Trillium Foundation forwarded $150,000 grant to McGregor Colombian Club

by Sylene Argent

On Friday evening, MP Taras Natyshak, representatives of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and members of the McGregor Colombian Club celebrated how a $150,000 grant benefited the community.

Evan Belanger, President of the McGregor Columbian Club, said the Ontario Trillium Foundation provided the grant in February, which went towards replacing six of the Colombian Club’s HVAC units. The replacement project was completed around one month ago.

During the event, Natyshak presented a certificate of acknowledgement and the Ontario Trillium Foundation presented a plaque, in recognition of the project’s completion.

“It’s irreplaceable,” Belanger said of the funding, adding the club would never have been able to replace the units without the grant.

Replacing the units not only benefited the hall, which is a gather point for wedding receptions, banquets, and parties, it also bettered the community. Belanger said there is not a lot to do in McGregor. At the hall, Bingo events are held on Tuesdays and a beanbag league is hosted on Thursdays. It is also the home to the annual free turkey dinner, which will take place on December 16.

The hall is also used to host monthly dances for Community Living Essex County and for meetings or events for various local agencies.

In celebration of the grant, the McGregor Colombian Club invited its many volunteers to an appreciation dinner that night.