County distributes Operating Assistance Grants to community groups

The County of Grande Prairie has awarded $252,790 in operating assistance and cemetery grants to 68 non-profit organizations and volunteer groups as well as $420,190 in grants to organizations that operate sport, recreation and cultural facilities in the County to cover utility and other operating expenses.

Operating assistance grant funding is provided to non-profit organizations and volunteer groups that provide recreational or cultural services to their community. These groups must be open to County residents, provide proof of volunteerism and fundraising, and achieve identified goals. Applications are available through any of the six area County Recreation Boards to eligible community-based volunteer groups, non-profit organizations, municipalities, schools, and sports clubs.

The following is a list of operating assistance grants awarded to recreation boards:

 

Beaverlodge-Elmworth-Huallen Recreation Board – $32,790:

• $5,000 – South Peace Centennial Museum – Wages for summer caretaker

• $5,000 – Beaverlodge Boys and Girls Camp Society – Operational funding
• $5,000 – McNaught Homestead Preservation Society – Operational funding
• $4,000 – Beaverlodge Area Cultural Society – Programming for art classes and workshops
• $3,790 – Beaverlodge Elementary School – Grade 6 trip to Edmonton
• $3,000 – Beaverlodge Mural Foundation – Phase 3 mural projects in the Town of Beaverlodge
• $3,000 – Beaverlodge Barracuda Swim Club – Operational funding
• $2,000 – Beaverlodge Senior Citizens Association – Operational funding
• $2,000 – Elmworth School – Swimming Lessons

 

Clairmont-Bezanson Recreation Board – $33,500:

• $5,000 – Bezanson Agricultural Society – Operational support for Wi-Fi projects, router and security upgrades
• $5,000 – Bezanson Recreational Society – Operational support for outdoor rink
• $5,000 – Clairmont Community School – Swimming lessons
• $5,000 – Golden Years Club of Bezanson – Operating expenses (utilities, insurance, taxes, and upkeep)
• $5,000 – Kleskun Hill Museum Society – Office set-up and programming support
• $5,000 – West Smokey Legion #244 – Games and kitchen supplies
• $2,500 – Grande Prairie German Canadian Society – Operating expenses (utilities)
• $1,000 – Clairmont Community Garden Society – Garden materials and supplies

 

Grande Prairie Area Recreation Board – $46,000:

• $5,000 – Camp Tamarack Association – Summer camp program support – instructor safety training
• $5,000 – Centre for Creative Arts Society of Grande Prairie – Support for arts and cultural programming
• $5,000 – Grande Prairie Minor Baseball Association – Program support
• $5,000 – Grande Prairie Music Society – Operational support for programming and concerts
• $5,000 – Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society – Operating expenses for Mounted Therapeutic riding program
• $5,000 – Wapiti Nordic Ski Club – Children's programming support
• $2,500 – 3rd Grande Prairie Scouts – Support for Pacific Jamboree
• $2,500 – The Grande Prairie Aquarians Summer Swim Club – to offset costs of rentals and coaches
• $2,500 – Grande Prairie Boys' Choir – Concert support
• $2,500 – Grande Prairie Synquatics – to offset costs of rentals and coaches
• $2,500 – Peace Wapiti Academy – Weight room development at former Harry Balfour School
• $2,500 – Troyanda Society of Ukrainian Culture & Heritage – Flooring repairs
• $1,000 – Grande Prairie Filipino Basketball League – Basketball sport fitness and skill development program

 

Hythe-Demmitt-Valhalla Recreation Board – $29,370:

• $5,000 – Hythe Regional School – Swimming lessons
• $3,945 –Valhalla Rec Centre – Operation support for ice rink costs
• $3,925 –Valhalla Community School Parent Council – Student programming, swimming and skating lessons
• $3,500 – Borderline Cultural Foundation – Concert Series support
• $3,500 – Hythe & District Agricultural Society – Fall Fair support
• $3,500 – Hythe Community Choir – Program support, venue costs, conductor podium, pianist and music director honorariums
• $3,500 – Hythe Legion Branch #93 – Operational support (utilities)
• $2,500 – Hythe Heritage & Historical Society – Operational support (power, gas, insurance)

 

Sexsmith-La Glace-Teepee Creek Recreation Board – $37,640:

• $5,000 – La Glace School – Swimming lessons
• $5,000 – Robert W. Zahara Public School – Swimming lessons
• $5,000 – St. Mary's Catholic School – Swimming lessons
• $5,000 – Teepee Creek School – Swimming lessons
• $5,000 – Sexsmith Wellness Coalition – Children's programming
• $4,500 – Sexsmith Tumbling Club – Summer camp program support
• $3,500 – Sexsmith Minor Hockey Association – Programming support
• $2,000 – Sexsmith Skating Club – Skate Canada programming
• $1,490 – Sexsmith and District Seniors Association – Foot care support for residents
• $650 – Sunset Home Tenants Association – Seniors’ activities support
• $500 – Sexsmith Playschool Society – Operational support of the playschool

 

Wembley-Dimsdale-Saskatoon Lake Recreation Board – $31,570:

• $4,250 – Wembley Elementary School – Swimming lessons
• $4,250 – Helen E. Taylor School – Swimming lessons
• $4,000 – Wembley & District Agricultural Society – Fall Fair support
• $4,000 – Wembley & District Arts Culture and Historical Society – Utilities
• $3,000 – Hoku Sei Kan Judo Club – Program support
• $3,000 – The Silver and Gold Pioneer Club of Wembley – Offset general operating costs and facility upgrades
• $2,000 – Lakeview Estates Community Association – Maintenance costs
• $2,000 – Peace Country Offroad Racing Association – Operations costs and insurance
• $1,070 – Wembley Snowmobile Club – Facility maintenance

 

Funding for indoor ice arenas:

• $ 131,840 – Hythe Arena
• $ 48,840 – La Glace Arena
• Arenas located within neighboring towns will be funded as per their respective Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework agreement.

 

Funding for curling rinks:

• $ 13,060 – Beaverlodge Curling Club
• $13,060 – La Glace Curling Club
• $13,060 – Mountview Curling Club
• Curling rinks located within neighboring towns will be funded as per their respective Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework agreement.

 

Funding for community halls, $5,222 to each of the following:

• Albright Community Hall
• Clairmont Community Hall
• Clairmont Seniors Centre
• Crystal Creek Hall
• Demmitt Hall
• Dimsdale Hall
• Goodfare Community Hall
• Hinton Trail Community Hall
• Homestead Hall Association
• Lymburn Community Association
• Saskatoon Lake Hall
• Silver Wing Hall
• Teepee Creek Stampede Association

Webster Community Hall

• Valhalla Heritage Society, and
• $7,000 to the Twilight Club of La Glace

 

Funding for Event/Community Centres:

• $55,000 – Bezanson Agricultural Society – Operating funding for Bezanson Community Centre and Executive Director Support
• $20,000 – Hythe & District Recreation Society – Operating funding for Hythe Community Centre
• $20,000 – Teepee Stampede Association – Operating funding for Hall, Event Centre, and Rodeo Ground
• $20,000 – Rio Grande Sports Association – Operating funding for Hall, Pavilion, Rodeo Grounds, and campground

 

Cemetery Improvement Grants ($41,920)

• $5,000 – Bethel Church Cemetery – maintenance project, dust control
• $5,000 – Halcourt Cemetery – grave cover maintenance, plot layout for Plan 6
• $5,000 – Hythe Cemetery – Memorial Garden
• $5,000 – Riverview Cemetery – fencing project
• $5,000 – St Andrew Cemetery – clean-up of dead trees
• $5,000 – St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery – Columbarium
• $5,000 – Webster Cemetery – Columbarium
• $4,315.50 – Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery – decorative gates
• $2,604 – Spring Creek Cemetery – mature tree planting

Information provided by the County of Grande Prairie