GREEN LEADER GRANT
Background
The “Green Leader Program” is part of Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia’s ongoing efforts to encourage the development of local community engagement and environmental solutions that build sustainable communities. The program is centered around a grant opportunity that is available to applicants living, working, and learning in the Town of Petrolia or benefitting Petrolia and its residents.
Waste Management and the Town of Petrolia invited businesses, organizations, and institutions to apply for this funding opportunity in the spring of each year. The program is designed to support initiatives that highlight the following Sustainability Goals:
Our Planet Goal: Waste Management will offset four times the greenhouse gas emissions we generate through our operations by 2038. Understanding the importance of the environment, the program supports organizations and programs that preserve and/or enhance natural resources and/or help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our People Goal: Waste Management will help make communities in which we live and work safe, resilient, and sustainable. Waste Management is a local Town of Petrolia business that is an integral part of the communities we serve. To help make our communities better places to work and live, we concentrate on initiatives that support employees, enhance our environment, promote education, and improve the livability of our communities.
Applicants are invited to request up to $15,000 in program/project funding. This funding is a one-time, non-repayable, fully funded grant. Applications will be reviewed by a committee and the successful applicants will be outlined below.
Successful Applicants
2025 Successful Projects:
The IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter was successful in their application for Moncreif Park and Jubilee Trail Revitalization in the amount of $5,000.
The funds will be used to plant native trees and vegetation, add picnic tables and benches, prune and remove trees as needed and add safety railings and signage.
The Petrolia and Enniskillen Agricultural Society was successful in their application for Lighting Upgrades at the Fairgrounds in the amount of $4,000.
The funds will be used to upgrade the lighting in the Quonset Hut, the Palace, as well as outdoors on the grounds with modern, energy-efficient LED fixtures. This initiative will improve the visitor experience during the Petrolia & Enniskillen Fall Fair and other community events while significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs. By transitioning to environmentally friendly lighting solutions, they will enhance safety, increase accessibility, and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and the community.
The Petrolia Discovery Foundation Inc. was successful in their application for the North Perimeter Hedgerow in the amount of $6,000.
The funds will be used to purchase native trees, shrubs, and necessary planting materials from local sources. This is part two of a two-year project. This will enable them to complete the plantings and fall maintenance (hemp mats and Skoot animal repellant) in 2025 and spring 2026 maintenance to ensure a healthy and successful hedgerow.
2024 Successful Projects:
KIWANIS CLUB OF PETROLIA AND AREA – EXPANSION OF PRESCHOOL GARDENING PROJECT
$1,000
Enhancement to the 2021 project includes adding AeroGardens to 5 programs, and supply seed kits for all eleven AeroGardens and adding a rain barrel for pre-school and school-aged children.
PETROLIA 150 – BAND SHELL LED LIGHTING, LOW-FLOW WASHROOM FIXTURES, MOTION LIGHTING
$7,000
The addition of low-flow washroom features, motion-activated faucets, LED lighting and motion-activated lighting to reduce energy consumption and water use.
PETROLIA DISCOVERY – NORTH PERIMITER HEDGEROW
$3,000
The goal is to establish a hedgerow using a mix of native trees and shrubs. Once established, the hedgerow will serve as a low maintenance, visually appealing living “fence” while supporting local wildlife, reducing soil erosion, and reducing surface water runoff.
GENERATIONS DAYCARE – MULTI-GENERATIONAL NATURE GARDEN
$1,000
The addition of a garden to conserve butterflies and native insects. The students will help with the planting and weeding and will learn all about the materials used. The garden will be located by the front door, and will be for students, parents, and community members to enjoy.
PETROLIA 150 – INDIGENOUS FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
$3,000
The addition of an indigenous friendship garden in Victoria Park next to the band shell featuring orange plants and flowers with a central stone featuring a land recognition message.
2023 Successful Projects:
KERR PARK PROJECT
Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club
$3000
Project Summary
To place soft surface under the small playground equipment using recycled rubber material in the fall area for youth safety at Kerr Park.
EXPANSION OF PRESCHOOL GARDENING PROJECT
Petrolia & Area Kiwanis Club
$4000
Project Summary
Our project which started in 2021, provided eight preschool and school-aged summer programs with the necessary materials and tools needed to create hands-on learning opportunities about gardening and composting. We plan to expand to four additional preschool programs.
QUEEN E GOES GREEN
Queen Elizabeth II School, Petrolia
$5000
Project Summary
The project is a school composting initiative that will see an outdoor school garden, composting buckets in each classroom, and 2-3 outdoor composters in the garden. This project also includes an indoor Hydroponic Grow Tower near the library, and one that travels from classroom to classroom.
NATIVE SPECIES WELCOME GARDENS
St. Philip Catholic School
$3000
Project Summary
The purpose of this project is to plant two welcoming gardens at the front of the school created from plants that are native to south-western Ontario. The students will work with the nursery to choose, plan, create, and maintain the gardens (as a legacy to their school and community).
2022
Hillcrest Public School (School Council) – $5,000
Outdoor gardens and compost stations are elements planned as part of a larger multi-phase schoolyard beautification project that includes the addition of outdoor classroom spaces, new playground equipment and a walking path.
The Rotary Club of Petrolia – $5,000
The plan is to erect a shed for the gardeners to store some of their garden tools, provide a watering system as well as a compost facility for the site. Soil preparation will be critical this spring to get things moving in the right direction so investing to topsoil and compost type materials is on the to do list.
Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee – Special North Street Cemetery Project – $2,500
This application is to assist with the re-forestation of the North Street Heritage Cemetery. This funding would permit the planting of native trees along the historic roadway at the site.
IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter – $2,500
The plan is to enhance the natural area in Bridgeview Park by adding a nature trail so that we can be a part of the preservation of the area and participate in tree planting and other projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2021
The Petrolia Discovery Foundation Inc. has been approved for $10,000 towards the Petrolia Discovery (PD) NORTH BATTERY REHABABILITATION PLAN 2021.
The North Battery at Petrolia Discovery consists of a bermed area containing three tanks. A large horizontal receiving / separator tank, and smaller tanks for oil overflow, and water underflow.
Understanding the importance of the environment, the Green Leader Program is proud to support organizations and programs that preserve and/or enhance natural resources. The replacement of these tanks will protect the natural environment in the area.
The Petrolia and Area Kiwanis Club has been approved for $5000 towards a project that will provide preschool and school-aged programs with the necessary materials and tools needed to create hands-on learning opportunities about gardening and composting.
To help make our communities better places to work and live, the Green Leader Program is pleased to concentrate on initiatives that enhance our environment, promote education, and improve the livability of our communities.
2020
PARENTS-FOR-PARKS – approved for $15,000 to purchase soft surfacing tiles that are made up of approximately 1800 recycled passenger car tires.
ST. CLAIR CONSERVATION AUTHORITY (SCRCA) – approved for $10,000 for the Bridgeview Park Wetlands project.
THE PETROLIA AND ENNISKILLEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY – approved for $5,000 The agricultural society’s mission outlines their support of the beautification of the community and these funds will be used to invest in the planting of trees on the property which will be sourced from a local business. This will help provide some much-needed shade for the many community members who enjoy the property.
Application
Important Dates:
- Applications due no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 30 each year.
- Successful applications will be announced on Earth Day each year – April 22.
Online Application:
