Wellington County gives away nearly $64,000 in community grants

Taxpayers here have supported various local groups and enterprises with just over $64,000 in cash grants from county council.

The largest single grant was $19,500 in the “special circumstances” category. That was given to the Wellington County Buy Local Buy Fresh map project. The only other grant in that category this year was $1,000 to the East Wellington Family Health Team.

The scholarship grants remained the same as other years, at $6,200. That includes:

- $200, the Grant McCellan award;

- $5,000 in scholarships awards of $500 per student for ten students; and

- the University of Western Ontario medical scholarship of $1,000.

The county’s eight agricultural societies each received $500. Other agricultural groups received:

- $1,500, Wellington 4-H  Association; and

- $500 each to the Farm and Home Safety Association, County Plowmen’s Association; and the Soil and Crop Association.

In community programs, county council was generous, at $20,000:

- $500 each to the Wellington County Historical Society, St. John Ambulance of Fergus and the one in Guelph, Friends of Mill Creek, and the Wellington County Cattlemens Association;

- $1,500 to the Guelph Arts Council;

- $2,000 each to the Community Resource Centre, East Wellington Community Services senior’s day program, Victoria Park Senior’s Centre; Centre Wellington Food Bank; the Career Education Council, and Food and Friends; and

- $1,000 each to North Wellington Senior Council (known as CREATE), The Door Youth Centre in Centre Wellington; The Door Mobile Youth Centre in Erin; and Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre.

- $2,000 each for the Elora Centre for the Arts, Sensational Elora - A Festival of the Senses; and the Centre Wellington Senior Games;

- $1,500, for the Canadian National Conservatory of Music;

- $1,000 for the Volunteer Centre of Guelph-Wellington; and the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.