Release date: 
Tuesday, April 26, 2005

The Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) is pleased to unveil the spring 2005 recipients of its charitable giving program, Project Clear Skies.

“As announced last fall, the Airport Authority is building on its commitment to the community it serves by giving back to the community” said Jim Durrell, Chairman of the Board of the Airport Authority.

“Project Clear Skies truly helps makes a difference in the nation’s capital from the ground up by providing much-needed capital project funding to organizations who are making our community stronger” added Paul Benoit, President & CEO.

On the first anniversary of the opening of the passenger terminal building, the Board of Directors of the Ottawa International Airport Authority committed to invest $500,000 in the community over the next five years. Including the spring 2005 disbursement, $143,300 has already been provided to local registered charitable organizations in the National Capital Region.

The spring 2005 Project Clear Skies recipients are:

Abbeyfield House Ottawa $4,000
To install a sump pump and drainage in the basement of their facility

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Program $4,000
To refurbish their consultation rooms to increase patient and family comfort levels while in hospital

Centre 507 $5,000
To purchase kitchen appliances for their adult drop-in centre

Centre alimentaire Aylmer $4,300
To refurnish their cafeteria

Espoir Rosalie of Gatineau $7,500
To purchase furniture used for various workshops

La Maison de l’Amitié de Hull $1,500
To purchase appliances for their community kitchen

Ottawa Innercity Ministries $5,000
To purchase kitchen appliances for their outreach program

Society of St-Vincent de Paul $9,000
To repair the roof and windows of their downtown centre

St. Joe’s Women’s Centre $5,000
To renovate their washroom and laundry facilities for the
disadvantaged women and their children

St-Stephen’s Residence $8,000
To finish the basement in order to provide their mentally and physically challenged residents with a larger space where they may conduct various activities

The next deadline for Project Clear Skies submissions is September 30, 2005. For additional information about this program including its funding criteria and application form, please visit www.ottawa-airport.ca/clearskies.

OIAA operates the Ottawa International Airport without government subsidies under a 60-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The OIAA’s mandate is to manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region. Its new state-of-the-art passenger terminal building opened for business on October 12, 2003.


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