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Good evening. I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to speak to you at this very special celebration. First of all, as I mentioned, I am delighted to have been appointed Ontario’s Minister of Culture. I am very aware of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s impressive history. As Minister of Culture with responsibility for the Foundation, I hope to build on that history.
This year’s Great Grants Awards ceremony is a special one, since we are honouring award recipients as well as marking the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s 25-year history of accomplishments. The Foundation’s first quarter-century reads like an epic novel about people and how they have worked to improve their communities.
It’s a story about what people can achieve when they have vision and commitment, and the means to make their dreams come true.
I am so impressed by all the winners and their innovative projects. I’d like to congratulate each and every award recipient – from past grantees to present. Your ideas, vision and hard work inspire and motivate us all to greater accomplishment.
This evening is really about our citizens building better communities, and the crucial role that the Ontario Trillium Foundation plays in helping them realize their goals. Ensuring that the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s funds are invested wisely is important work and it has been doing this work - helping to build healthy and vibrant communities - for 25 years.
I can only imagine the number of people involved in the work of the Foundation over the course of 25 years. You all deserve recognition. I want to congratulate the Foundation and commend its Board of Directors - Chair Helen Burstyn, Vice-Chair Hugh O’Neil, CEO Robin Cardozo, the Foundation’s staff, Grant Review Team Chairs and volunteer members across Ontario for their tireless efforts. Your efforts support projects that have a positive impact on communities throughout Ontario.
As Minister of Culture, I can assure you that our government believes that the voluntary sector matters to Ontario. The work of the sector enriches the quality of life in our communities. It contributes to our prosperity as citizens. This work matters because we can’t have healthy communities without it. The Ontario Trillium Foundation has a great responsibility.
As Ontario’s Minister of Culture, I look forward to working with the Foundation to advance the goals of the government and improve the quality of life for all Ontarians. |