Funding has helped Swimmers of Northumberland make a splash and sets them up for success
MPP David Piccini announced that Ontario is investing $33,200 into the Northumberland Aquatic Club (NORAC) through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Resilient Communities Fund. MPP Piccini met with representatives from NORAC to hear how this funding has created a splash within the Club. This nine-month long grant, awarded in 2022, helped NORAC to buy new time-keeping equipment that will make a difference for many swimmers in the years to come.
“Supporting Ontario’s local sports clubs and organizations is vital to their long-term sustainability and providing opportunity to youth and adults across the province,” said David Piccini. “With this funding to Northumberland Aquatic Club, these swimmers will be able to train more efficiently and effectively to improve their skill set to represent our great community”.
The Ontario Government has supported and will continue to support the Northumberland Aquatic Club. In 2021, the Ontario Trillium Foundation granted the club $26,000 to go towards operating costs and to rebuild their swimming program after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past two years, the Ontario Government has invested over $50,000 to ensure that the Club has the resources they need to be successful in and out of the pool.
Following some initial supply chain delays, all the new equipment has now arrived. The OTF grant enabled NORAC to buy portable whiteboards for training programs, a set of Dolphin Wireless electronic stopwatches, an electronic scoreboard and a laptop computer and software. The funds were also used to help with costs involved to help with an administrator to set up and train NORAC officials on the new equipment. The new, more accurate timing equipment will also help to attract more clubs to participate with swim meets in Port Hope.
“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” said Trish MacNeil, NORAC Head Coach.
NORAC (www.swimnorac.com) is a non-profit organization which provides professional swim instruction, training and coaching for children and adults in Northumberland County and seeks to meet the needs of each swimmer while challenging them to reach their highest potential as an individual.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
