NEWS RELEASE
ELORA CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
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The Government of Canada, in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada has just announced the recipients of their Round 1 Healthy Communities Initiatives investment program. On the list is the Elora Centre for the Arts for their project that transforms their 2-acre downtown property into an engaging space for the community.
‘The Paths that Connect Us’ project at the Elora Centre for the Arts will include an accessible walking pathway around the perimeter of their yard, with engaging outdoor art, picnic tables, benches and bicycle parking. It also includes an artist- made trail map installation that will highlight the biking & rolling trails that connect our neighbourhoods, in partnership with Green Lanes. It will also identify points of interest within walking distance of downtown Elora to encourage walking and biking.
The Elora Centre for the Art’s ‘Paths that Connect Us’ plan was awarded $25K from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, and will engage local artists, local community groups and members to bring the project to life, with a target completion date of Fall 2021. “Once the infrastructure is in place in our yard, there are endless possibilities for ongoing engagement with the outdoor space, as we recover from COVID-19 and beyond” said Lianne Carter, Executive Director at the Elora Centre for the Arts. “In the short term, this revitalization of our outdoor space is meant to serve our community as we all find healthy ways to recover and re-engage after the effects of this past year” she said.
Over 3,000 applications were submitted for Round 1, and approximately 250 projects across Canada were selected to receive funding in the first round of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. The Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Government of Canada with the goal of providing funding to a broad range of organizations, including local governments, charities, indigenous communities and nonprofits, for projects, programming and services that help communities create safe and vibrant public spaces, improve mobility options and help provide innovative digital solutions. “This initiative is supporting community-led organizations across Canada to bring people together in our communities, while respecting public health measures” said Andrea Dicks, President of Community Foundations of Canada. “These projects show us the creativity and resourcefulness of communities as they create solutions that enable people to connect and access public spaces safely” she said.
‘The Paths that Connect Us’ outdoor project at the Elora Centre for the Arts will begin immediately. Artists interested in submitting a proposal for sculptures or creating the map can find details here.
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