Corporate Sponsors and Grants
The Dufferin Club graciously acknowledges and would like to thank the following organizations for their support.
The City of Brantford Grants Program administered by the Brantford Community Foundation, which assists with funding to improve the well-being of the community and its residents by providing financial assistance to various non-profit community organizations. Through this program, the club has been funded for the following projects:
- In 2008, the Dufferin Tennis Club received $3,146.02 for court repairs.
- In 2009, the Dufferin Tennis Club received $1,569.24 for court repairs.
- In 2010, the Dufferin Tennis Club received $2,100 to help with the Centennial Celebrations.
- In 2011, the Dufferin Club received $3,058.05 to purchase tennis and lawn bowling equipment to complement and expand our existing junior program for children.
- In 2012, the Dufferin Tennis Club was approved for $3,907.04 to purchase a ball machine, including special balls for use in the machine, and netting/posts for a court divider.
- In 2013, the Dufferin Tennis Club was approved for $1,916.39 to purchase summer tennis camp t-shirts, more tennis racquets for children and special tennis balls for the ball machine.
- In 2014, the Dufferin Tennis Club was approved $2,296.17 for the purchase of screen printed shirts that were given to children participating in the summer tennis program in July and August.
- In 2015, the Dufferin Tennis Club was awarded $2,704.13 to purchase tennis ball shaped cinch bags, which were given out to children registered in the junior tennis program, additional pickleball paddles and outdoor balls to accommodate the growing popularity of the sport at the club and much needed court supplies - two new tennis nets, a quick dry roller and windscreens.
- In 2017, the Dufferin Club received $2,078.63 for three initiatives - equipment to maintain the lawn bowling greens, sports equipment for camps and supplies for existing programs. With the grant, the club was able to purchase an edge trimmer and backpack blower, lawn games and pickleball equipment, a new tennis net, cable ties for the windscreens, two new whiteboards, a bulletin board and yard bins.
S.C. Johnson Canada, a company that strongly believes in the philosophy of contributing to the well-being of their neighbors and hosting communities in which they conduct business, has donated $2,500 in both 2008 and 2009 to assist in the restoration and repair of the tennis courts. In 2010, S.C. Johnson contributed another $5,000 to the club.
Scotiabank was our lead corporate sponsor for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Funds raised through the Executive and through Esther Yelle, Branch Manager, were matched by the three Scotiabank locations in Brantford (Lynden Road, Downtown and West Brant). In 2008, Scotiabank matched a total of $5,000 and in 2009, $2,500 for court repairs.
During our 2008 Open House on April 26, Scotiabank presented a cheque for $2,250 that matches our fundraising efforts to date. Pictured (from left to right) are Susan Hall, Dave Levac, Esther Yelle, Diane Lewis, Andrea Hebb, Mike Hancock and Lloyd St. Amand.
Scotiabank's Esther Yelle (Manager, Lynden Road Branch) was on hand Friday, August 1, 2008 to present a cheque to Garry Horsnell, Diane Lewis and Ron van Pampus for $2,865,which matches the balance of Scotiabank's sponsorship for this year.
Esther Yelle (centre), Branch Manager of Scotiabank (Lynden Road), presents a cheque for $2,500 to the Diane Lewis, Andrea Hebb and Ron van Pampus of the Dufferin Tennis Club Executive towards the court repair fund during the 2009 Open House on Saturday, May 2. Mayor Mike Hancock (left) was also on hand to celebrate the opening.
Enterprise Brant, a non-profit Community Futures Development Corporation providing financial and consulting services to local businesses, approved a $5,000 Special Projects grant in 2008 towards the repair of the tennis courts and to offer to provide additional assistance with fundraising efforts to rebuild the courts.
On June 4, 2008 members of the Executive received a special projects grant from Enterprise Brant for $5,000 to assist with court repair. Pictured (from L-R) are Cindy Swanson (General Manager), Martin Sarkissian, Wendy Walton, John G. Wilson, Diane Lewis, Jack Peirce, Trevor Carre and Ron van Pampus. The Dufferin Tennis Club would like to thank Enterprise Brant for the grant and future commitment to the club.
The Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise Chapter donated the sum of $1,000 towards the replacement cost of 34 benches and picnic tables that were destroyed in a fire prior to the 2008 season. Each bench was fitted with an engraved plaque of appreciation, the cost of which was graciously covered for by Scotiabank.
Reg Madison, President of the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise is pictured above presenting the cheque to Dufferin Club Treasurer, Ron van Pampus.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation, which approved a grant application for $22,600 to refurbish the kitchen in 2008. The new kitchen was officially unveiled Saturday, April 19, 2008 during a plaque presentation by Lance Calbeck, from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and MPP Dave Levac.
Pictured (from left to right) are Garry Horsnell, Marie Sutton, Harvey Bryant, Lance Calbeck, Dave Levac and Mike Lewis.
Court Repair Update
Thanks to the generous donations of the organizations mentioned to the left, the Dufferin Tennis Club was able to commence with phase 1 of court repairs in 2008. Courts 4, 5 and 6 were closed July 14 for Armor Crack Repair by Ancaster Track and Tennis Paving. The work was completed July 18 thanks to some warm dry weather.
The club had planned to repair the remaining three courts in 2009, but fell short of the total funds needed. There were more cracks on these courts as well as a runoff problem which needed to be addressed which increased the cost of repair.
In 2010, Parks and Recreation announced the City of Brantford has allocated $20,000 in their budget to help the club with the repairs of Courts 1, 2 and 3. The contract was awarded to Court Contractors Limited from Mississauga. The courts were closed September 20 for Armor Crack Repair. During the repairs, the contractors noted mold growing along the back of the courts due to limited sunlight exposure. As a result, Parks and Recreation sheared back the overhanging branches over all three courts to minimize its spread. Rain delayed the completion of the work but the courts were finally reopened October 2.
In 2012, Ancaster Track and Tennis Paving completed repairs on Courts 1, 2 and 3. Prior to closing, loose debris was scraped off the surface of the courts then pressure washed. The courts were then closed from August 20 to August 24 for small repairs and painting. The repairs should extend the life of these courts another three to five years.
In 2015, Court 4 was repaired by Ancaster Track and Tennis Paving through support from Parks and Recreation.
In 2016, the club completed minor surface repairs and painting to Courts 1, 2 and 5. The club completed similar repairs to Court 6 in 2017. Unfortunately, Parks and Recreation will not approve any extensive court repairs pending the new site plan and planned reconstruction of the facility.
A total of $25,000 was approved by the City of Brantford and Parks and Recreation in the 2016 budget for a new site design of the park, with redevelopment starting in phases in 2017. To date, Parks and Recreation has not hired a design firm for the new site plan and the first phase of the redevelopment has been pushed back to 2018, where Parks and Recreation have proposed $275,000 for the construction of three new courts, complete with new lighting and fencing.