The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes

The Grove Theatre is partnered with The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes in the use of its charitable registration number to receive donations and foundation-based funding. 

The Community Foundation was established to help the Kawartha Lakes community grow and prosper in the next 150 years. The Foundation works to strengthen the local philanthropic network, linking people who care, with gaps in local human services, public infrastructure and community economic development by guiding the creation of lasting legacy funds. Through the Kawartha Lakes Community Co-operative, the Foundation also supports local initiatives that benefit the community, The Grove Theatre being the largest and most recent.

Fenelon Agricultural Society

The Fenelon Agricultural Society was formed in 1888. The Fenelon Fair is the main annual event encompassing the entire grounds with a large variety of events, fun for the entire family. The fair is run by the volunteer members of the Fenelon Agricultural Society and the grounds are home to many popular events such as Ride for Sight, Fenelon Car Show and the Kawartha Arts Festival. 

 The Grove Theatre amphitheatre is located in a garden grove on the fairgrounds in an idealistic natural setting. The Fenelon Fairgrounds have graciously provided a beautiful home for The Grove Theatre.

Fenelon Falls Horticultural Society

Fenelon Falls Horticultural Society, with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Fenelon Legacy CHEST Fund contributed by the City of Kawartha Lakes, planted over 300 trees and shrubs in October 2020. In 2021, local gardeners donated more trees and shrubs. A group of volunteers spent many hours planting, weeding, mulching and pruning to enhance the beauty of the Grove. 

The Fenelon Falls Horticultural Society cares for public gardens at nine locations throughout Fenelon Falls. To celebrate both the gardens and the gardeners, a book was created which includes over 40 pages of beautiful photos, paintings  by local artists, gardening tips, informative charts and a new map of the gardens! This book, ‘The Gardens of Fenelon Fall’, as well as greeting cards are available for purchase.

Kawartha Works Community Co-operative

Kawartha Works Community Co-operative (KWCC) was created in 2015  to “improve the social infrastructure in Kawartha Lakes by enabling the creation, development and management of not-for-profit initiatives with artistic, cultural, recreational, health, environmental, economic and social improvement aims”.  KWCC has launched several local initiatives including:. 

  • Fenelon Arts Committee--sculpture in public gardens

  • Impact 32 Bobcaygeon–community beautification, special events

  • Heritage celebration events

  • Established bike rentals in Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls

  • Snowshoe Kawartha—winter festival events

  • ABLE family support network—for families with a member having intellectual disabilities

  • Hay Fever--hay bale art displays

The largest initiative to date is the Grove Theatre. A grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation for $143,700 and many generous community donations funded construction of the amphitheatre. 

KWCC offers lower cost and convenience of shared services such as insurance and accounting as well as having an incorporated status to receive grants for projects. KWCC also has a network of members with a variety of community connections of shared information and experience, and potential partnering for projects. These initiatives benefit over 20,000 residents, visitors, and tourists each year.