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Grants given to community groups

Sooke council awards $65,000 in community grants to local organizations

The Community Grant Review Committee met for more than 11 hours to recommend which community groups would receive funding from the District of Sooke.

Chair of the committee, Maja Tait said the decisions were made on the completed applications and the process was quite involved. Each organization that received funding was a registered society, as this was a criteria that had to be met.

“Anyone who met the criteria got funding,” said Tait.

District of Sooke council handed out $65,000 in grants to:

Sooke Canada Day Society - $1,500

Scouts Canada - Camp Bernard - $7,000

Sooke Food CHI Society - $3,500

EMCS Student Art Bus Shelter Project - $2,500

Ladybug Garden and Greenhouse - $1,000

Navy League of Canada - Sooke Branch - $5,000

Addiction Recovery Coach of Canada Society - $800

Sooke Elderly Citizen’s Housing Society - $3,000

Reflections of Fantasy Dance Society - $1,500

Sooke Boxing Club - $2,000

Sooke Fall Fair Association - $600

Sooke Minor Fastball Association - $7,000

JDF Swim Club - Sooke - $6,500

Sooke Animal Food & Rescue Society - $1,500

Royal Canadian Legion Housing Society - $10,000

Sooke Firefighters Association - $7,100

Sooke Transition Town Society; Sooke Slow Food Cycle - $4,500

Total grants dispersed - $65,000, total requested - $104,600.

It was noted that Councillor Rick Kasper was opposed to the $7,100 granted to the Sooke Firefighter’s Association for restoration of the 1942 International Fire Truck for historical legacy and 100th year celebrations.  Kasper wanted to see a matched funding scenario rather than a grant. He said the SFA chose to embark on the project. The SFA is planning an anniversary celebration which will cost them $15,000.

Kasper also noted some organizations already get funding from other areas of the district budget.

“Some recommendations do not sit well, some organizations get funds from other areas of the District of Sooke. I have mixed emotions about this package as a whole, I think when we look at it we can’t be everything to everybody,” said Kasper. He said money would be tight in the 2013 budget.

The Sooke Animal Food & Rescue Society had some conditions put on its grant award.