Municipality of Huron Shores

“With increasing traffic volumes, our fire department is responding to more motor vehicle collisions than ever before. Stabilization tools like struts are critical during auto extrication. They make the vehicle secure, allowing our firefighters to safely access those inside. Scene safety is invaluable, and with the rising cost of emergency equipment each year, donations like this from Trillium Mutual’s ROOTS Community Fund are more meaningful than ever. We are truly grateful for their support.”

— Henk VanDelft, Fire Chief, Municipality of Huron Shores

Kincardine Firefighters Association

“Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Kincardine Fire Department. We truly appreciate your commitment to helping us improve our training grounds to better serve our community and surrounding area. Thanks to you, we are able to expand our training grounds by adding burn props that allow us to practise live fire situations. These training props use a propane-fed system to create intense flames and heat and are used to train firefighters in realistic situations with hands on experience. This allows members to build their skills, knowledge and confidence so we are better prepared to provide the highest level of emergency service and safety education to ensure the protection of life and property.”

-Krystal Catto, Fire Fighter and Association President

Rural FASD Network

“Rural FASD is thrilled to work with Trillium Mutual in providing mental health first aid training to 30 people living with multiple disabilities, their primary caregivers and their service providers. Through this training, they will be equipped to identify when someone is experiencing mental health challenges and help them access the professional support they require.”

– Rob More, Chair Rural FASD Network

Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 383 – Tara)

“Royal Canadian Legion branch 383 is thrilled to have received funding through the ROOTS community fund for a new defibrillator for our facility. Our group was concerned when our old unit failed due to the number of people who use our facility every day. Because of the grant money, we were able to get a new and easier-to-use unit installed in our facility so that guests and members have a life saving device at the ready in case of an emergency.”

– Joe Draper, Duty Supervisor, Grey County

The Red Seal Youth Band

“The funds will be used to pay for new and used instruments, cover repair and maintenance costs, and support our mentorship program. This allows us to keep music education affordable for all. The band plays a vital role in , building confidence in young musicians and keeping the tradition of live music alive in Milverton, strengthening our community connections and enriching local events.”

– Evelyn Mueller, Secretary

Township of Howick

“Thank you to the Trillium Mutual Insurance ROOTS Community Fund for supporting the Howick Optimist Pool Automatic External Defibrillator purchase and install project. The pool facility will be able to offer a safer environment, by having access to an AED staff and the public will now be able provide an early response to cardiac events and potentially save a life.”

-Brady Ropp Manger of Recreation & Facilities

The SEED – Guelph Community Health Centre

“With deep appreciation for the partnership of Trillium Mutual Insurance Company’s ROOTS Community Fund, Sovereign Seeds is excited to expand our cultural food and seed production and distribution in the 2025 growing season! With the ROOTS Community Fund’s support, Sovereign Seeds will establish crop cages to protect and produce rare heirloom cultural seed variety crops for harvest for cultural food and seed box distribution across Southern Ontario. We are proud to be supported by the ROOTS Community Fund in this work as we nurture Indigenous peoples’ agricultural food systems for current and future generations.”

– Nicole Davies, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity Heartland

“The funds will support the establishment of a newly organized sorting area in our ReStore warehouse. This space will streamline the intake, assessment, and storage of donations received from individuals and distribution centres, improving operational flow and volunteer
safety. The upgrades include the purchase of essential equipment such as Poly Box Truck, drywall carts, and panel trucks, along with funding for more frequent waste collection to reduce warehouse congestion.”

– Rukevwe Etikini, Fund Development Specialist

Green Haven Shelter for Women & Children

“Green Haven Shelter provides emergency housing and care for women, and their children, who are experiencing gender based violence. We were met with some serious challenges during the ice storm power outage earlier this year. We don’t want to be in that position ever again. Our facility is 14,500 sq ft with complex systems and requires a generator of substantial capacity to power essential services when needed. This funding brings our organization significantly closer to its goal of raising the full cost of this project and we are so grateful to Trillium Mutual for their generous support!”

– Jessica Gouveia, Manager of Administration

Milverton Ag Society

“The Milverton Agricultural Society is extremely grateful to be a recipient of the Trillium ROOTS grant in the amount of $10,000 to support the washroom renovation project. The washroom building on the ground’s of the Milverton Agricultural Society, is a key asset on a property enjoyed regularly by many residents and visitors to Milverton. The washrooms support athletes and spectators at the baseball diamond and horse riding ring, as well as participants and revellers at events held at the Milverton Agri-Centre (MAC) such as Milverton Fair, Trade-Shows, weddings, private parties and 4H Shows. The washrooms were built in the 1970s and after 50 years were in need of being updated, not just for aesthetics but from an infrastructure standpoint.”

– Angela Schneider, Treasurer

REACH (Regional Equine & Ag Centre of Huron)

“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided towards the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for our classroom training facilities. This essential equipment will enhance the safety of our students and staff during training and day-to-day operations. With this funding, REACH can respond confidently in emergency situations —positively impacting both our organization and the wider community we serve. The generosity of the ROOTS Community Fund helps us build a safer learning environment.”

