Ghosts are returning to Wesleyville Village!

Join us for a family-friendly, spooky evening at Wesleyville Village’s annual Ghostly Visit on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM!

Recommended for children 10 and under, this fun-filled event features a haunted forest walk, hot chocolate, pumpkin decorating, marshmallow roasting, crafts, fortune-telling, and more! Admission is $5 per child (cash only). 

The event takes place both inside and outside at the historic Wesleyville Village Schoolhouse, so guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and be mindful of ticks. Parking is available at 2082 Lakeshore Road, Port Hope, L1A 3V7. 

We hope to see you there!

Keynote BBQ and Indigenous Cultural Day

Thank you to all who contributed to a memorable Keynote BBQ!

The Friends of Wesleyville Village is so thankful for this wonderful and generous community who came together on Saturday to make the Keynote BBQ a success.

Many hands made light work for set-up, tear down, and cooking, and despite a difficult season, many local businesses donated prizes, food, and drink.

The event began with a jovial serenading by Lloyd Johnson and Warren Tait. A total of 54 tickets were sold, and including board members, volunteers and staff, 62 people came together to eat a lovely, summery meal and listen to Katie Power's uplifting music. A door prize draw and raffle draw saw 11 prizes distributed among lucky winners!

Over $2000.00 was raised in support of the mission of the Friends of Wesleyville Village! Thank you again to all who attended, volunteered, and donated to this memorable and heartwarming event.

Indigenous Cultural Day at Wesleyville Village!

In partnership with the Dibaajimowin Cultural Centre, the Friends of Wesleyville Village are pleased to once again host an Indigneous Cultural Day on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Come out for the day to enjoy sharing circles, women's hand drumming, vendors, displays, and more!

For more information, contact Marsha Smoke at 905-375-5057

See you there!

MPP David Piccini News Release

Ontario Supports the Restoration Efforts of the Friends of Wesleyville

$143,100 in Ontario Government grants providing additional supports to the efforts to restore Wesleyville Village and make it accessible for all.

News                                                                                                             June 2nd, 2024

Wesleyville, ON: On Sunday, MPP David Piccini was at the Friends of Wesleyville Village’s Country Market and Nature Fest to officially congratulate them on the work happening as a result of receiving two grants, totalling $143,100 from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The celebratory spirit of the event continued when MPP Piccini donned the role of auctioneer for the delicious baked goods donated by local politicians in support of the Friends of Wesleyville Village.

Accessibility ramp at Wesleyville community facility - thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation. Pictured here: seven happy Friends of Wesleyville directors, along with Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky (second left), and Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation surround MPP David Piccini and Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer Elaine Sheppard (right front).

“The Ontario Government is committed to supporting culturally significant sites to be accessible for everyone in the community,” said MPP David Piccini. “This funding from OTF will support the Friends of Wesleyville Village in their efforts to restore the Village and its landmarks to make it a key fixture in the Town of Port Hope”.

The first of the grants, a $97,200 Capital grant was awarded in the fall of 2023 to help the local heritage group with its work to restore the Wesleyville church, the site of many community activities, following a fire in 2021. The grant helped with the costs of installing a new access ramp, as well as a sidewalk leading up to the front of the building and installing entrance doors and a new door from the loft to the auditorium.

“These two Ontario Trillium Foundation grants help the Friends of Wesleyville Village achieve our mission to conserve this heritage property for community uses,” said Kathy Dennis, Chairperson of the Friends of Wesleyville Village.

MPP Piccini also had the opportunity to officially share the good news about the two-year, $45,900 Resilient Communities Fund grant that the Friends of Wesleyville Village received earlier this year from OTF. The Resilient Communities Fund grant program was designed to help non-profit organizations to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Funds from this grant will be used to build on its organizational resilience and sustainability for the conservation of four historic buildings and the natural environment in Wesleyville Village, a provincial heritage property in the Port Hope area. Since receiving the grant, the volunteer-run group has employed a part-time Community Program Coordinator and purchased donor-management software to help with raising funds and developing plans for conserving the heritage village for future generations of Ontarians.

“Non-profit organizations across Ontario deliver programming that makes a difference,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “That’s why funding that my ministry is providing through the OTF is so important. Our government wants to ensure that these programs and spaces remain the heart of communities across our province.”

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 more than $110M into 1,044 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. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

If you’re looking to visit the Friends of Wesleyville Village this summer, they’re located at 2082 Lakeshore Road - just 10 kilometres west of downtown Port Hope, Ontario. www.wesleyvillevillage.com 

Media Contact:

Ben Williams

Constituency Assistant

Office of MPP David Piccini

O: 905-372-4000

E: ben.williams@pc.ola.org