Released For Publication - January 5, 2022
This grant allowed the Centre to develop and pilot a wholistic ecological restoration program for youth and adults using traditional and scientific knowledge, helping people participate in ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts. The program offered four workshops, each of which included perspectives from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners of ecology, land-based education, and research.
“As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I want to congratulate the Ignatius Jesuit Centre on being recognized by the Ontario Trillium Foundation,”
said MPP Mike Schreiner.
“This valuable Seed grant has ensured the success of their Old-Growth Forest Project and helped developed wholistic, ecological restoration programs for youth and adults. Working alongside great community partners, I have faith that the Centre will continue to work towards ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts for the years to come."
‘Wholistic Restoration’ is about having an openness to both traditional and scientific ecological knowledge in the hope of a more culturally engaged and informed framework for effective ecosystem restoration and climate change mitigation projects.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity this grant has given us to present and facilitate these important discussions and for the relationships that have been made,”
said Martin Tamlyn, Manager of the Ignatius Old-Growth Forest Project.
“It is my hope that this engages more community members in taking action toward a better future both on a personal and collective scale.”
The Ignatius Jesuit Centre (IJC) cultivates spiritual growth and ecological engagement. The Old-Growth Forest Project was established by IJC in 2006 and is a 93-acre conservation easement protected in perpetuity through Ontario Farmland Trust. They run school programs, community workshops and events, and maintain trails through the property, offering opportunities to get involved while encouraging positive environmental change.
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.
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