– Emily Morrison

Optimist Club of Ellice

– Matt Crowley, President

Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association

“Over the past twelve years, the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (BPBA) has worked with the farming community of Judges Creek sub-watershed to improve stream water quality. BPBA has developed a solar-powered AWS that pumps water from the stream into water troughs, providing cattle with a source of clean water without accessing the stream. These funds will allow BPBA to work with the community to undertake repairs, refurbishments, and upgrades to aging alternative drinking water sources currently installed. In addition, the project provides examples of best management practices for landowners managing livestock as well as water courses.”

– Jennifer Adams, Scientific Advisor & project Manager

Community Living North Halton

– Greg Edmiston, Executive Director

G2G Rail Trai

“The funding from the ROOTS Community Fund will support the production and installation of 15 new mapboards along the G2G Rail Trail, a 132 km corridor connecting Guelph to Goderich. These boards will enhance navigation, promote local destinations, and provide safety and accessibility information for trail users. This project will strengthen wayfinding and community connection across rural Ontario. The improved signage helps residents and visitors explore nearby communities, supporting local tourism and small businesses along the trail. The G2G Rail Trail welcomes over 100,000 users each year, so the impact of this initiative will be both immediate and long-lasting.”

– Willow Hall, Executive Director

Inter Township Fire Department

“Thanks to the generous support of Trillium Insurance, the Inter  Township Fire Department now has access to high-quality safety vests that enhance both visibility and protection. These vests ensure our firefighters can carry out their duties more safely and effectively while serving our community. This grant makes a direct and meaningful contribution to the wellbeing of our team and the safety of those we serve. On behalf of myself and all the members of the Inter Township Fire Department team, we extend our sincere thanks to Trillium Insurance for your commitment to supporting firefighter safety and wellbeing.”

– Jeff Gautreau, Fire Chief

Lucknow & District Firefighter Association

“The Lucknow & District Fire Fighters Association sincerely thanks the Trillium ROOTS Community Fund for their contributions towards the purchase of a drone. The acquisition of our drone will significantly enhance firefighter capabilities, efficiency, and safety when responding to emergencies.   We would like to thank Trillium for their support towards our Fire Department and Community.”

– Steve Bushell, District Fire Chief

Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation

“The Walkerton & District Hospital Foundation is very grateful for the contribution from the ROOTS Community Fund in support of our X-Ray Suite Replacement Fundraising Campaign. This donation means that we are one step closer to achieving our $1.4M goal, allowing for our hospital to have the most up-to-date x-ray equipment to continue serving our patients close to home.”

– Brittany Hawkins, Executive Director

Canadian Mental Health Association, York Branch

“Thanks to the ROOTS Community Fund, CMHA York Region & South Simcoe will purchase essential supplies for MOBYSS (Mobile York South Simcoe), Ontario’s first mobile health clinic for youth ages 12–25. This grant helps ensure our team has the resources they need to provide walk‑in primary care and mental‑health care across rural schools and community hubs. ROOTS’ support helps keep care timely, confidential and close to home, strengthening youth resilience and reducing suicide and substance‑use risk. It expands our reach, and strengthens our ability to provide free, confidential, and barrier‑free mental health and primary care in rural communities like Alliston, Angus, Bradford and Innisfil, meeting young people where they are and when they need us most.”

– Catherine Matzig, Senior Director of Philanthropy

Friends of the North Perth Public Library

Friends of the North Perth Library launched the local branch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2024, with a goal of increasing early literacy for local children. Families living in North Perth can register children to receive a free book each month, mailed to their home, from birth up to their fifth birthday. The cost to purchase and mail books is about $50 per child per year. The Friends have set a 5-year fundraising goal of $150,000, providing books for up to 600 children each year. We’re incredibly grateful for this generous by Trillium’s ROOTS Community Fund, which will provide books for 120 children for one year.

-Stacey Ash, Chair

Kiwanis Club of Chatham Kent

“The Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent has partnered with the Dollywood Foundation of Canada to bring books to preschool children in all of Chatham-Kent. Each month enrolled children will receive a free, age-appropriate, high quality book in the mail until they turn 5 years of age. The ROOTS grant will be sufficient to move 14 children from the wait list into the Imagination Library, providing over 640 books to them!“

-Antoon van der Reijden, Vice President

Tavistock Community Health

“The Board of Directors of the Tavistock Community Health Inc (TCHI) thanks the Trillium Roots Council for their review of our application.  The funds awarded will be used towards the renovation of the medical building in Tavistock, ON. The project was developed to create an updated space to ensure the facility is  welcoming, fully accessible to patients, meeting the needs of the existing doctors and attractive to new healthcare professionals. By upgrading the medical clinic, we are hoping to keep doctors present in our rural community and support the long term healthcare needs of the local aging population & young families in this community.“

– Board of Directors