September 13, 2023 — From the Royal Botanical Gardens 

On Wednesday, local MPP Natalie Pierre met with Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) to recognize $453,200 in funding through two grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The grants were used to fund two projects aimed at enhancing their visitor experience and conservation efforts.

“Thanks to the two grants awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Royal Botanical Gardens will be able to make improvements in visitor experience and conservation efforts,” said Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington. “Both projects are significant steps in the preservation, protection, and promotion of plant species here in Burlington”.

In March 2020, RBG was awarded a $303,200 Grow grant from the OTF to help cover staffing and program costs for their Grasslands and Meadows project. The project’s objective was to restore six large scale sites to healthy grassland and meadow habitats to improve ecosystem health and biodiversity. This initiative has helped make conservation and restoration efforts be better planned and more sustainable, thereby impacting the lives of 95,000 people in the community and encouraging them to support a healthier and more sustainable environment.

In November 2022, RBG was awarded a $150,000 Capital grant to address a community needs by funding the purchase of two mobile 3-stall washroom trailers and two accessible single washrooms with ramps, providing essential amenities for RBG visitors. The grants will enable RBG to improve and expand its conservation work and provide necessary facilities for visitors to enjoy the natural wonders of RBG’s outdoor events.

“We are thrilled to receive these grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Kim Viney, COO, Royal Botanical Gardens. “With this funding, we can enhance our conservation efforts and improve our visitors’ experience by offering the amenities they need to participate in our outdoor events.”

For more information about the Royal Botanical Gardens, please visit their website. https://www.rbg.ca/

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110 million into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.