Moraine land trust gets 155,500 from Trillium Foundation
By Bill Rea
A large grant allocation will always put smiles on a lot of faces, and that was certainly the case Friday.

Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust President Andre Flys accepted the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation from Mervat Rashwan of the foundation grant review team, and Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek.This tree was planted as part of Friday's observances. Helping out with shovels was Janine Fernandes, who will be representing students on the Oak Ridges Moraine in July in Victoria, B.C. at celebrations for the City's 150th anniversary, Mayor Margaret Black, event Emcee Susan Walmer, Flys, Rashwan, Jaczek and Kim Garvine, executive director of the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation.

Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek was in King City to announced the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust (ORMLT) had received a $155,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The grant is over three years, and is intended to help ORMLT build on its organizational and fundraising capacity by using the money to cover key staffing, administration and program costs. As well, the land trust has some new initiatives planned for increasing the amount of land it preserves, adding to the stewardship on these properties and increasing the number of volunteers.

Jaczek also pointed out the money will help ORMLT spread word to the public about the work it's doing.

"The preservation of green spaces is very important to our government," she remarked, adding Queen's Park is currently looking at expanding the Provincial Greenbelt.

Jaczek also referred to her other role in the government, as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health Promotion. Part of that mandate is promoting physical activity, and having trails and green space for people to walk on is one way to accomplish that, she pointed out.

"Conservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine has great importance to many more people than have the good fortune to live in Oak Ridges - Markham," she added. "I am very pleased that the ontario Trillium Foundation has recognized the efforts of the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust by granting this deserved award, which will ultimately benefit hundreds of thousands of Ontario citizens."

Mervat Rashwan, of the Trillium Foundation grant review team, commented that ORMLT believes every day is Earth Day, adding the team was very impressed with the scope of the plans presented to them. They were also excited about what's being planned and are looking forward to more.

ORMLT President Andre Flys commented there are more environmental refugees than there are from war, but added "all hope is not lost."

He pointed out ORMLT has only been operating since 2001, and it has more than 3,000 acres of the moraine under protection.

"It was done by ordinary people," he added. "Please don't give up, because you alone can make a difference. Change does indeed start with you."

"We are incredibly pleased and honoured with the support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation," he added. "It shows the work we have been doing has more than just local impact. Protecting the moraine preserves more than beauty. It preserves clean water, air and a place to grow our food."

Mayor Margaret Black, a member of the ORMLT board, praised the staff work that went into making the grant application. She also stressed taking care of the environment is all about partnerships between organizations in and out of government. "That's the way we will protect the environment," she declared.

Kim Garvine, executive director of the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation, called ORMLT "one of the moraine's greatest guardians."