DEEP RIVER AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Giving Back
Building a Strong Community
For today and for generations to come
DRDCF 2026 Grant, Bursary & Schoolarship Results
Building a brighter future for everyone in our community
DRDCF 2026 FALL GRANT RECIPIENTS
Watch for announcements for the Fall Grant Cycle
DRDCF 2026 SPRING GRANT RECIPIENTS
THE DEEP RIVER AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE 2026 SPRING GRANT CYCLE RECIPIENTS
The Deep River and District Community Foundation (DRDCF) is pleased to announce that seven Grants totaling over $41,000 were awarded in our 2026 Spring Grant Cycle. The projects are:
1 - The Deep River and Area Horticultural Society (DRAHS) and the Town of Deep River - Street Trees 2026 - $8,460
Made possible by earnings from the Environmental Legacy Fund and the Milton Family Fund.
2 - Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie and McKay Historical Society (School House Museum) - Museum Church HVAC Upgrade - $5,000
Made possible by earnings from the Mary Moore Ecological Fund.
3 - Deep River Public Library and THEOP - Performances for Children - $3,000
Made possible by earnings from the Milton Family Fund.
4 - Renfrew County District School Board - Performing Arts in School - $5,000
Made possible by earnings from the Arts & Education Fund and the Hinds Family Fund.
5 - North Renfrew Family Services and the Upper Ottawa Valley Seniors Friendship Club - CPR/AED Training - $1,730
Made possible by earnings from the Community Fund, the NRFS Fund and the Hinds Family Fund.
6 - Les Maisons des Jeunes du Pontiac - Food Bank Refurbishment - $2,935
Made possible by earnings from the Cuthbert Family Fund, the Mary-Jane & Bob Brown Memorial Fund and the Laura Alice Cooper Memorial Fund.
7 - The Town of Deep River - Summerfest Pavilion - $15,000
Made possible by earnings from the Community Fund.
Street Trees
The first photo shows the cheque presentation to the DRAHS and the Town of Deep River in front of a newly planted sugar maple tree on Beatty Cres.
Left to Right: DRDCF Director Chris MacCready, DRAHS Co-President Susan Miller, Town of Deep River Mayor Sue D'Eon and DRDCF Grants Committee Chair Teresa Selander.
The Deep River Street Tree Planting Program, begun in 2023, is continuing this year with 75 additional trees being planted along town-owned road allowances. The tree varieties have been selected by the Horticultural Society Tree Committee. These additional trees will provide further improvements to the town’s ecosystems and increase street tree canopies, providing shade for town streets.
HVAC Upgrade
The second photo shows the cheque presentation to the School House Museum.
Left to Right: DRDCF Director Caroline Waddington, Leslie Moore (Daughter of Mary Moore, founder of the Mary Moore Ecological Fund), DRDCF Director Brian Cheadle, Historical Society Member Greg Brisson, Historical Society President Dianne Lemire and Historical Society Member Gwen Brisson.
The Rolphton Hydro Colony Church Improvement Project will replace the aging HVAC system in the historic church at the School House Museum. Built in 1952 for the Des Joachims Dam community, the church now houses artifacts, maps, photographs, and archives documenting Upper Ottawa Valley history.
An energy-efficient heat pump will extend the operating season and provide reliable heating, cooling, and humidity control, protecting the collection and creating a healthier, more comfortable space for visitors and volunteers.
Performances for Children
The first photo shows the $3,000 cheque presentation to Deep River Public Library and THEOP in the Library Children's Room.Left to Right: DRDCF Director Brian Cheadle, Library Child & Youth Services Robin Dennis, Grants Committee Chair Teresa Selander and THEOP Chair Katharine Myers.
This collaboration between the Library and THEOP will see the presentation of two performances primarily for children ages 4-10: a classic puppet play and a play incorporating comedy and circus. Since they are presented outside school hours, they are available to every child in the community - all students, home schooled children, preschoolers and visiting children/grandchildren.
Performing Arts in School.
The second photo shows the $5,000 cheque presentation to Mackenzie Community School (MCS). Left to Right: DRDCF Director Chris MacCready, DRDCF Chair Italia Cecco, MCS Elementary Teacher Kathryn Roesler and MCS Principal Megan Robillard.
