Eleven local non-profit organizations will soon receive funding from the city’s COVID Relief Grant-in-Aid Program.
City council approved the allocation of $130,160 to reimburse groups for pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), enhanced cleaning costs, adapting programming or services, installing protective barriers or physical distancing modifications and losses in revenue due to inability to hold annual and ongoing fundraising.
Council approved the following applications for COVID Relief Grant-in-Aid Program:
Forward House Community Society – $12,000
Mount Arrowsmith Pipe Band Association – $3,780.07
Oceanside Classical Concerts Society – $3,026.12
Oceanside Community Arts Council – $20,513
Oceanside Community Makerspace Society – $2,743
Pacific Board Culture Society – $5,000
Parksville & District Historical Society – $3,648
Parksville Beach Festival Society – $68,700
Parksville Curling Club – $10,000
Parksville Quilt House Quilters Guild – $250
Qualicum Weavers and Spinner Guild Society – $500
During its June 7 meeting, council agreed a minimum of 50 per cent of organization members should reside in Parksville to receive the full amount requested.
Applications from the Canadian Federation of University Women ($6,000), Parksville & District Rock and Gem Club ($6,000) and Peter Drummond ($5,000) were rejected because the funding is only available to registered non-profit organizations, according to the city.
An application from Oceanside Community Church for $10,000 was also denied because the church is located in Errington, although 50 per cent of its members reside in Parksville, according to the city.
The Pacific Board Culture Society received one quarter of the $20,000 it requested. The organization is dedicated to providing skateboards, snowboards and surfboards to people in need, according to its website.
Mayor Ed Mayne said he was concerned because he did not see any proof the organization was unable to raise funds it normally could have pre-pandemic.
Coun. Marilyn Wilson made a motion to deny its request, but Coun. Mark Chandler made a friendly amendment to that motion to allocate 25 per cent of the society’s request.
Fifteen organizations requested a total of $188,822.05, of which $130,160.18 was allocated. Around $150,000 remains in the fund and may be considered for allocation at a second submission date, the city said.
