The provincial government is providing $102,200 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe in Midland, Ontario (serving the North Simcoe region), to help more local children find mentors. The funding, delivered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), is split between two separate projects designed to improve how the charity operates and make its building more accessible and confidential.
A large portion of the money — $88,400 — is an OTF Seed Grant being used to recruit and train more volunteers and to improve program measurement with the goal of reducing the number of children waiting for a mentor. That Seed Grant was announced on Oct. 9, 2024 and was reported by MidlandToday as supporting organizational capacity and better tracking of program impact.
Another $13,800 is an OTF Capital Grant for physical upgrades to the charity’s office at 366 Midland Ave in Midland. The Capital funding is intended to support accessibility and confidentiality improvements — for example, installing an automatic door opener and creating private meeting spaces so staff and families have confidential, accessible places to talk. The Capital Grant was announced on July 18, 2025.
Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, said the provincial grants are intended to support local non-profits that strengthen the community and local economy, and to help organizations better meet community needs. The Seed portion specifically targets capacity so mentorship services can better address growing demand and reduce waitlists.
JoAnn Stephan, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe, said the renovations and program improvements will create a more comfortable and confidential environment for staff, volunteers and the young people they serve — helping ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported.
