Hydro One's Grant Gives Up to $10,000 to 50 Communities For Ice Storm Recovery Efforts

To support local communities from the late March weather, Hydro One has named its 50 recipients of up to $10,000 for its Ice Storm 2025: Recovery Grant, announced at the Paul J. English Chemung Lions Park in Bridgenorth on Monday afternoon.

Sherry Senis, Selwyn Mayor (left); Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden (middle) and Bronwen Evans, Hydro One VP (right) planting the first tree at the Paul J. English Chemung Lions Park in Bridgenorth. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The grants support local recovery efforts from the widespread ice storm that left severe damage. The 50 recipients are local municipalities and Indigenous communities. Several Indigenous communities and municipalities declared states of emergency due to the storm with some places having ongoing clean-up.

“The ice storm caused severe and widespread impacts across the province, leaving many Indigenous communities and municipalities with devastating damage,” said Bronwen Evans, Hydro One Vice President. “We are incredibly grateful to the Indigenous community leaders, local staff and emergency responders who came together to support restoration efforts and keep everyone safe.”

Selwyn Township was one of the recipients and utilized the grant for its ReLeaf Program, donating more than 350 trees to residents who experienced vegetation loss as a result of the storm.

“Selwyn Township is incredibly grateful to Hydro One for their generous support,” said Sherry Senis, Selwyn Township Mayor. “This grant allows us to work with residents to contribute to the community's recovery and beautification. Together, we’re planting the seeds for a more resilient and sustainable future.”

“All of Peterborough County was deeply impacted by the ice storm this spring. Some places may never look the same,” said Bonnie Clark, Warden, Peterborough County. “It’s wonderful to see Hydro One in the community long after the power was restored to help with rebuilding.”

Each community had its respective uses for the grant money which included supplying emergency shelters, restoring biodiversity and more according to Evans.

“Some of the things that people applied for were simply cleaning up debris. You can see in different areas of the province where trees have fallen and they're hanging over the side of the highway and needed to be cleaned up,” she explained. “In other cases, it was water drainage infrastructure so we did leave it up to the municipalities and communities to identify what their unique needs were.”

The ice storm spanned three days of ice accumulation that uprooted trees, downed lines and more than 2,700 broken poles across the province according to Hydro One.

The following are the recipients of Hydro One's Ice Storm 2025: Recovery Grant:

  1. Alderville First Nation 

  2. Alnwick Haldimand Township 

  3. City of Barrie 

  4. Beausoleil Island First Nation 

  5. Town of Bracebridge 

  6. Municipality of Brighton 

  7. Brock Township 

  8. Cavan-Monaghan Township 

  9. Central Elgin Township 

  10. Municipality of Centre Hastings  

  11. Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation 

  12. Chippewas of Nawash First Nation 

  13. Chippewas of Rama First Nation 

  14. Curve Lake First Nation 

  15. Douro-Dummer Township 

  16. Essa Township 

  17. Georgian Bay Township 

  18. Georgian Bluffs Township 

  19. Town of Georgina 

  20. Haliburton County 

  21. Hamilton Township 

  22. Hiawatha First Nation 

  23. Town of Innisfil 

  24. North Kawartha Township 

  25. Marmora and Lake Township 

  26. Melancthon Township 

  27. Town of Midland 

  28. Minden Hills Township 

  29. Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation 

  30. Mono Township 

  31. Moose Deer Point First Nation 

  32. District Municipality of Muskoka 

  33. Muskoka Lakes Township 

  34. City of Orillia 

  35. Oro-Medonte Township 

  36. Town of Penetanguishene 

  37. Peterborough County

  38. Municipality of Port Hope 

  39. Ramara Township 

  40. Selwyn Township 

  41. Severn Township 

  42. Sheguiandah First Nation 

  43. Simcoe County 

  44. Southgate Township 

  45. Tay Township 

  46. Municipality of Trent Lakes 

  47. Municipality of Tweed 

  48. Uxbridge Township 

  49. Wahta Mohawk Nation 

  50. Wasauksing First Nation 

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