On Friday, MPP Chris Glover was at the Bentway Skate Trail to celebrate the work that the Bentway Conservancy has done with two grants, totalling $135,600, it received from the Ontario government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2022 and 2023.
It is wonderful to hear that The Bentway was the recipient of both a Resilient Communities Fund grant and a Capital grant. Along with its beautiful skate trail, The Bentway provides our community and visitors with incredible year-round programming and art installations for all ages to enjoy. This support will enable The Bentway to continue to provide these offerings for many years to come!
Chris Glover, MPP for Spadina-Fort-York
In 2022, the group received a $100,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant to help it recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by hiring specialized staff to do a feasibility study and develop new fundraising and partnership strategies. Then, in late 2023, the group learned it was also receiving a $35,600 Capital grant to make essential repairs to the refrigeration system which operates and maintains The Bentway’s popular winter skating trail. Both projects are an investment in the long-term future of this beloved shared public space. Thanks to these grants, The Bentway can continue to provide incredible cultural experiences, community programs, and free recreational offerings year-round.
Thanks to these grants, The Bentway can continue to provide incredible cultural experiences, community programs, and free recreational offerings year-round.
“A huge thank you and congratulations to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for 40 years of building healthy and vibrant communities across the province,” said David Carey, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway. “These grants will ensure that we can continue to provide our community with free recreation and community programming for many years to come.”
The Bentway works “to ignite the urban imagination”, using the city as site, subject, and canvas. Anchored under Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway and guiding its complex future, The Bentway is a growing public space and creative catalyst. Phase 1 of The Bentway opened in 2018 and presents a demonstration of what is possible along the Gardiner.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
