will assist with marketing the access points.

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and Canada’s largest granting foundation.
• Over $110 million is awarded annually by the foundation to 1,300 nonprofit and charitable organizations.
• The Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy (LSWC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term health of the Lake Superior watershed.

Provincial investments through the Ontario Trillium Foundation in Sault Ste. Marie, since 2003, total over $7 million and include organizations such as:

•           $250,000 Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre

•           $173,000 Sault Youth Association

•           $  98,700 Community Living Algoma

•           $  90,000 Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie and District

•           $  77,300 Soo Pee Wee Association

•           $  70,000 Kiwanis Community Theatre

•           $  75,000 Sault Ste. Marie Skate Park

•           $  75 000 Passport to Unity Multicultural Festival

•           $  68,500 Learning Disabilities Association Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  67,500 Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  61,700 Musical Comedy Guild of Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  60,000 Sault Ste. Marie Symphony Association

•           $  60,000 Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club

•           $  60,000 Ken Brown Recovery Home

•           $  50,000 Tarentorus Sports Club

•           $  53,000 United Way of Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  41,700 Big Brothers Big Sisters Association

•           $  30,000 Searchmont Ski Runners

•           $  30,000 Family YMCA Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  27,600 Echoes Drum Festival Sault Ste. Marie

•           $  15,000 St. Marys River Marine Heritage Centre

A leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities. www.otf.ca.

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