SPENCERVILLE - A number of Eastern Ontario community projects are being realized thanks to a new program developed by the Grenville Mutual Insurance Company.

Grenville Mutual recently set up the Community Support Program (CSP) as a means of contributing to the community. Its mission: "to provide funds for community projects that focus on the Safety of Life and Property, the Protection of Life and Property, or the Education for the Protection of Life and Property within the region serviced by Grenville Mutual." Community projects meeting the criteria of the CSP are recommended for a grant.

And on July 13 at its head office in Spencerville, Grenville Mutual held the inaugural presentations to the 2001 CSP recipients. In all, eight organizations from across Eastern Ontario received a total of $140,000. The recipients included, the Nation Municipality in Limoges, Mississippi Mills Fire Department, Iroquois Fire Department, Clarence-Rockland Fire Services in Bourget, National Fire and Life Safety Foundation in Brockville, the Township of Augusta Fire Department in Maitland, the Township of Athens Volunteer Fire Department and the Ottawa Fire Services. This year’s eligible community projects ranged from the purchase of safety training equipment such as defibulators to funding other safety equipment projects such as an ice and water rescue unit and the ‘jaws of life’. As well, funding included money for fire safety education and a much-needed addition to a fire hall.

Upon making the presentations, Grenville Mutual Board President Michael Daley said the company was honored to be able to give back to the community and congratulated those receiving a grant under the CSP.

On hand for the ceremony were special guests Leeds Grenville MPP Bob Runciman, Stormont, Dundas and Charlottenburg, MPP John Cleary and Ontario Fire Marshall Bernard Moyle.

Runciman congratulated Grenville Mutual on implementing the program and thanked them for recognizing the hard work of the recipients. "There are so many roles fire services play in small town and rural Ontario," he said. "Congratulations to Grenville Mutual for recognizing these organizations’ efforts."

Stormont, Dundas and Charlottenburg MPP John Cleary recognized the huge contribution made by fire departments to their communities. Not only do they

fight fires, but also they raise money for charity and, among other things, even deliver Christmas baskets to the less fortunate in the community, he explained. "(Fire departments) make this part of Ontario a better place to live."

Ontario Fire Marshall Bernard Moyle also thanked Mutual Grenville for implementing the program and praised the work of the local fire departments. "I’ve never seen such a passion for providing fire services as I do in Eastern Ontario," he said. "I’m impressed with the support received here."

Moyle re-iterated that the funds from the Community Support Program are going to very worthwhile and important projects, including projects to educate children, families and seniors on fire safety. "The money these organizations are getting here today will help these fire departments do their work," he said.

The CSP committee is made up of directors from the Grenville Mutual Insurance Board who reviews the written applications and chose those that best meet the goals and criteria of the program. Program chairman Ian Wade said Grenville Mutual looks forward to continuing the program in the future.