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At Trillium Mutual we are proud of our strong legacy of community support over many years. We are committed to the sustainability of rural Ontario and we realize we have an opportunity to support programs that will foster the success of this responsibility.

The Trillium ROOTS Community Support Fund will ensure that we continue to provide meaningful assistance in the future. We have established a new and fresh approach that is designed to improve the levels of consistency of support over time and provide an independent and objective process to review all requests.

The Trillium ROOTS Council is a body within our Governance Model that will accept, review and recommend levels of support for applications received from the communities in which our policyholders live and serve.

Mental Health Resources

Trillium ROOTS Community Fund focus areas include

Agriculture

Agriculture applications must benefit sustainability and development of the agriculture industry in Ontario

Mental Wellness

Mental Wellness applications must be single-time projects/programs, with a focus on rural and/or agriculture, that do not receive government funding

Healthcare

Healthcare applications must be capital in nature

Emergency Response

Applications must be capital in nature

Environmental/Sustainability

Applications must be capital in nature

2023 ROOTS Council meeting dates

Requests for funding are reviewed quarterly. We appreciate as much lead time as possible. The greater the advance notice we are given, the better decisions we can make regarding your application. The quality of your application and timing of the application is also very important. Only applications received prior to the published deadlines will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of council. All applicants will receive a timely response following Council review. 2023 Annual Budget: $245,000. 2023 average quarterly budget: $61,250

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Quarter 1 - March 23rd, 2023

(deadline for applications is March 9th, 2023)

Quarter 2 - June 8th, 2023

(deadline for applications is May 25th, 2023)

Quarter 3 – September 14th, 2023

(deadline for applications is August 31st, 2023)

Quarter 4 – December 6th, 2023

(deadline for applications is November 22nd, 2023)

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ROOTS Council Members

Carrie Robertson

Chair

Carrie graduated from the University of Guelph in 2003 with a degree in both Political Science and French. After spending 12 years working in the agriculture industry, she made the switch to steel and is currently employed at Vicwest in Stratford.  She enjoys learning, is fascinated by culture, and loves to travel. She is honoured to have had the opportunity to participate in various exchange programs through The Rural Ontario Institute, and Rotary International.  Carrie and her husband Alex reside in Wellesley, and they can both be found at the curling rink as many days per week as possible.  She loves the Olympics, animals, reading, music, and a smorgasboard of physical activities.

Profile picture of Jennifer Isber-Legge ROOTS Council Chair

Jennifer Isber-Legge

Jennifer and her family operate Legge Beef Farms north of Chesley. She is currently the Volunteer Services and Special Event Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society Grey-Bruce. Jennifer previously owned and operated a business doing fresh floral designs and wedding invitations and holds a diploma in agriculture from the University of Guelph. Her community involvement includes working actively with the Bruce County Beef Farmers, reading grants for Community Foundations Grey-Bruce, and previous roles with Minor Hockey, Breakfast Club, the Chesley Medical Centre Fundraising Committee, and as the Beautification Chair for the Bruce County IPM. Jennifer enjoys hiking, gardening, photography, travelling and being a soccer/hockey Mom.

ROOTS Council Member Karen Galbraith

Karen Galbraith

Karen and her husband Steve started Legacy Holsteins near Atwood.  Over the years the herd has performed well being recognized nationally for superior genetics and top production.  Legacy Holsteins is transitioning with partners Geoff & Sally McMullen to continue the dairy heritage into the future.  Karen graduated with a DVM and MSc (Capacity and Rural development) from Guelph. International development in the dairy industry connected her with Kenyan Kids Canada of which she is founding director.  Other board involvement included Perth Care for Kids, Trillium Mutual, Four County Labour Marketing Board, and Atwood Presbyterian church. Continuous lifelong learning is a passion that she practices through traveling, hiking, gardening, quilting and reading.

Derek Mendez

Derek Mendez

Derek and his wife Shelly-Ann migrated their family from Trinidad & Tobago to Canada in early 2010 and have been residents of Listowel ever since.  Derek is Vice President at Molesworth Farm Supply Ltd. responsible for innovation, technology, manufacturing, logistics, regulatory compliance and project management.  He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, holds a B.Sc. Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Port Planning and Management from the University of New Orleans, a Masters’ Certificate in Business Analysis from York University and a Certificate in Python Programming from Cornell University. Derek formerly volunteered in the positions of Board Chair at Community Living North Perth, Co-Chair of the Habitat for Humanity Listowel Project, and basketball coach for the Municipality of North Perth.  Derek provides support around race relations and equity to various organizations, and is involved with numerous Boards at the Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels.  He sits on the North Perth Police Services, Agricorp, the Ontario Agri Business Association, and the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada boards.  Derek enjoys developing software, basketball, riding, hiking and continuous learning.