Working in collaboration with THEOP, these performing arts experiences will provide students at Mackenzie Community School and St. Mary’s Catholic School the opportunity to witness a variety of musical performances that are not readily available to them in the local community. These presentations will demonstrate how the arts are all connected through the use of acting, storytelling and music. Students will also learn how to become respectful audience members.
CPR/AED Training
The first photo shows the $1,730.83 cheque presentation to NRFS and the UOVSFC in front of the NRFS office. Left to Right: DRDCF Director Chris MacCready, DRDCF Chair Italia Cecco, NRFS Office Manager Amanda Sage, NRFS Executive Director Tracy Russell, Ottawa Valley Seniors Friendship Club President Wanda Harvey
In response to the three well-attended CPR/AED training sessions held last year, this project will deliver two more sessions in our local area. It is available to all community members, not just NRFS clients or UOVSFC members. It will prepare all attendees to have the skills and confidence to respond in emergency situations. Many places where we gather, such as the libraries, town halls and community centres, have modern AED equipment.
Enhancing Youth Services
The second photo shows the $2,935 cheque presentation to Les Maisons des Jeunes du Pontiac at the Centre Communautaire, Rapides-des-Joachims. Left to Right: Les Maisons des Jeunes du Pontiac Program Director, Kelsey Daly Mainville, DRDCF Directors Brian Cheadle & Chris MacCready, Senior Animator Ainsley Branje and DRDCF Grants Committee Chair Teresa Selander.
This project to add clothing racks, shelving, cupboards, hangers, and a deep freezer will improve the organization of the community food bank and clothing closet at Les Maisons des Jeunes du Pontiac. Many youth face financial hardship, food insecurity, and limited access to basic items. Enhancing these services helps create a stable foundation for participation, confidence, and well-being while improving storage, reducing food waste, and increasing access to nutritious food.
There are four types of funds held by the DRDCF: Named Funds, Field of Interest Funds, Designated Funds and Scholarship Funds. You can see them all described at www.drdcf.ca/funds.
Named Funds are often founded by a person or family to support an area of philanthropy that is meaningful to them. In this Spring Grant Cycle, the Milton Family Fund, the Mary Moore Ecological Fund, the Hinds Family Fund, the Cuthbert Family Fund, the Mary-Jane & Bob Brown Memorial Fund and the Laura Alice Cooper Memorial Fund all contributed to six projects receiving grants.
Although Named Funds can be initiated via a significant endowment from the family, ongoing donations to that fund can be made by any member of the community. It is a thoughtful way to honour or remember loved ones and contribute to a common cause.
A donor can contribute to a Field of Interest Fund, such as The Environmental Legacy Fund, The Arts & Education Fund or the Deep River Area Health Care Fund, when they want their donation to support that particular area of philanthropy.
Designated Funds are funds initiated by and designated for a particular organization. The DRDCF has three such funds: The North Renfrew Family Services Fund, The (Deep River) Library Endowment Fund and The Four Seasons Conservancy Fund. Anyone can contribute to the capital held in these funds, but only the designated organization can use the fund’s earnings to support projects.
Donating to a Field of Interest or Designated Fund is a great way to ensure your contribution will be used in a way that is important to you.
The DRDCF is very grateful to the many generous donors who contribute to the 28 Endowment Funds managed by the Foundation. Our invested Capital now stands at over $2.2 million. Over the 24 years the Foundation has been in existence, more than $900K has flowed into our communities through grants.
Grant requests from Bursary Funds can be submitted at any time so they are not restricted to being disbursed only during the DRDCF Spring and Fall Grant Cycles. The founders of each Bursary Fund can decide what area of study their fund will support (e.g., Music, STEM, Health Care, etc.) Recently, the Elizabeth Hulbert Memorial Fund Bursary was awarded to Emma Bagshaw who has been accepted into McGill University's Early Music Performance program.
Donating to a Bursary Fund helps to ensure that the hard work of those seeking to further their education is recognized. Emma Bagshaw’s musical talents can also be enjoyed by those attending the DRDCF Annual General Meeting being held at 7:00 pm this evening at the Community Events Centre, 115 Deep River Rd. next to Community Church.
To learn more about the DRDCF and how you can become an important part of our legacy visit www.drdcf.ca and follow us on social media #drdcommunityfoundation
Support your community now and for the future www.drdcf.ca/donate
Bursary and Scholarship Recipients
To be announced this summer