Like many non-profit organizations here in Ontario, Peterborough Green-Up applies to the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for funding. We are always pleased to find out we are successful with a grant application and those monies have funded many terrific programs that have directly benefited the greater Peterborough area over the years.

We were elated to announce that Peterborough Green Up is one of 19 finalists for the OTF’s prestigious 2009 Great Grants Awards. The awards recognize Ontario organizations that have demonstrated exceptional results, innovation and a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

Unfortunately, we didn’t win the big prize, but being nominated is an honour in its own right. We were chosen out of literally thousands of grants awarded across the province every year, and that is no small feat.

The specific grant that garnered the attention was for our urban forestry program, in partnership with the City of Peterborough. Peterborough school children are learning why trees are vital to a community’s health and well-being and then pulling their families outside to conduct backyard and neighbourhood tree inventories.

Thirty youth and adult volunteers are being trained to serve as urban foresters, under the watchful eye of program coordinator Chirs Gooderham. Staff at local garden centres, Trent University, a hardware store and golf course gave a tree care workshop. All are part of the Urban Forestry Program, a program that engages residents to preserve and enhance the urban forest in their neighbourhood. The city is developing a new municipal forestry policy to ensure the Peterborough’s green canopy is regularly nurtured and maintained.

We were awarded a three-year $162,500 OTF grant (awarded June 2007) is underpinning this community forest movement.

Our executive director Sue McGregor-Hunter and Green-Up Landscape program coordinator Cathy Dueck have been in Toronto since yesterday participating in the awards ceremony. Today the duo is passing on their expertise by participating in a “speed granting” session, offering advice to others who want to be more successful.