Doug Yeo

Doug Yeo

Doug lives in the Clinton area and is a retired educator who was raised on a mixed farming operation. He taught in schools in Huron County at the K-8 levels as a classroom, resource and special education teacher.  During his teaching career he obtained a BA from WLU and a M.Ed. from UWO.  Over the years he has volunteered by being a board member for Big Brothers, Habitat for Humanity, the municipal recreation board, church boards, the Bayfield Agricultural Society and just finished his role as Past President of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS).  In his years on the provincial board of the OAAS he spent a great deal of time on the governance committee and convention seminar committee.  His interests include gardening, photography and reading about history.

Blair Freeman

Blair Freeman

Blair is a Dairy and Cash crop farmer residing near Chatsworth ON. Prior to being in primary production Blair worked as a Territory sales manager for a major input supplier.  Blair graduated from the University of Guelph with a BSc in Agriculture and currently holds a Certified Crop Advisor designation.  Blair and his wife Brett have two young children.

Eligibility

ROOTS would like to hear from you regarding your funding needs!  We are always accepting applications to help fund organizations making a difference across Canada. (Preference given to rural Ontario applications)

 

Ineligible Categories – ROOTS is unable to provide support in the following areas:

Professional and Fundraising Fees

Completed Projects

Endowment and Scholarship Funds

For-Profit Organizations

Housing Co-Operatives

Individuals

Initiatives Outside of Canada

Private Clubs, Foundations and Schools (except when they are engaged in a project that benefits the community)

Sports activities such as (but not limited to) golf tournaments, runs, races

Political Parties, Ridings, Associations and Candidates

Conference, Symposium or Workshop Associated Fees & Expenses

Organizations that Discriminate in Any Way Against Any Race, Gender, Ethnicity and/or Sexual Orientation

Religious or Sectarian Programs or Purposes, unless engaged in a capital project benefiting the community

Statues, Monuments, Signage, Art Work or Beautification Projects

Trips or Tours and any related expenses

Private or Commercial Vehicle Purchases and/or Leases

Third Party Fundraising Initiatives

Send in your application today

Please consider your application as the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund will only support one project/initiative/program per organization every three years.

Previous sponsorship support by Trillium Mutual Insurance may not guarantee approval of your application.

If you require more information with respect to Trillium ROOTS Community Support, please contact Sam Vadera at 1-800-265-3020 or email roots@trilliummutual.com.

2023 Annual Budget: $245,000. 2023 average quarterly budget: $61,250

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What people have to say about us

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Waypoint

“The Youth Wellness Team and all of us at Waypoint are so thankful to Trillium Mutual for their incredible generosity. This wonderful donation in support of youth mental health is inspiring and is helping to improve the mental wellbeing of youth across Ontario. Thank you to Trillium Mutual for making the mental health of our youth a priority.”

Carol Lambie - President and CEO of Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario

CMHA, Ontario

Trillium Mutual is proud to announce a $50,000 donation through our ROOTS Community Fund to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario (CMHA) to support the roll out of the “In the Know” program. This program developed through the Ontario Veterinary College focuses on directly improving mental health literacy in agriculture.  “Trillium’s generous contribution was the catalyst that forged this great opportunity for us to support the agriculture community with mental health awareness and suicide prevention training”.

You can read the full press release here or check out Camille’s video testimonial here.

Camille Quenneville - CEO, CMHA Ontario

One Roof

“The funds will be utilized toward our capital campaign to build a 44 unit supportive housing building. This build will, in effect, eradicate youth homelessness in Waterloo Region. The Build is slated to be complete by December 2021 and will immediately house 44 youth. The lack of affordable housing is a very real issue for everyone, but particularly for youth who have no housing history, limited cognitive development and are struggling with the issues that lead them to become homeless in the first place. This build will ensure they have a home that provides them with the stable foundation to make real changes in their lives”

Sandy Dietrich-Bell - CEO, oneROOF Youth Services

Thank you Trillium Mutual

The funding we received through the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund is supporting the Grand River Conservation Foundation and the Grand River Conservation Authority to make improvements to the Laurel Creek Nature Centre’s Discovery Room.

