Aylmer, ON – On Saturday, local MPP Rob Flack attended the outdoor pool in Aylmer during Elgin County Drowning Prevention Coalition activities. He met with representatives of the YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin to hear more about the $190,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that will help to rebuild aquatic staff and volunteer resources, support aquatic leadership training and promote water safety.
“Ensuring water safety and promoting drowning prevention is so important, especially during these summer months,” said Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP, Rob Flack. “The YWCA has been educating and fostering a culture of safety and well-being in our region for many years, and this funding will help them continue this vital work.”
The YWCA St Thomas-Elgin has been providing aquatic programming in Aylmer and Area for over 25+ years. Water safety training and skills development are vital to address drowning. With the support of the Resilient Communities Fund, the YWCA will offer aquatic leadership training to rebuild staff/volunteer resources of Swim Instructors and Lifeguards and capacity to offer swimming lessons, lifesaving and lifeguarding programs, supervised swimming, and active recreation.
“Water safety education, supervised swimming opportunities and swimming lessons play a key role in drowning prevention and health promotion. With this grant along with community partnerships, the YWCA will support children, youth, families, seniors, and individuals to gain water safety skills, participate in active recreation, and be involved in their community,” stated Lindsay Rice, Executive Director YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin.
The YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin has been empowering women and their families since 1902. Providing leadership, advocacy, opportunities, and a voice. Empowering women and their families, every day! With compassion, strength, and diversity the staff and Board of Directors come together to create positive changes in our community. The YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin offers programs for women, men and youth including supportive housing, housing-based case management services, poverty intervention, adult education, English second language classes, support for newcomers to Canada, youth engagement, volunteer opportunities and more!
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.
