Stayner "PARC" Project gets large grant
Several Stayner community groups, in partnership with the Township of Clearview, have received a four-year Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $315,800 to initiate a collaborative project that will share the resources and improve the capacity of all groups, while engaging youth and strengthening tourism.
Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage, who had the original vision for what is now called the PARC Project (the name is an acronym for Partnering, Advancing, Resourcing and Community), announced the Trillium Foundation’s approval of the grant application at the outset of Monday’s Clearview Council meeting.
The five community groups involved – the Clearview Stayner Foodbank, the Clearview Community Garden, the Stayner Chamber of Commerce, the Stayner Garden Club and the Door Youth Centre – all suffer from either a dearth of volunteers or a lack of money. In the case of the Stayner Garden Club and the Community Garden, the average age of members is old enough to make the necessary physical labour problematic.
Under the supervision of Township Community, Culture and Recreation Programmer Shane Sargent, the Trillium funding will pay for two 18-week post-secondary student summer jobs in year one, three positions in year two and four positions in years three and four. The students will provide labour to the various organizations, work as tourism ambassadors for the Chamber of Commerce, and work with Jennifer Gerrior, executive director of the Door Youth Centre, on finding ways to recruit and engage youth in working with the community groups as well.
Hopefully, if the right students are found, they might stick with the program for the duration and play a large role in developing a structure that can continue after the funding period has ended.
Several capital improvements will be covered by the funding as well, including a new commercial refrigerator/freezer for the Food Bank, a new shed and tractor for the Community Garden, improvements to Gazebo Park and a new tourism kiosk for the Chamber of Commerce.
The project will be overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of Wendy Jeffries of the Clearview Stayner Food Bank, Judy Hutton of the Stayner Garden Club, Larry Culham of the Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Gerrior of the Door, Sargent, Savage, Councillor Shawn Davidson and Township General Manager of Transportation and Recreation Steve Sage.
“It’s an exciting initiative, not only because it provides help with labour and financial needs, but because it bridges demographics between youth and seniors,” said Savage.
Solar Farm Proposal
A representative of First Ontario Energy Inc. came before Council Monday night to provide them and the public a first glimpse of a 400-acre, 40-megawatt solar farm they are hoping to build on five leased agricultural properties southwest of New Lowell.
The company plans to submit an application to the Ontario Power Authority when the application window opens again for large-scale solar proposals. When it does, it’s hoping to include a resolution of municipal support with the application.
All of the land under lease is Class 4 agricultural land or worse, and the representative said it’s First Ontario’s policy to buffer the projects so they can not be seen from neighbouring roads.
Property owners Fred Somerville (of Somverville Nurseries), John Thomson and Paul Fraser were present and spoke in support of the proposal.
Pictured above: Members of the Stayner PARC Project Steering Committee gathered for a picture at the site of the Stayner Community Garden this week after finding out their grant application with the Ontario Trillium Foundation had been successful. From left to right in back are Norm Lemieux from the Clearview Community Garden, Township Community, Culture and Recreation Programmer Shane Sargent, Door Youth Centre Executive Director Jennifer Gerrior and Township Transportation and Recreation Manager Steve Sage. In front are Wendy Jeffries of the Stayner Clearview Food Bank, Judy Hutton from the Stayner Garden Club and Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage.
