Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Klara Oyler told Haliburton Curling Club members that its application for money to renovate the facility’s kitchen “had all the right ingredients.”
Speaking at an unveiling for the new space June 25, Oyler said she was pleased to see the $141,600 gifted by OTF last year had been put to good use.
“This is close to home for me… I always like to say I’m from Haliburton and we can make things happen, so give us the money,” said Oyler, who joined the OTF board in 2015. “I’m really impressed by the transformation… and all you were able to do with the money.”
Club president Wanda Stephen said the upgrade was all about improving accessibility. The kitchen’s footprint has been expanded, with new dishwasher, convection oven, warming oven, fridge and stainless-steel counters. The money also paid for a new freezer in the basement.
She paid tribute to past president Chester Howse, who successfully lobbied for a kitchen and lounge space in the mid-1990s, paving the way for this latest upgrade.
“Chester dared to dream of a kitchen and lounge that could host the masses. He thought the club could entice more people [to join] … and it worked,” Stephen said.
“The last 10 years have been a struggle to adequately plan meals for large groups, we were also held hostage by aging appliances, often holding our breath that the dishwasher and oven would make it through another event.
“Curling clubs in rural Ontario are major hubs for gatherings and community events. We hope the addition… will attract more people to join us in the future,” Stephen said.
The new space and equipment were utilized during the recent Haliburton Home and Cottage Show, with Stephen saying it was a “game-changer.”
In 2024, OTF funded 730 projects across the province to the tune of $105 million, Oyler said. The organization is an agency of and funded by the Ontario government.
MPP Laurie Scott attended the unveiling, thanking OTF for continuing to invest in the Highlands community. She highlighted previous supports for Highlands Opera Studio’s ‘Let’s Make an Opera’ project and legion buildings across the County.
“These things make a big difference to our community… OTF helps many organizations, a lot of places wouldn’t still be in existence, or would be a lot worse off if it wasn’t for Trillium [money],” Scott said.
