Author of the article:

Brian Thompson

Published Nov 29, 2021  •  Last updated Nov 29, 2021  •  1 minute read
Executive director Michael Shewburg and general manager Mallory Biggs stand in the renovated dining room at Five Oaks retreat centre in Paris, Ontario.
Executive director Michael Shewburg and general manager Mallory Biggs stand in the renovated dining room at Five Oaks retreat centre in Paris, Ontario. PHOTO BY BRIAN THOMPSON /The Expositor
The Five Oaks Centre near Paris is using a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help it bounce back from the effects of the pandemic.
A non-profit intercultural and interfaith spiritual centre on Bethel Road offers summer camps, facility rentals, programs and retreats on 117 acres of trails, forest and fields alongside the Grand River.Like many in the hospitality sector, Five Oaks saw a dramatic downturn in business due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings.
The foundation awarded Five Oaks a $148,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant to upgrade the dining room and kitchen of the 65-year-old building, said the centre’s executive director Michael Shewburg.“This grant is helping Five Oaks rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by purchasing equipment and renovating space to provide safe food services for the Five Oaks programs and community at large.”
Facility upgrades include the renovation of the dining hall, with smaller tables that can be spread apart or grouped together. Improvements to the kitchen’s layout and equipment were implemented, along with electrical and plumbing upgrades.A new guarded cafeteria line, air purification, sanitization stations and hands free beverage area are also new features, combined with better accessibility for those with mobility issues.“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be underestimated,” Shewburg noted. “Five Oaks serves – and seeks to serve – a diverse range of groups who will all benefit from the improvements.”

He said the grant will help Five Oaks serve guests in an environment designed with COVID-19 safety in mind.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation last year invested about $112 million into 1,384 community projects and partnerships with the aim to build vibrant and healthy communities and strengthen the impact of the province’s non-profit sector.

bethompson@postmedia.com