PRESS RELEASE: Ocean Literacy Community Grants 2023 Recipients

Launched in February 2023, the Ocean Literacy Community Grants initiative provides more accessible funding opportunities for community-driven ocean literacy initiatives that are regionally, culturally, and linguistically relevant. Establishing a Community Grants program was identified as a priority action in the Canadian Ocean Literacy Strategy (March 2021).

In 2023, the fund offered grants ranging from $500 – $3,000 to be used by community organizations to support events during Ocean Week Canada. The grant program was announced February 6, 2023 and the grant portal closed on February 20. On March 6, 2023, 26 grants were awarded $55,858 in funding (total) for events to be held in May and June 2023.

The program received 146 complete applications for events, requesting a total of $345,448 in funding for community ocean literacy events in French, English and multiple Indigenous languages across Canada. Twenty-eight of the applications (19%) were for shoreline cleanup events. The majority of events are geared towards families and involve collaborations or partnerships between multiple community organizations. Nearly all (97%) of the applications were for in-person and hybrid events.

2023 Grant Recipients

1. Ocean Literacy in Esgenoopetitj First Nation, The Esgenoopetitj Watershed Association – NB

2. Lawlor Island Cleanup, Scotian Shores – NS

3. Ocean Spirit Day, Seven Sacred Fires Society – BC

4. Carihi-Cares Watershed Warriors Beach Cleanup, Carihi Secondary School District 72 – BC

5. Clean Water School – Coastal!, Clean Foundation – NS

6. Harvest Kick Off, Kitselas Lands and Resources – BC

7. From Headwaters to Oceans: How Water Connects Us, Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek – AB

8. Exploring Manitoba’s Arctic Coastline, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Manitoba Chapter – MB

9. From the Harbour to the Sea, Bay Area Restoration Council – ON

10. Indigenous Cultural Canoe Tour, Girl Guides Canada – BC

11. Ocean Week Family Intertidal Beach Exploration, Maritime Museum of British Columbia – BC

12. Semaine de l’océan de la Mission 1000 tonnes, Mission 1000 tonnes – QC

13. A Celebration of our Ocean Playground!, Nova Scotia Underwater Council – NS

14. Fogo Island: Ocean’s Week Celebration, Shorefast Foundation – NL

15. World’s Oceans Day Beach Clean Up / Cigarette Orca, Surfrider Vancouver – BC

16. Love Letters to Gta’n, Social justice Co-operative Newfoundland and Labrador – NL

17. Visit a life-size sperm whale!, La Baleine Nomade / The Nomadic Whale – QC

18. STEAM PEI’s World Ocean Day Celebration, STEAM PEI – PEI

19. World Ocean’s Day @ the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium, St. John’s Aquarium Inc. – NL

20. Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival, Gibsons Marine Education Centre Society (Nicholas Sonntag MEC) – BC

21. Mexican Festival of the Canadian White Pelican, IRERI-Mexican, Latino & Cross Cultural Society – AB

22. Geoheritage & Oceans: Guided Coastal Cleanups & Networking Social, Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark – NL

23. Central BC Build-A-Whale, Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society – BC

24. UBC Ocean Hub Jericho Beach Cleanup, UBC Ocean Hub – BC

25. Ocean Week: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Salish Sea Level Rise, Wild Bird Trust of BC – BC

26. Project SculptShore, Elizabeth Wile – NS

2023 Grants at a Glance

Partners

 

Contact:
Meghan Callon – meghan@colcoalition.ca

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