$108,200 OTF Grant, sets Glen Elbe Learning Centre up for extended Real World Learning opportunities.

Athens – On Monday, local MPP Steve Clark met with the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust (TIWLT) at their Glen Elbe Learning Centre (GELC) to announce a $108,200 Capital Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the creation of a kitchen and accessible washrooms at the historic Glen Elbe farm on highway 42, east of Athens, Ontario.

“We are blessed to live in an area with such a beautiful and natural environment. I want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this investment, which will allow the Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust to connect more students to nature at its Glen Elbe Learning Centre,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

The farm began its life in the early 1800s as a stagecoach stop on the Brockville to Westport plank road. Today the site features the ruins of an early water-power mill and a restored farmhouse and barn. GELC is working with school boards to provide experiential learning opportunities and the new washrooms and kitchen made possible by this grant will allow for more school groups.

GELC’s education program was initiated here by property owner Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust after COVID-19 and has already welcomed hundreds of students. The 111-acre property features restored Victorian flower and heirloom vegetable gardens, greenhouses and a Climate Change Arboretum. The building of a large kitchen and washrooms will also allow for community hikes, walks and talks as well as private paid-for events to support ongoing learning.

“We are thrilled here at Glen Elbe!” said Don Ross, President of TIWLT. “At 30 years, TIWLT is one of Canada’s oldest land trusts and is dedicated to conserving the nationally important ecology and wildlife of this very special watershed. Our mission is to permanently protect land in the Thousand Islands Watershed region through acquisition or conservation agreements and
to achieve good land management through stewardship and education. We’re thankful that the Ontario Trillium Foundation supports TIWLT’s work through this enabling grant.” For more on GELC & TIWLT please visit our website at www.tiwlt.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 $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.