We will be creating a learning environment that ensures students are met with displays that spark a sense of wonder and delight while connecting them to their local watershed. Approximately 15,000 students per year use the Laurel Creek Nature Centre and will directly benefit from the support given.

Thank you Trillium Mutual!

Sarah Fleischhauer - Stewardship Project Lead

Milverton Lions Club

The Lions Club of Milverton are thrilled and grateful to receive this generous donation from the ROOTS Community Fund. This is a significant contribution to our fundraising efforts to support our project to redevelop the courtyard at Knollcrest Lodge in Milverton, Ontario. Our goal is to transform this courtyard into a safe and welcoming place for residents to spend time outside with their loved ones and friends, as well as provide an area for visitors, volunteers and staff to relax and socialize. Once completed, the landscape and overall appearance of the courtyard will be improved so that it is not just enjoyed from within the courtyard; it will be a warm and inviting view year-round from inside resident rooms and lounges. The courtyard will promote the health and well being within the Knollcrest community, providing independence and access to a pleasurable space for all.”

Joel Phelan - Lions Club Committee Member

Kingsbridge Centre

The Kingsbridge Centre Basement Renovation project was a massive project which took over four years to complete.  The ROOTS Community Fund multi-year commitment did more than just supply much needed funds.  The donation encouraged and inspired the St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community in their efforts to supply a multi-use community facility.

We truly believe that with friends, neighbours and businesses working together, we can preserve our rural way of life and revitalize rural Ontario.  Kingsbridge considers Trillium Mutual Insurance Company to be a leader and an outstanding example for other organizations to follow

Jennifer Miltenburg - Corporate Donations Co-Ordinator

Groves Memorial Community Hospital

Groves Hospital Foundation received a generous donation from the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund, in support of the New Groves Hospital Project.  We were responsible for raising 10% of the costs of the physical buildings for the new facility, and donations are imperative to the success of the project.

It is philanthropic acts like this that make us so proud to be a part of this great rural community.  Without the support of our generous donors, none of what we do would be possible.

Lori Arsenault - Executive Director

Tri Town Ski & Snowboard Village

The ROOTS Community Fund was generous in supporting our fundraising efforts and helped us to reach our goal of building a new chalet.  This new building, which opened the winter of 2019, will allow us to continue to offer the opportunity to children and their families to participate in the winter sports of skiing, snowboarding and tubing.

Lorna Desmarais - Vice President of Tri Town Ski & Snowboard Village

CBaSE - University of Guelph

Voted by our students as one of the top companies to work for this semester, Trillium has returned to CBaSE to continue the work that began during a project in the Winter 2016 semester. Trillium is excited to be back on campus, benefiting once again from the unique perspective University of Guelph students can bring to their company.

It’s no surprise that the University of Guelph and Trillium have shared values, and CBaSE applauds Trillium’s commitment to improving the communities they work in. In 2013 Trillium developed a philanthropic arm, entitled “ROOTS” (Recognizing Our Opportunity to Support). The program is designed to give back to the communities they serve. ROOTS is running well.  Since 2013 ROOTS has pledged over $500,000 to various community projects through this program.

CBaSE recognizes Trillium for their desire to innovate and push their market forward. Students will certainly enjoy Trillium’s appetite for creativity and experimentation this semester.

Trillium rises up to the CBaSE challenge for students to “get real”.

Victoria Jubilee Hall

“Everyone at the Victoria Jubilee Hall is extremely thankful to receive these funds that will go towards restoring the hall’s front entrance. The hall is a community-drive regional hub for arts & culture, as well as a designated heritage building in Walkerton. We thank the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund for supporting our ongoing efforts as we move the hall into its 125th year.”

Ted Cobean - Board Chair, Victoria Jubilee Hall

Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation

“The donation received from the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund is greatly appreciated by the Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation and helps to bring us one step closer to reaching our mammography campaign fundraising goal. Having a new mammography machine at the Walkerton Hospital will mean that we are able to offer the best possible health care in our community now and well into the future.”

Brittany Hawkins - Executive Director, Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation