Two 100 Mile House community organizations will receive grants totalling $67,500 to assist their recreation and outdoor education programs.
The grants were awarded under the Human and Social Services category of the Community Gaming Grant Program.
The program allows non-profit organizations to apply for provincial gaming revenues from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Gaming grants are also awarded in the categories of public safety, environment, and arts and culture.
“The Cariboo-Chilcotin is an outdoor adventurers dream,” says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.
“We are investing in facilities and programs that support community-based projects and learning experiences for our children and youth, and for all our outdoor enthusiasts.”
The Horse Lake Training Centre will get $7,500, which will help the facility continue to host a wide range of community groups, including the Rocky Mountain Ranger Cadets, South Cariboo Search and Rescue, and the Canadian Rangers.
The renowned Educo Outdoors Adventure School (EOAS) is receiving $60,000 for the summer program, as well as the school and community program.
EOAS executive director Stephanie Gobin says she is extremely pleased with the gaming grant.
She adds Educo received $30,000 for its schools and community program, which offers subsidies for students so their parents don’t have to pay as much to have their children attend their school’s outdoors education course at Educo. Parent advisory councils can also get a subsidy to have the students go to the Educo Outdoors Adventure School during the school year, Gobin notes.
She says EOAS also received $30,000 for its summer program, which sees school counsellors, First Nations education co-ordinators and youth workers identify youth who would benefit from scholarships to attend the school’s five- to 14-day summer programs.
In the 2012/13 fiscal year, the provincial government has distributed a total of $135 million in gaming grants for eligible community programs and services.
Organizations interested in applying for Community Gaming Grants can find full application information at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming.