Barbara Roden
Free Press
Three local groups have benefited from recently-announced grants from the provincial Community Gaming Grants program.
The 100 Mile House & District Women’s Centre received $11,000, while the Lone Butte, Horse Lake Community Association received $10,000, and the Educo Adventure School received $72,000.
Stephanie Gobin, executive director of Educo Adventure School, says she’s very pleased with the grant. “We were expecting more like $60,000, as in past years, but this year we set our sights high.”
The money will help fund two programs: the School and Community Group program, and the Summer program. The former, which runs in May, June and September, welcomes school and community groups to Educo’s “off the grid” site west of 100 Mile House, while the latter invites youth from around the province and the world to connect with nature and disconnect from the digital world for periods lasting from five to 14 days.
“The funds are used to defray the cost of the programs,” Gobin says, adding that in 2015, some 30 students, the majority of them from the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, participated at reduced, or no, cost. “The funding allows us to support our local community.”
Mary Carter, treasurer of the Lone Butte, Horse Lake Community Association (LBHLCA), says the funding will help support several initiatives.
“Lone Butte Rocks, now in its eighth year, provides free entertainment for the whole family,” she says, adding this year’s event is scheduled for July 9.
The funds will also support the annual Easter egg hunt and the Christmas dinner, which has Santa Claus appear with gifts; 120 tickets for the event are given away at no charge.
Carter is also pleased that the funding will allow the LBHLCA to do some upgrades.
“We’ll be able to replace the picnic tables at the community hall.”