Legion Branch 296 here will be getting some badly needed renovations after it received a $102,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant last Friday.
Susan Leuty, a Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin Trillium Foundation grant reviewer, announced the grant at a press conference at the downtown Legion.
Leuty said the foundation has invested about $120 million for community projects, including the Harriston Legion grant.
“Congratulations on making a difference in your community,” she told those gathered at the press conference, including Legion members and veterans.
“The funds will aid Harriston Legion in making improvements to the facility that would otherwise not be possible,” a Legion press release stated. “Upgrades approved for the project include a badly needed roof replacement, two furnaces, and air conditioning, floor replacements, fire suppression in the upper kitchen, a security system and meeting accessibility standards for the rear entrance door.”
Work on the grant application has gone on for more than a year by a Legion Trillium committee headed up by Mark MacKenzie.
The building is used by several community groups, including seniors and young people.
“The improvements we are making here are going to make it so much better to provide services to this community,” Legion member Terry Fisk said.
“The money will be well spent, the building will be well used, and the community will appreciate this,” Fisk said.
Legion President Judy Tuck said members appreciate the grant and upgrades that will be done to the building starting in the near future.
“The Harriston Legion is proud to be part of the community,” Tuck said. “We are important to the community as a provider and facilitator. We are so thankful for this Trillium grant so we can maintain this building.”
As a condition of receiving the grant the work has to be completed within a year.
