Hamilton projects receive Trillium funding

A new digital literacy program to help newcomer parents learn to use computers, smartphones and other devices to support their children’s education is receiving $70,000 in seed funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale MPP Ted McMeekin announced the funding, which will allow Empowerment Squared to help more than 100 people, at the Immigrants Working Centre on Tuesday.

The locally-based non-profit’s new program is one of 204 receiving a total of $11.2 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s seed investment stream, which helps communities meet their needs through new ideas.

“The work that you do individually and cumulatively is changing our world for the better,” McMeekin told the crowd.

The Eva Rothwell Centre was also highlighted at Tuesday’s announcement. They are receiving $47,500 for a new education program that will offer introductory trades training to women and girls in collaboration with Mohawk College’s City School.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity,” said Matt Kelly, executive director at Eva Rothwell. “This is the first time we’ve run anything like this.”

For Empowerment Squared, this funding means it can continue offering the program it started as a pilot a year ago, said board chair Trevor Jaundoo.

“It may be a small thing by some people’s rulers, but it’s a lot for us,” he said.

McMeekin, a Liberal MPP since 2000, also said Tuesday he will be holding a morning news conference in Flamborough on Friday to talk about his political future.

McMeekin did not disclose the nature of the announcement, but said he was comfortable with his decision.