$20,800 Ontario Government Grant Creates a Splash for the Municipality of Huron East

A photo of our junior lifeguards, MPP Lisa Thompson, and Huron East staff.

June 3, 2024

Vanastra, ON: MPP Lisa Thompson was at the Vanastra Recreation Centre to formally congratulate representatives from the Municipality of Huron East on the work happening as a result of receiving a $20,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant in 2023. The two-year long grant from the provincial governments Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is being used to help the municipality with the Junior Lifeguard Club program for youths ages 10-14.

“I congratulate the Municipality of Huron East for actively addressing the need for more lifeguards. Our government values this initiative,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron Bruce. “The Junior Lifeguard Club is a wonderful opportunity to attract youth to fulfilling work opportunities that ultimately will see our local pools fully utilized and enable people to pursue active living activities, close to home."

This new program promotes lifesaving knowledge, leadership, teamwork, competition and fitness. It also aims to create long term interest in aquatic leadership to address the need for more certified lifeguards. Funds from the OTF grant will be used to help with costs for providing training for staff to deliver the Junior Lifeguard Club program for young people. The program will help young people develop lifesaving knowledge, leadership, teamwork, competition and fitness skills.

“Fostering these wonderful partnerships allows Huron East to provide greater services to our community and residents,” said Mayor Bernie MacLellan. “The support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has given us the ability to offer extended programs with the additional recruitment and training of the Junior Lifeguards. We are proud to provide Huron East residents of all ages with these excellent services.”