MEDIA RELEASE Feb. 3, 2022
$147,000 OTF Grant Supports Critical Upgrades to Burlington Legion
Burlington, ON – In 2021, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 Burlington received a $147,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This grant enabled the Legion to repair its badly deteriorated roof and replace four very old refrigeration machines. It also allowed the Legion to use its savings and loans on further renovations that will minimize the spread of COVID-19. The project was completed in November 2021, and will allow the Legion to continue serving veterans, their families, and the community for years to come.
"The Burlington Legion helps improve the lives of veterans, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, members of the RCMP and their families," said Jane McKenna, MPP for Burlington. "The Ontario government's $147,000 investment in our Legion has ensured the completion of much needed building upgrades. This will help our Legion continue their tradition of service to our community for years to come."
In addition to the roof repair and refrigeration replacement, this grant allowed the Legion to use its savings and loans to make important upgrades that will minimize the spread of COVID-19. These upgrades included improving the building’s ventilation filtering and replacing manual controls with touchless devices in all eight washrooms. The Legion also improved safety and accessibility by replacing old fluorescent lights and manual switches with highly efficient, long-life LED fixtures and motion-sensor controls.
“This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant has been a lifesaver for the Burlington Legion,” said Burns MacLeod, President of the Burlington Legion. “The grant has provided for longevity of the building structure and continued operations, and allowed the Legion to make essential upgrades to minimize virus spread and improve lighting for safety and accessibility. These upgrades will be promoted to assure the community that the Legion continues to be a safe place for their enjoyment.”
The Burlington Legion is pleased to be able to continue to serve veterans, their families and the community, and to provide the community with a building that is COVID-spread safe for their enjoyment, socializing and for volunteering. Legion events, entertainment news, and general information (including rental of the two halls) is available at www.burlingtonlegion.com.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada's leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario's non-profit sector. In 2020/21 OTF supported Ontario's economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Robert Ankrett, Chair Governments Liaison
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 60 Burlington
905-639-6400
canadianlegion60@bellnet.ca