Watching the community enhancement grant in aid process at council is a bit like watching hungry fish in an aquarium. The fish – community groups – swim to the top of the water each in turn, hoping for food pellets from the benevolent aquarium caretaker – council. The bigger fish want more food while some of the smaller fish hope for a few flakes to float their way.
Representatives from about 25 groups presented their financial grant in aid or in-kind requests to council Tuesday afternoon.
This year, council has about $178,000 to dole out from the proposed budget but requests of $254,000. Christine Mathews, district manager financial planning, said council may look at other funding opportunities if certain initiatives are eligible.
“For instance, last year we had some projects or initiatives that fit well with reserve use, and this year we have a supporting grant for the BMX park,” she said via email.
On Tuesday, requests varied from $70,000 to a few hundred dollars. The Squamish Arts Council applied for $10,000 to put towards helping fund community projects, events, programs and education in the arts.
“This annual grant is invaluable to supporting arts programming in our community,” said Michelle Neilson, chair of the arts council. “Not only to help increase programming and improve access to arts for our community but also as a learning opportunity for the arts council to gauge real time needs for the arts and culture community.”
Presentations throughout the day also varied from straight-up requests that took only a few minutes to a longer presentation with an interactive game by representatives from the Squamish Farmers’ Market, who are working in partnership with Zero Waste Action Team. Their request was for $3,900 to add a recycling education piece to the farmers’ market.
The Squamish Volunteer Drivers for Cancer Program requested $5,000 to continue the service of driving Sea to Sky Cancer patients to appointments in Vancouver after Canadian Cancer Society cut funding for the program in October.
The presentations were also for new initiatives such as $14,000 from the West Coast Yoga Foundation to help with Squamish’s first West Coast Yoga Festival. “This donation-based festival will draw 1,000 participants, eight of the very best yoga teachers in the Sea to Sky Corridor, 30 hand-selected vendors and one inspiring musical act into Junction Park on June 19,” said Elizabeth Nerland of the foundation.
The council is currently in budget deliberations and contemplating a 6.02-per-cent increase to the municipal budget. A 2016 budget e-town hall on the budget will be held on Jan. 26. at 6:30 p.m. at Municipal Hall.
**Please note this story has been corrected since it was first posted. The original story had the incorrect name for the head of the West Coast Yoga Foundatoin.
