Town of Espanola Celebrates the work happening thanks to OTF Grants from the Ontario Government Totalling $117,700
Espanola, ON – On Wednesday, MPP Bill Rosenberg met with representatives to congratulate them on receiving two grants, totalling $117,700, from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2024 and 2025. On the day, MPP Rosenberg was able to see the results of the $57,700 Capital grant from 2024 that was used to reduce gender barriers for ice sports and other fitness activities in the Recreation Complex. The MPP also congratulated the Town on receiving a $60,000 Seed grant late last year to pilot an intergenerational local history program at the library that will bring youth and older adults together.
“Congratulations on receiving $60,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to pilot an intergenerational history program in Espanola,” said Bill Rosenberg, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin. “This meaningful initiative will help preserve and celebrate the community’s diverse heritage while fostering strong connections across generations. Congratulations as well to the Town of Espanola on securing funding that has supported improvements at the Community Recreation Centre. This investment enabled the expansion of changeroom facilities, helping to meet the needs of a growing number of participants. The need for this expansion speaks to the centre’s popularity and the strong sense of community it inspires. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing these important projects to life,” added MPP Rosenberg.
The year-long OTF Seed grant will used to pilot an intergenerational local history program that brings youth and older adults together through guided interviews and workshops, as well as to preserve and celebrate the community’s diverse heritage. Funds from the grant will help with staffing, purchasing mobile digital displays, picture frames, technical equipment and a software subscription as well.
The OTF Capital grant, awarded in 2024, was used for the Squashing Out Gender Inequity project which included the renovation of an underutilized squash court into a dedicated female change room for ice users, which can also be partitioned into a multi-purpose rental space for meetings and birthday parties. The remaining squash court also received some upgrades and is now available for squash, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and pickleball. In addition to the changeroom renovation, the Recreation Complex has also installed six emergency menstrual product dispensers throughout the entire facility.
“On behalf of Council and the Town of Espanola, I want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation and MPP Bill Rosenberg for their continued support of our community. These investments at the Recreation Complex are about more than infrastructure – they’re about inclusion, dignity, and ensuring that everyone feels welcome and supported when participating in sport and recreation. We’re also excited to see the Espanola Public Library bring generations together through its local history program, helping preserve the stories that shape who we are. Together, these projects strengthen our community today and for the future.” – Douglas Gervais, Mayor, Town of Espanola
The Town of Espanola is committed to investing in ways to increase the year-round use of the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex. Together with the Espanola Public Library, these community hubs serve hundreds of members and patrons from across the Manitoulin–LaCloche and North Shore region each year, offering a wide range of opportunities for fitness activities, meetings, special events, community programs, educational workshops, literacy initiatives, celebrations, and fundraisers. Through expanded library programming – including youth activities, digital literacy training, and inclusive community events – the Town continues to foster learning, connection, and well-being for residents of all ages.
Thanks to the OTF grants, residents of Espanola and surrounding areas will continue to have access to healthy recreation and enriching educational opportunities with fewer gender barriers, supporting a more inclusive and vibrant community year-round.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. In 2025-26, OTF invested nearly $107M into 746 community projects. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Joseph Burke, CAO/Clerk
Town of Espanola
705-869-1540 ext 2113 // jburke@espanola.ca
