Castlegar City Council recently awarded grants to four local organizations as part of its community grant program.
The city accepts grant applications four times a year. Prior to the new grants, $17,900 was left in the grant budget.
The Kootenay Robusters received $500 for their annual calendar project. The city will receive an advertising spot in the calendar to acknowledge the sponsorship.
The Kootenay Robusters' mandate is to raise awareness of breast cancer and promote the idea of healthy lifestyle after breast cancer. The Robusters attend local breast cancer awareness events and support both cancer survivors and associate members.
Castlegar Girls on Boards received $1,000 to support the Harvest Jam Skate Contest on Aug. 31. The contest brings together skaters from across the West Kootenay to showcase their skills, promote a positive view of skateboarding and provide a family-friendly event to spark further interest in youth skateboarding. The funds will be used to pay for necessities to run the event such as insurance, park permit, advertising, stickers, T-shirts and signage.
The Castlegar Girls on Boards members volunteer their time to plan and put on the event and raise funds through bottle drives. The city will be recognized through signage, social media, and the city logo will be featured on event T-shirts.
Can Jam Link-Up received $1,000 to support its annual Jamaican food festival fundraiser at Millennium Park on June 29. The festival includes Jamaican cuisine, live reggae music, games, and other entertainment for people of all ages. The funds will be used to help pay two local bands and help with the cost of food.
Can Jam Link-Up is an organization that raises funds to help support various causes, including lunch programs for schools, grad fees, and the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association (KERPA). Last year, Can Jam Link-Up donated $3,000 in proceeds to KERPA from the festival, and used remaining festival supplies to raise $3,700 for the Stanley Humphries Grad Fund.
The city will be recognized on radio, Facebook and other social media platforms, and the city logo will be included on a banner with all the sponsors.
The West Kootenay Timberwolves Lacrosse Program received $1,980 to support local youth and host four home games in Castlegar.
Home games allow players the opportunity to share the sport with family, friends and the community. They also bring players and their families to the community from other areas in B.C., which supports local businesses.
The city will be acknowledged at all their home games and on their website and social media platforms.
An application from the Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation for $2,500 was denied because it did not meet the city's grant policy criteria.
