Thirteen programs in the region will be receiving over $200,000 after the Kenora District Services Board distributed funding to help nearly 1,000 children in the area.
Leadership with the KDSB says they believe that all children need and deserve equal access to organized sports, recreation, community activities and food security, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still affecting the region.
“The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to impact families and children across our District and creates barriers to active participation,” says Barry Baltessen, Board Chair of the KDSB.
“The Board remains committed to ensuring that children and youth in our communities, particularly low-income children and youth, have equal and equitable opportunities to access these enriching programs,” he adds.
In total, the KDSB is providing funding to:
KDSB Ontario Works Families - $52,800
NWHU Nutrition on Weekends - $52,540
Making Connections for Children and Youth - $10,000
Township of Ear Falls - $3,000
Mary Berglund Community Health Clinic - $5,750
Ignace School - $5,000
Ecole Immaculee-Conception - $1,000
Ignace Nursery School & EarlyON Centre - $2,700
Firefly – Minto Parent Child Resource Centre - $10,000
Rotary Club Kenora - $22,500
PASS Program - $6,000
Triple P.L.A.Y. - $16,000
Kids Are Recreationally Equal (KARE) Plus Program - $14,000
The KDSB notes the program did not run last year due to COVID-19, but Beaver Brae’s PASS program and the Northwestern Health Unit’s Nutrition on Weekends program identified additional needs in the fall of 2021, and these programs were allocated funding which was combined with the 2022 allocation.