Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The Ontario government is investing nearly $3 million in 26 community-led projects across the province, the largest round of funding in the Ontario Community Environment Fund’s history.
The announcement is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by using penalties paid by polluters to fund projects that protect Ontario’s land, air and water such as shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration and tree planting.
“Our government is proud to support community-led projects that deliver real environmental benefits where people live, work and raise their families,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Companies that break Ontario’s environmental rules are held accountable for it, and by putting that money back to work, we can empower our local partners with the resources they need to support their communities, protect our shared environment, and ensure Ontario’s natural spaces can be cherished for generations to come.”
The 26 projects receiving funding this year from the Ontario Community Environment Fund include:
- Invasive Species Centre – Hillman Marsh Invasive Species Response: Nearly $286,000 to eradicate invasive hydrilla in the Hillman Marsh in Leamington through treatment, monitoring and outreach.
- Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association – Mindemoya River Restoration: $120,000 to restore riverbanks and improve fish habitat along the Mindemoya River.
- Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail – Invasive Species Removal and Native Planting: $25,000 to revitalize degraded trail sections of the G2G Rail Trail by removing invasive species and planting native vegetation.
- Freshwater Conservation Canada – Brook Trout Forever: Over $86,000 to restore habitat for native brook trout populations on Mono Centre Creek.
Since 2010, the Ontario Community Environment Fund has invested over $6.74 million from environmental penalties into 134 projects across the province. As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the province will continue to hold polluters accountable while supporting cleaner, healthier and more resilient communities across the province.
“The Invasive Species Centre and our partners are thrilled to receive funding through the Ontario Community Environment Fund. This important investment allows us to protect Hillman Marsh, and other Great Lakes coastal wetlands, from Canada’s only known population of hydrilla. Preventing further spread of this aquatic invasive plant will help protect Ontario’s lakes and streams for years to come,” said Colin Cassin, Executive Director, Invasive Species Centre.
Featured image: (Government of Ontario)
