Funding for Infrastructure

The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (CNUFN) own Cape Croker Park. The park is a 315-site campground built by the community in 1967 and is the only First Nation owned and operated park in Ontario, and one of only two in Canada.

The highly capable and very busy Park Manager contacted MacLeod Farley & Associates in 2016. He asked us to assist in securing funds for park infrastructure improvement projects because the aging facilities needed upgrades, and employment opportunities were only seasonal. He wanted outside help to make it happen.

We worked closely with the manager to identify priorities and prepare funding proposals. We helped the community secure a major grant from FedDev in 2016. During project implementation, this funder was so impressed by Cape Croker Park that they increased their funding.

During implementation, our team assisted with project management, support and coordination, and funder reporting. We were then hired again, leading in part to approved funding in 2018 with Indigenous Services Canada and with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and approved funding in 2019 for $250,000 for a total to date of $836,000 in funding for park improvements.

Cape Croker Park now has new park roads, a new drainage system, upgraded washrooms, repointed stone walls, entrance signage improvements, and upgraded buildings. Visitation is increasing year over year, and the park has been able to hire additional community members.