TCF Staff Dominique and Gillian along with our Board member Thomas were in Kanata this week for the Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) peer gathering for Ontario community foundations. Dominique was even put to work emceeing the two-days with the Executive Director from the Niagara Community Foundation!
This was a valuable opportunity to connect with peers from community foundations across Canada, learn from one another, and take part in meaningful conversations about the issues affecting our communities. For one of the fireside chats on the agenda, Ottawa’s Mayor Mark Sutcliffe joined Ottawa Foundation’s President and CEO Michael Maidment for a candid conversation on how community foundations and local governments can work more effectively together to address today’s challenges and drive community impact.
Community foundations bring a unique hyper-local perspective to these challenges. We combine community data, local knowledge, and strong relationships with the organizations working on the ground to meet local needs.
Sometimes community foundations can feel like the “best kept secret” in our communities, but awareness of our work continues to grow. While each foundation approaches grantmaking, donor engagement, and community leadership in its own way, we are strengthened by our national network and united by a shared commitment to the communities we serve.
Announcing our new contest for young artists! ✨
We’re inviting kids in our community to help us create a brand-new thank you card for our generous donors. These donors make so much possible for local charities and community programs, and your artwork can help us show our appreciation in a special way.
To submit, draw a hummingbird or your favourite spot in Prince Edward County and send a copy of your artwork to [email protected] by June 22nd! The selected winner will receive a $100 gift card to a local business of their choosing, and be recognized with their first name and age on the back of the cards.
Thank you to all the talented young artists who participate. We can’t wait to see your creativity! 🎨
Today the TCF team gathered for a goodbye lunch to celebrate our amazing staff member Tonya on her last day with us. 😢 It wasn’t our happiest get together, because we are going to miss her dearly as she has been a fantastic addition to our team and we have been so lucky to work with her.
In her Grants & Communications Administrator role, Tonya supported so many of our local charities and community initiatives through her care and passion for non-profit work. She was always game to bounce ideas back and forth on how we could improve the experience for the organizations that we work with and provided helpful feedback and guidance throughout the grants process. Her organizational prowess is unmatched!
She then transitioned into a new role with us these past few months and assisted as our Community Data & Initiatives Coordinator on the Vital Signs side. She has been a driving force behind the ReadyPEC initiative which hosted an amazing event on Emergency Preparedness last Sunday which had a turnout of over 100+ residents from across all wards. Fun fact - this is a bit of a special interest for Tonya that she carried over from her museum work!
And on a personal note - Tonya is fun to work with and we like her a lot. She has a great sense of humour, she’s a devoted cat mother to two kitties, and always gives great book and game recommendations. You will be very missed by our team Tonya, and you deserve your flowers. (Also I’m sorry this isn’t a poem like I promised - please forgive me ❤️).
Have you completed your census yet? Because it matters that you do!
Completing the census helps determine funding and planning for things like schools, healthcare, housing, public transit, emergency services, recreation programs, and support for seniors and families in Prince Edward County.
When more people participate, communities get a clearer picture of local needs and can better advocate for resources and services that make a difference. The information from the census helps inform our Vital Signs data on the County’s well-being as well as our granting programs.
Take a few minutes to complete your census and help shape the future of our community.
Our TCF team has already completed ours - and we all thought of Anne when we did it! ❤️
⏰ The deadline to apply for a scholarship or bursary is fast approaching. Don’t miss your chance. Get those applications in before the end of May!
Scholarships and bursaries can help remove financial barriers so you can focus on your education and everything it makes possible. From gaining new skills to opening doors for your future, education is one of the most powerful investments you can make in yourself.
Take a few minutes to apply. It could make a lasting difference.
Over 100 PEC residents came out yesterday for an engaging conversation on emergency preparedness.
A turnout like this speaks to one of our community’s greatest strengths, a deep care for one another and a shared commitment to showing up and helping when it matters most.
A huge thank you to the incredible panel of experts who shared practical tips and insights to help households and our community be better prepared for outages and emergencies.
We’re grateful to Carson Arthur (food security), Tim Kraemer (Fire Dept), Craig Mills (99.3 CountyFM), and Dr. Margaret Trompe (healthcare), with thoughtful moderation by our Executive Director, Dominique Jones.
Want to learn how YOU can be better prepared? Visit readypec.ca for resources and next steps.
The County Foundation & Alternatives for Women are proud to announce the establishment of a new agency fund administered by the foundation to support Alternatives for Women’s capital campaign to build a new transitional housing building for women and their families to restart their lives.
The new Alternatives for Women Fund will serve as a dedicated vehicle to receive and steward charitable donations in support of the campaign. Donations are invested under the financial stewardship of The County Foundation to help grow and sustain the campaign’s impact, allowing each gift to go further.
We are proud to be partners in amplifying the work of Alternatives for Women. You can support the fund directly through The County Foundation’s CanadaHelps page by selecting the fund from the dropdown menu, or you can support Alternatives for Women directly on their website.
The County Foundation is seeking a Grants Administrative Assistant to join our team in this summer student position!
$22/hr for 35 hours a week. Hybrid role, with an expectation of 2 office days per week.
If you are interested in learning more about this position, we would love to hear from you. Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: Grants Administrative Assistant. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2026.
Dream big - then go after the support that helps you get there 🎓
Scholarships and bursaries can make education more accessible, easing financial pressure so you can focus on your goals, your growth, and your future.
Education is more than a credential. It builds confidence, expands your perspective, and opens doors to opportunities that can shape the rest of your life.
Don’t leave funding on the table. Apply, take a chance on yourself, and invest in what comes next. ✨ We are accepting applications for most of our scholarships and bursaries until the end of May!
We are so pleased to share our 2025 Annual Review with you. Prince Edward County is a special place, and we’re grateful to do this work alongside and for our community.
Like many communities, we have felt the pressures of rising costs, changing needs, and uncertainty about what lies ahead. And yet, time and again, this community has shown up for one another - with creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to care.
It was a year shaped by both continuity and change - a reminder that strong communities are built not only through resources, but through relationships, leadership, and a shared commitment to understanding and responding to local needs.
As we look back, we are proud of the milestones reached and deeply grateful for the collective effort that made them possible.
Visit www.thecountyfoundation.ca to read our 2025 Annual Review. 💙
Anne VanVlack recently gave a presentation to Picton Rotary on ReadyPEC, a community-led initiative focused on strengthening local readiness and mitigating the impact of crises, while helping reduce pressure on municipal emergency services.
This initiative seeks to help residents prepare in advance to deal with a crisis through practical household preparedness and strengthening neighbourhood connections so people can support each other during times of need.
Join ReadyPEC for an event this Sunday (May 3rd) for an engaging afternoon featuring expert panel speakers, interactive resource stations, free emergency kit giveaways (while supplies last), and exciting door prizes. Taking place from 3:30-5:30pm at the Picton Community Centre. No registration required!
Looking for more information? Reach out to [email protected] to arrange a presentation.
Your future is worth investing in ✨
Scholarships and bursaries aren’t just financial support - they are opportunities to open doors, reduce stress, and help you focus on what truly matters: learning, growing, and building the life you want. We are accepting applications for most awards until end of May!
