By Jenn Watt
Published Jan. 17 2017
Two projects in Haliburton County received cash infusions from the New Horizons for Seniors program administered by the Government of Canada MP Jamie Schmale's office announced Jan. 15.
The Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association and Dorset Lions Club each received about $25000.
The HHOA intends to use the money to repair the portable classroom on the Gelert Road property and create a mobile classroom trailer to take to schools around the county educating about watersheds.
“CARP was very supporting and instrumental in obtaining the grant” said HHOA vice president Rusty Rustenburg in an email “and a partnership with them is vital to pass down knowledge to our youth and vice versa.”
Improving outdoors skills and knowledge in the county are the goals he said. Money will be used to purchase supplies such as compasses nets waders and a generator.
“The trailer will be covered with logos of our partners in the community used at various outings and events and we will be organizing events like teaching kids how to use a compass or GPS winter survival what to do if lost in the bush etc.” he said.
“Many of the seniors in the community have much-valued knowledge base and life experiences to share.”
The Dorset Lions Club will be using their money on the Centennial Park Project. Representatives from the Lions Club were not immediately available for comment.
More than $200000 was awarded to groups throughout the riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock according to information provided by the office of MP Jamie Schmale.