$100,000 OTF Grant to Pilot Bereavement Program in York Region
January 26, 2026
Newmarket, ON – On Friday, MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy met with the team at CAYR Community Connections to hear from them about the impact of a $100,000 Seedgrant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Funds from the grant, which was awarded in 2024, were used to pilot a new bereavement support program for people who have lost loved ones to substance poisoning and overdose.
“Our government is proud to support CAYR Community Connections with this $100,000 Seed grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which has helped pilot a compassionate and much-needed bereavement program in York Region,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket–Aurora. “By bringing together service providers, community partners, and individuals with lived experience, this project is helping people navigate profound grief without stigma or isolation. I’m grateful for the dedicated work of the entire CAYR team in creating space for healing, connection, and hope in our community.”
Thanks to the $100,000 OTF grant, CAYR Community Connections, in consultation with service providers, community members and related stakeholders, started working together in April 2025 to better understand the needs of people who have lost loved ones to substance poisoning and overdose in York Region and to provide them with grief and bereavement support. This pilot project will lay the groundwork for new collaborations and programming to meet these unique needs in the Region.
“We are thrilled to be able to conduct meaningful programming in York Region for people who are living through this often stigmatized loss,” noted Marie Morton, Executive Director at CAYR.
CAYR’s mission is to create welcoming, confidential, and inclusive environments for dignified support and education, empowering a diverse population including, people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS, individuals affected by or at risk of HIV/Hepatitis Cm people who use substances, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and allies and partners supporting underserved communities. To learn more, please visit the website at: www.cayrcc.org The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment.