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An Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $500,000 for renovations and upgrades to the Johnson Township Community Centre was announced Friday.
Michael Mantha, MPP Algoma-Manitoulin made the announcement and unveiled the display of what the community centre will look like when the work is done.
He credited community staff and volunteers with putting in the considerable time and effort needed to secure funding under the Community Building Fund Capital Stream Grant and with knowing better than anyone else what their community needs to really thrive.
A good portion of the funds will go to maintaining and repairing the building with cracks to the back wall and ice pad slated for repairs and new installation planned throughout the building, said township event, recreation, marketing and promotions coordinator Patti Trotter.
She went on to say some of the funds will be used to make the building and grounds more accessible and up to construction codes.
"It also gives us a good foundation to work from as we develop other ideas and apply for other funds," she said at Friday afternoon's announcement.
The centre is the cornerstone of several developments planned to better serve the growing communities of Desbarats, Johnson Township and the North Shore as well as the other townships surrounding the area.
"This centre serves as a gathering place for eleven area townships," Trotter said. "People come here for sports, events and activities. We're hoping to better meet their needs with this funding and with the projects in the works."
The goal is to break ground on the projects in May.
Some of the other projects planned are aimed at making the grounds around the community centre more accessible, attractive and useful.
A natural playground, walking trails and upgrades to both the soccer fields and baseball diamond are some of the ideas being planned for.
The community is also looking at upgrades to the Johnson Township Farmers Market space to make it more useful every day, not just for the days the Farmers Market is running.
Trotter says the goal is to attract more tourists to the area and keep them there longer by offering a variety of activities all year round.
The full text of a release from Johnson Township follows.
In 2021, the Johnson Township Community Centre scored big with a $500,000 Community Building Fund grant from the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
On Friday, local MPP Michael Mantha met with representatives from the township to hear how this grant, which is focused on capital projects, is being used to help with repairs and renovations that will help extend the life of the facility. Construction will begin in May and is expected to wrap up in March 2023.
“The people of Algoma-Manitoulin make no secret of why we make this place our home,” said MPP Michael Mantha. “A major factor is the unique, close-knit sense of community that seems prevalent here in the North,”
Mantha explained that providing funding for Northern community programs and facilities is an excellent investment for OTF.
“Northerners know that life is better when we share our skills, talents, and energies. This generous funding support from OTF will help to keep this community strong and encourage people to reach out and be involved. Life is good here in Algoma-Manitoulin because Northerners understand this.”
Built originally in 1978, the Johnson Township Community Centre has been a vital part of the area’s recreational activities.
The Community Building Fund grant will be put to work to help with a number of upgrades including, replacing the exterior siding and insulation throughout the site to improve energy efficiency.
Work inside the building will include improving the heating in all the dressing rooms, installing new rubber flooring, increasing accessibility by adding new handrails and reducing tripping hazards, doing some repairs to the concrete in a few areas, including the ice pad and the Zamboni room, and finally, repairing the north-west corner of the Community Centre.
“This is a huge Win for Johnson Township,” said the Honorable Blaine Mersereau, Mayor of Johnson Township. “Renovating and repairing the Johnson Township Community Centre will allow us to continue to provide valuable recreational activities and events for all members of our community and individuals living in neighbouring communities along the North Shore. Having this facility in good repair allows us to continue to promote a healthy lifestyle and healthy minds to community members of all ages, building a stronger, healthier community in Johnson Township.”
Repairs and renovations to the Centre will have a large impact on creating a facility that is safe, accessible, and positioned to handle the demands of not only Johnson Township but 11 additional municipalities that use the space as well.
The renovations will position Johnson Township Community Centre to be prepared to bid on larger sporting events or activities, that will add valuable tourism dollars to the local economy.
The Municipality of Johnson Township is committed to providing a fully centralized, accessible facility to meet the needs of the area, supporting recreation, promoting healthy lifestyles and act as a valuable meeting place for organizations throughout the extended catchment area.
To book the Hall, Rink Floor, Outdoor Pavilion, or any of the other amenities offered at the Johnson Township Community Centre, please visit the website or call the Recreation Coordinator at 705-782-6601 x205.
To follow along with the construction and activities in Johnson Township, find us on Facebook @JohnsonTownshipRecreation.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector.
In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.