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Ontario Investing $230,700 to Expand Community Programs and Services in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke

March 10, 2026

Investment will support local non-profit organizations to create jobs and build stronger communities.

NEWS March 10, 2026

COUNTY OF RENFREW ― The Ontario government is investing $230,700 this year
through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Grow program to support a local non-
profit organization in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. This funding helps organizations
promote active lifestyles, protect arts, culture and heritage, and expand opportunities for
children and youth across the province, while delivering on the government’s plan to
protect Ontario by strengthening local services and build stronger, more resilient
communities.

“We are grateful that the Ontario Trillium Foundation continues to invest in our region.
This funding will be a strong driver of arts and culture in the Ottawa Valley, helping
create connections and programming that strengthen community wellbeing.
Congratulations to the Ottawa Valley Creative Arts Open Studio on receiving this grant.”

  • Billy Denault, MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
    Every year, OTF Grow grants support community organizations across the province to
    expand and improve the delivery of community-based programs and services that
    Ontario families rely on, with investments of up to $600,000 to support programs and
    services.

    This year, we are pleased to share that Ottawa Valley Community Arts Open Studio has
    been selected as the recipient of a Grow grant over three years. This funding will
    support the expansion of the ART Helps initiative, enhancing arts, nature, and
    connection-based programming throughout the community. The project will introduce
    new art forms and partnerships while strengthening community wellbeing through a
    variety of workshops, program series, and staff wellness sessions.
    The Ottawa Valley Community Arts board and staff are thrilled to receive 3 years of
    funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to improve our ART Helps program.  ART
    Helps programming supports individual and community wellbeing by bringing people
    together to engage with art-making in the natural environment.  Our evaluation has
    demonstrated that the combination of care, social engagement, art-making and being
    outside significantly improves the wellbeing of participants.  This next phase of ART
    Helps will include performing and media arts offerings as well as visual arts.  We look
    forward to launching the 2026 series later this year! 
  • Anya Gansterer, Artistic Director with Ottawa Valley Community Arts
    “In Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke and in communities across Ontario, non-profits are
    running proven programs that help people build skills, stay active, and feel more
    connected to where they live,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
    “This investment will help build on the successes of local initiatives, empowering them
    to reach more people, deepen their impact, and strengthen community life all across the
    province.”

    “The Ontario Trillium Foundation is pleased to invest in this new round of Grow grants,
    which are designed to improve the lives of Ontarians. These grants play an essential
    role in helping non-profit organizations broaden their local programming to address
    diverse community needs,” said Katharine Bambrick, CEO of the Ontario Trillium
    Foundation.

    Through OTF’s various granting programs, Ontario has invested more than $857 million
    in over 7,700 projects since 2018. These investments have created more than 10,700
    full time jobs and generated over $1.3 billion in economic benefits for communities
    across the province. For more information and a list of recipients, visit the Ontario
    Trillium Foundation’s website.

QUICK FACTS
– The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism,
Culture and Gaming. Its mandate is to build healthy and vibrant communities across
Ontario by investing in community-based initiatives and strengthening the impact of
the province’s non-profit sector. OTF programs support the arts, culture, heritage,
sports and recreation, human and social services, and environment sectors across
the province.
– Applicants can apply for funding of $100,000 to $600,000 over two or three years
through OTF’s Grow grant to expand, improve or adapt an existing program or
service.

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MEDIA CONTACT
For additional information, please contact:
Krystal Moreau, Constituency Assistant
Office of Billy Denault, MPP
613-735-6627
krystal.moreau@pc.ola.org