Media Release: $85,900 OTF Grant Strengthens Local Organization Ability to Empower Women and Their Financial Autonomy Through Professional Sewing Skills Training

June 17, 2024

$85,900 OTF Grant Strengthens Local Organization Ability to Empower Women and Their Financial Autonomy Through Professional Sewing Skills Training

Ottawa, ON – On Saturday, local MPP Lucille Collard met with the team at EcoEquitable to
hear more about the $85,900 Resilient Communities Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
(OTF) that was used to build organizational resilience and sustainability while mindfully scaling
the Sewing for Jobs program, including hiring key staff, conducting community outreach, and
creating evaluation and impact reporting tools.

“The Sewing for Jobs Program has had a positive impact in the community helping women
access more autonomy. I am pleased with the OTF grant that will allow EcoEquitable to expand
its reach to more women and this is excellent news for our community,” said Lucille Collard,
MPP for Ottawa–Vanier.

In addition to hiring staff to support the program, the grant also supported the development of a
community-centric development and communications strategy, program intake procedures, and
partnership outreach to strengthen the outcomes of the Sewing for Jobs programming. The
organization is accessed for a variety of reasons, from their Sewing for Jobs flagship program
that equips women with professional sewing skills, to their Eco Fabric Boutique, and Public
Sewing Class offerings. And thanks to the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, this
organization and the women it serves will continue to thrive into the future.

"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant has been tremendous,” said Julia Hunter,
Executive Director of EcoEquitable. “This grant has supported new staff positions and the
growth in impact of our Sewing for Jobs program, preparing us with the tools we need to
continue to offer quality programming services and meet the needs of the communities we seek
to serve. We want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their unwavering support over the
last couple of years and congratulate them on their impact in the community.”

EcoEquitable runs monthly Fabric Sales, usually on the last Saturday of each month, from
where they open their doors to the public to shop the Eco Fabric Boutique. All proceeds from
the sale of fabric, notions, or donated sewing machines go towards their dual mission of textile
waste reduction and women’s empowerment that intersect through the art of sewing. The shop
can also be visited Monday-Friday from 10am-2pm. To learn more about their mission and
programs, please visit: www.ecoequitable.ca

“Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community, or simply have fun,
organizations like EcoEquitable deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Stan Cho,
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium
Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure they remain at the heart of the
community for decades to come."

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of
Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and
making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022
community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s
Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

For partnership or media inquiries:

Julia Hunter
Executive Director
EcoEquitable
613-562-1739
director@ecoequitable.ca