Local communities receive gaming grants
By Andrew Zwicker
The provincial government has announced the recipients of this year’s provincial gaming grants and the Rossland is getting a small slice of the pie. 7000 organizations across the province will receive grants from the $120 million fund designed to foster talent and support events that celebrate local traditions and customs, Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development, announced late last week.
The official release from the BC Liberals was “The Province has budgeted $7.4 million more than last year for gaming grants – a total of $120 million for 2010-2011.” While this year’s funding is certainly an improvement over last year’s level of $112.6 million there is an element of spin on that statement. What is not included in the press release is that two years ago the same fund was cut by $41.4 million from a high of $154 million. In the Kootenays, Creston, Nelson and Rossland came out as the gaming fund winners. Specifically, the Gold Fever Follies received $8,000, the Trail historical society received $2,000 and the Greater Trail Swim Racing Society was awarded $20,000. The Christina Lake Stewardship society will receive $25,000 toward their project. Further abroad, the Nelson area received a total of $10,430, with $5,500 going to the Association Des Francopones Des Kootenays Ouest, $2,250 to the Nelson and District Museum, Archives, Art Gallery and Historical Society and $2,680 to the Nelson Fine Arts Centre Society. The Creston area received $23,770 with $1,270 going to the Creston and District Historical and Museum Society and $22,500 for the Creston Valley Junior Hockey Society. At press time the local area organizations had not yet responded to phone calls for more information. The Telegraph will bring you further updates on this story as they become available.
