[GREN-Exec] Fwd: Application Deferred - Greenbelt Foundation

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi GREN Executive,

Here’s the official letter from the Greenbelt foundation about the GREN application for funding to help roll out the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance programs in this part of the province.  It appears that the foundation has turned down all the groups seeking funding which won’t have significant consequences for GREN since we have never had much funding and don’t have any staff or expenses.  It will be quite devastating for groups elsewhere in the province though and will have serious repercussions on the ability/capacity to respond to the Ford government’s actions in the future - particularly the organized resistance we have seen against specific bills like Bill 66, Bill 229, Bill 257, MZO’s, etc..  

We'll see how things unfold in the weeks and months ahead as a lot can change in the next 18 months of federal, municipal, and provincial elections ahead though what is really needed is some rich donor, foundation, or benefactor to fund all these grassroots community groups standing up to the provincial government.  However, for now the fear of the Ford government cutting off funding to anyone to criticizes them has curtailed the funding to all of these organizations and we too are on that list (which I guess means we have been effective over the past year).

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

-----------------------------------------

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Greenbelt <do-not-reply.grants07-us-east-1 at fluxx.io>
> Subject: Application Deferred
> Date: April 15, 2021 at 9:30:03 AM EDT
> To: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
> Reply-To: alerts at greenbelt.ca
> 
> April 15, 2021
> 
> Kevin Thomason
> 
>  
> Grand River Environmental Network
> 1115 Cedar Grove Road
> Waterloo, ON
> N2J 3Z4
>  
> 
> Dear  Thomason,
> 
> 
> Thank you for your application. The Foundation was overwhelmed with the caliber of projects and requests for funding.
> 
> Due to the demand on our resources we have made the decision to defer your proposal for "Nurturing Greenbelt-Friendly Local Planning in the Grand River Watershed" until the next round of grants.
> 
> 
> I thank you for your interest in the Greenbelt and wish you success in your work.
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Edward McDonnell
> Chief Executive Officer
> Greenbelt Foundation
> 
> PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. CONTACT GRANTS FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES.
> 
> Greenbelt Foundation
> 661 Yonge Street, Suite 500 <https://maps.google.com/?q=661+Yonge+Street,+Suite+500+Toronto,+Ontario+M4Y+1Z9&entry=gmail&source=g>
> Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1Z9 <https://maps.google.com/?q=661+Yonge+Street,+Suite+500+Toronto,+Ontario+M4Y+1Z9&entry=gmail&source=g>
> www.greenbelt.ca <http://www.greenbelt.ca/>
>  
>  <https://www.facebook.com/ontariogreenbelt>   <https://twitter.com/greenbeltca>   <http://www.youtube.com/user/OntarioGreenbelt>
>  
> Possibility grows here.
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

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