Staff from a Fingal summer camp recently welcomed provincial dignitaries to recognize the work resulting from a $100,000 grant.
Pearce Williams Summer Camp and Retreat Facility received the funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund in 2021. The grant created the full-time position of director of camps, programs and marketing and provided help needed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack and Trillium Foundation volunteer Amy Sloan visited the facility on Nov. 25 for an announcement which was also broadcast over Zoom.
“Places like the Pearce Williams Summer Camp and Retreat Facility provide an invaluable opportunity for people in this community and beyond, like many camps throughout this province,” Flack said. “It’s great to have one here in our backyard.”
Flack recognized the contributions of the camp and said it is “going to make many, many contributions now and into the future.”
Joe Richards, the camp’s executive director, said the grant has helped throughout the pandemic.
“It has certainly helped us with the hiring of the position and with those utilities costs and phone lines and internet and water and hydro and whatnot, just to help us so that we didn’t have to really struggle this year,” he said.
“It has been a true lifesaver.”
Richards gave credit to Jory Elliott, who was hired in the new role.
“Pearce Williams, as a summer camp and year-round retreat facility, feels like we offer huge value to our local community,” Richards said.
“We look forward to future campers who will come to camp and will be able to because of the resiliency built into us through these donations.”
A tour of the grounds followed the announcement.