An urgent plea for help to save a seemingly doomed community event went out Wednesday morning and by the end of the day a saviour came forward.
Communities That Care (CTC) asked District of Squamish council Tuesday (Feb. 22) for a grant-in-aid of $1,538.06 to cover the cost of renting Brennan Park for the event as well as extra staff and the use of a District van for the Communities That Care Family Celebration on March 11.
The vote to grant the money failed on a 3-3 tie, with councillors Jeff Dawson, Dave Fenn and Ray Peters in favour and Mayor Ian Sutherland and councillors Raj Kahlon and Sonja Lebans against. Coun. Corinne Lonsdale was absent.
In voting against the motion, Sutherland noted that CTC had recently been given $105,000 over three years through the Squamish Community Foundation.
"I am personally very disappointed by this turn of events," Christine Buttkus of CTC wrote in a mass e-mail message to more than 70 people.
The goal of the e-mail message was to raise more than $1,500 before Monday to avoid canceling the event.
By noon on Wednesday, Margaret Antolovich of the Vancouver Coast Health Authority answered the e-mail from Buttkus.According to her note, Squamish Community Health will cover the $1,500 cost.
CTC is dedicated to preventing things like substance abuse, violence and school drop out.
