Grace Centre Expansion Project Powered by Local Support and $1.2 million in Government Grant Funding

Jeff Green | May 29, 2024

Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) held two events last week to mark a major milestone in a building project that has been either in the planning, fundraising, or construction stage for over a decade.

On Friday, SFSC welcomed funders and special guests to the ribbon cutting ceremony for just opened expanded facility at the Grace Centre.

The project received $1.2 million in federal, provincial, and municipal funding.

The first major grant that the project received as a $750,000 commitment from the Township of South Frontenac, which happened in December of 2021.

That commitment supported an ongoing community fundraising campaign that continued to raised funds throughout 2022 and 2023.

The provincial government also kicked in a $150,000 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which was used to fund the purchase and installation of windows and doors for the new project.

Local MPP John Jordan attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on behalf of the government of Ontario

“Our government’s vision for a healthy, vibrant Ontario includes a strong emphasis on local priorities,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston. “An OTF Capital grant of $150,000 will help to ensure that the Grace Centre continues to provide a safe, accessible and welcoming space that prioritizes the needs of South Frontenac’s Senior community. "

Funding also included a $50,000 Feeding Possibility grant from Feed Ontario, and a $250,000 contribution from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

“Congratulations to Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation on the official opening of the newly expanded Grace Centre in Sydenham. The Government of Canada is thrilled to support projects that help to build strong communities and give people a place to gather and stay connected,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

In a media release, SFCS said that “being able to secure grants from all three levels of government , represent a significant investment in our mission SFCS provides many services to the community particularly to older adults, ranging from meal programs to fitness and social clubs. SFCSC also operates the region’s food bank.”

Heather Rogers, SFCSC’s Executive Director talked about what the ribbon cutting represented for the agency.

“This is an exciting day, that has been a long time in the making. So many people contributed to getting this expansion off the ground and making it a reality. From our dedicated staff and volunteers to the generosity of our donors and the support of these grant funders, each contribution has played a vital role in making this expansion a reality.

“This milestone represents not only a physical building, but our collective commitment to support the seniors and vulnerable families of our community right here at home, with the respect and dignity they deserve”.

SFCSC provides services that support seniors and vulnerable that enhance their quality of life. The services are based on the principle of helping seniors remain in their own homes as long as possible, and encouraging resilience for rural residents, by providing support to meet their basic needs.

Duncan Sinclair, a former Board member of SFCS, and a long-time advocate and researcher into health care reform and the aging at home strategy, spoke at the ribbon cutting.

He paid tribute to the vision provided by South Frontenac Township to provide the initial $750,000 to fund the project.

“They recognized that SFCS provides the kinds of services for seniors that make the township a viable place to live for families and seniors,” he said. Sinclair also said that while the construction has taken place over the last six months, the project was a priority of former SFCS Executive Director David Townsend, who worked on the development of the Grace Centre throughout his tenure with the agency, and secured the township funding that made the project possible.

The Government of Canada provided funding for this project through Fed Dev Ontario, which was set up 14 years ago with the intention of advancing and diversifying the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. OTF’s current focus is on projects that enhance economic well-being, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment.

Although there was a ribbon cutting ceremony to acknowledge and thank these government funders, the SFCSC expansion project is not yet fully completed and renovation work continues to get to the finish line.

The project’s focus has been to create modern office space for SFCS staff who had been working in portables, and to create a permanent space for the South Frontenac Food Bank, while maintaining goof access to the greenhouses and gardens where the combined SFCS Loughborough Public School Food program operates.

While that aspect of the project is now finally complete, work is continuing in the Grace Centre to update the basement area that is used for the Adult Day Program that SFCS operates.

And while fundraising efforts have made the construction projects possible, there is still a shortfall to the agency due to construction cost overruns.

But that is for another day.