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City of Castlegar to use surprise donation to support cooling centres

$2000 was given to the RCMP to distribute in the community
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An anonymous $2000 cash donation will go to support Castlegar cooling centres. (File photo)

Castlegar city council had an unusual task to accomplish at their May 16 meeting — deciding what to do with a surprise donation.

Back in December, the Castlegar RCMP received an anonymous donation of $2000 with the instructions to disperse it as the RCMP saw fit within the community. But unfortunately, RCMP are not allowed to accept or distribute money.

An announcement was published, but after the money was not collected after 90 days it was turned over to the City of Castlegar as found property.

Council considered several options before deciding to direct the money to support cooling centres this summer. Two local churches — Kinnaird Church of God and New Life Church — and The Way Out Shelter stepped up during last summer’s heat wave to open their doors to anyone needing relief from the heat.

The only support the groups received from the city was the purchase of automated external defibrillators for each organization.

Council’s decision included a caveat that if the centres were not opened this year or if the funds were not needed by the fall that they would reevaluate where the money should go.

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betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com

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Betsy Kline

About the Author: Betsy Kline

After spending several years as a freelance writer for the Castlegar News, Betsy joined the editorial staff as a reporter in March of 2015. In 2020, she moved into the editor's position.
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