Wells Gray Community Forest is giving away a total of $99,500 to a variety of local causes and organizations after its first-ever call for submissions.
“The applications totaled about $150,000, including late submissions,” said Richard Christenson, chair of the society that holds the community forest corporation’s shares and that selects those that will receive funding.
“We looked at urgency ... looked at those that couldn’t wait until March (for the second call for submissions).
Deciding on the successful applications took a fair amount of homework, he said.
“All the applications had merit, even those that didn’t succeed,” added Ted Richardson, president of the community forest corporation.
“It was quite a stringent process of deciding. We want to be very prudent about how we disburse the funds.”
Biggest recipients in this fall’s disbursement will be Clearwater Ski Hill, Evergreen Acres Seniors Home, and Clearwater Secondary School.
All three will receive $20,000. The ski hill plans to put its money towards purchasing a new groomer, Evergreen Acres will spend it on renovating three units, and the high school’s grant will be used for software and attachments for the CNC (computer numerical control) plasma cutter and router purchased last year with help from the community forest.
Next down the list is the PAC at Raft River Elementary School, which is getting $7,000 to be used to purchase skates. The Sportsplex is on school district property and part of the lease arrangement is that the schools be allowed to use the facility. However, many youngsters don’t have skates.
Clearwater Rotary Club is to get $5,100 for literacy programs, both in the schools and for adults.
Equipment for beginning hockey players will be bought by the $5,000 going to Clearwater and District Minor Hockey. Another $5,000 is going to Raft Mountain Skating Club.
Four thousand dollars is to go to Clearwater and District Hospice Society to purchase equipment such as a computer, filing cabinets and a camera.
Another $4,000 is to go to Yellowhead Community Services to purchase public use computers at the Community Resource Centre.
Partner-assisted learning at Yellowhead Community Services will receive $3,000.
The After School Program at Yellowhead Community Services will get $3,000 as well.
The local Girl Guides are getting $1,000 to help cover the cost of registration for girls from low-income families.
Upper Clearwater Farmers’ Institute is getting $1,000 too.
Another $1,000 will go to Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department to help pay for Halloween fireworks.
Clearwater Food Bank is to get $500, and After Hours Theater is getting $350.
For more about the communtiy forest, see page A3 inside.
