Organization:
The Orillia Public Library
Charitable Registration Number:
10780 3587 RR0001
Name of Fund being applied to:
Smart and Caring Communities Fund
Address:
36 Mississaga St W
ORILLIA, ON L3V 3A6
Contact Name:
Alexandra Gilston
Title:
Director of Children’s and Youth Services
Email:
agilston@orilliapubliclibrary.ca
Phone Number:
7053251152
Website:
https://www.orilliapubliclibrary.ca/en/index.aspx
Amount Requested:
$1,000
About the organization:
We at the Orillia Public Library believe in inclusivity, learning, effectiveness, community, and service. Our beliefs guide us in our mission to create opportunities for people to engage in learning, inspire imagination, exchange expertise, and cultivate possibilities. We aspire to be a vibrant community hub, capable of anticipating and meeting diverse needs of the people we serve. The library has become a destination for our diverse community members and is a hub of summertime fun and activity for children and youth when schools are closed for summer holiday.
Proposed Project Start Date:
July 2, 2026
Proposed Project End Date:
August 29, 2026
Please briefly describe the project and how the funds will be used:
Funding is requested to support our Summer Reading Club (SRC), a program designed to foster a love of reading and promote reading in a fun way, enhancing literacy skills of children and youth in our community. Staff are seeking new experiences to encourage children to participate in the SRC each week through utilizing organizations in special programs for participants. Hiring groups like Science North and Zoo to You to run special SRC programs, offered free for participants, eliminates financial barriers for families and gives children new opportunities to learn through these new experiences.
How many people will benefit from the project directly and indirectly within the geographic area covered by the CFOA:
The SRC is open to all members of the Orillia Public Library (communities of Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Chippewas of Rama First Nations) and visitors to our community. In 2025 we had 661 register for the SRC, 1,357 reading reports with staff, and 2,204 participate in programs.
Please list any partnerships and collaborations for this project:
We take part in the Canada wide TD SRC program and put our own creative spin on things to meet the diverse needs and interests of our community members.
Please describe any in kind contributions/volunteer labour connected to this project:
In kind contributions:
– Labour costs: salaries for 4 permanent programming staff, salaries for 2 summer students hired to assist in running this program, and Teen Leadership Committee volunteers assisting with the programs.
– Material supply costs: craft supplies for programs and weekly incentive prizes purchased from local businesses to encourage participants to come back each week and talk to staff about their reading.
– Hiring professional groups: Science North and Zoo to You to bring new experiences for participants to engage in.
How will success be evaluated?
Success will be evaluated based on:
– Enhanced reading engagement among children and youth as shown through the number of individuals who continually report their reading to staff week after week and an increase in circulation stats of children and youth materials.
– Enhanced community engagement with the library as shown through the number of children and youth registered for the SRC, program attendance statistics, and community feedback (caregivers, children, teens, community partners).
Grant Request Budget
Item:
Outside groups for special SRC programs.
Description ( if applicable):
Science North: hands-on, high-impact science led by knowledgeable staff with the energy, expertise, and fun to keep children fully engaged in STEM themed learning. Zoo to You: a hands-on, interactive and educational event with animals. This program offers the opportunity for children to see, hold, and interact with animals while learning fun facts about them.
$ Amount:
$2,000
Total Expenses:
Estimate of $2,000 to bring in both groups
Project Funding
Item:
Outside groups for special SRC programs.
Description ( if applicable):
Science North: hands-on, high-impact science led by knowledgeable staff with the energy, expertise, and fun to keep children fully engaged in STEM themed learning. Zoo to You: a hands-on, interactive and educational event with animals. This program offers the opportunity for children to see, hold, and interact with animals while learning fun facts about them.
$ Amount:
$1,000
Amount Requested from CFOA:
$1,000
Total Income:
$1,000
Budget Summary
Total Project Expenses:
$2,000
Total Project Income:
$2,000
Attachments
File Upload:
https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3N3xmaWxlbmFtZToyMDI0LURyYWZ0LUZpbmFuY2lhbC1TdGF0ZW1lbnRzLU9yaWxsaWEtUHVibGljLUxpYnJhcnktMDYuMjcuMjAyNS1DaGFyaXR5LVJldHVybi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3OHxmaWxlbmFtZTpPcmlsbGlhLVB1YmxpYy1MaWJyYXJ5LUJvYXJkLU1lbWJlcnMtMjAyNi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM4MHxmaWxlbmFtZTpDWVMtU3VtbWVyLTIwMjUtUmVwb3J0LTEucGRm
Name:
Alexandra Gilston
Title:
Director of Children’s and Youth Services
Signature:
Date:
03/25/2026
Outside groups for special SRC programs.
Science North: hands-on, high-impact science led by knowledgeable staff with the energy, expertise, and fun to keep children fully engaged in STEM themed learning. Zoo to You: a hands-on, interactive and educational event with animals. This program offers the opportunity for children to see, hold, and interact with animals while learning fun facts about them.
$2,000
Estimate of $2,000 to bring in both groups
Item:
Outside groups for special SRC programs.
Description ( if applicable):
Science North: hands-on, high-impact science led by knowledgeable staff with the energy, expertise, and fun to keep children fully engaged in STEM themed learning. Zoo to You: a hands-on, interactive and educational event with animals. This program offers the opportunity for children to see, hold, and interact with animals while learning fun facts about them.
$ Amount:
$1,000
Amount Requested from CFOA:
$1,000
Total Income:
$1,000
Budget Summary
Total Project Expenses:
$2,000
Total Project Income:
$2,000
Attachments
File Upload:
https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3N3xmaWxlbmFtZToyMDI0LURyYWZ0LUZpbmFuY2lhbC1TdGF0ZW1lbnRzLU9yaWxsaWEtUHVibGljLUxpYnJhcnktMDYuMjcuMjAyNS1DaGFyaXR5LVJldHVybi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3OHxmaWxlbmFtZTpPcmlsbGlhLVB1YmxpYy1MaWJyYXJ5LUJvYXJkLU1lbWJlcnMtMjAyNi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM4MHxmaWxlbmFtZTpDWVMtU3VtbWVyLTIwMjUtUmVwb3J0LTEucGRm
Name:
Alexandra Gilston
Title:
Director of Children’s and Youth Services
Signature:
Date:
03/25/2026
$2,000
$2,000
https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3N3xmaWxlbmFtZToyMDI0LURyYWZ0LUZpbmFuY2lhbC1TdGF0ZW1lbnRzLU9yaWxsaWEtUHVibGljLUxpYnJhcnktMDYuMjcuMjAyNS1DaGFyaXR5LVJldHVybi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM3OHxmaWxlbmFtZTpPcmlsbGlhLVB1YmxpYy1MaWJyYXJ5LUJvYXJkLU1lbWJlcnMtMjAyNi5wZGY=, https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/frm_file/aWQ6MTM4MHxmaWxlbmFtZTpDWVMtU3VtbWVyLTIwMjUtUmVwb3J0LTEucGRm
Alexandra Gilston
Director of Children’s and Youth Services
03/25/2026