On Saturday afternoon, Oshawa MPP Jennifer French and Whitby MPP Lorne Coe had the chance to stop in at one of the County Town Singers’ workshops in Oshawa. The group, which has been a staple in the Region’s arts scene since 1967, invited the MPPs to meet with them so that they could learn how a $10,500 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will have an impact for the performers and audiences.
“I am so grateful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s $10,500 Capital grant contribution to this very deserving organization,” said Jennifer French, MPP for Oshawa. “This investment will go very far in ensuring that the upgrading of musical and sound equipment to provide our community with engaging and enhanced performances. This grant is really something to sing about! Congratulations County Town Singers and thank you to OTF!”
The grant, awarded in the fall of 2023, has enabled the County Town Singers to buy a new keyboard, as well as new sound equipment that includes a mixer and wireless headset mics, from Long and McQuade. The choir, which performs for audiences across Durham Region, reached out to the province’s OTF for the funds to make these upgrades to their equipment so that performers would have more movement on stage and an improved ability to connect with their audiences.
“Non-profit organizations like the County Town Singers have enriched the Whitby and Durham Region community for decades,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. “Through this $10,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, our government continues to support local arts initiatives that enhance cultural engagement and bring people together.”
“As a community choir that has been going strong for 57 years, we recognize and welcome opportunities to refresh how we present ourselves to the community. The Capital grant has allowed us to upgrade our outdated keyboard and mixer with high-quality, durable equipment to enhance our accompaniment and sound,” explained Sue Korbak, Membership Coordinator for the County Town Singers. “In our spring cabaret, choir members rocked the stage using cutting-edge wireless headset mics giving our performance an edgy, professional image.”
The County Town Singers would like to express their sincere gratitude to MPP French, MPP Coe and Sanga Achakzai, an OTF volunteer, for attending the event, and to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for allowing the opportunity to upgrade and modernize our musical and sound equipment. To learn more about us, visit County Town Singers.
“Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community, or simply have fun, organizations like the County Town Singers deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure that it remains at the heart of the community for decades to come.”
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.