The Community Initiatives Fund has awarded a total of $3.8 million in grants to Saskatchewan communities.
The CIF is a special purpose fund created through the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act and governed by a volunteer board. The board distributes a portion of profits from Moose Jaw and Regina casino profits, divided into community grants, community vitality programs, physical activity programs and problem gambling prevention programs.
Of the total $3.8 million distributed June 26, $1.7 million went to the community grant program, $2 million went to the community vitality program, of which around $1.5 million went to small capital grants and around $450,000 went to "pride projects," $80,000 was donated to physical activity projects and $58,000 was donated to problem gambling prevention projects.
The last donation made by the Community Initiatives Fund was in December. Then the Western Development Museum received the largest possible donation, for $50,000, that went towards paying for a new heating system. Last year's donations totalled $2 million, making this year's donations especially large.
This year, communities from Annaheim to Yorkton received donations ranging in size from a few hundred dollars to $80,000. Many of the communities receiving donations were in the local area.
In the Community Grant Program category, only two local communities received donations. Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program received a donation of $17,000 for family and community engagement and the Unity Community Resource Centre received a large donation of $19,000.
Many local communities also received small capital grants from the Community Vitality Program. The Borden and District Museum received $2,369 for a furnace replacement, Cochin received $12,500 for playground revitalization and the Hafford and District Recreation Board received $6,000 to upgrade their facility. Lashburn was given $20,000 to pay for the revitalization of a heritage park, the Marcelin and District Community Club received $12,500 for hall renovations, Marshall's Recreation Board received $10,000 for housing change rooms and Mervin's Recreation Board received a $10,000 sum to spend on the "Hope Hall" expansion to the Mervin Community Centre.
Neilburg's Recreation Board was given $10,000 for the Manitou Memorial Arena and North Battleford received another donation, for $20,000, to pay for a re-fit of the elevator at the Don Ross Centre. Finally, the Wilkie and District Historical Museum Society received $3,000 for renovations to a historical school house.
Out of the total $450,000 given out for pride projects and events, three local communities received grants. The Martins Lake Regional Park Authority received $3,100 for 50th anniversary celebrations, Denholm was given $2,350 for centennial celebrations and the RM of Redberry was given a $48,000 donation for its 100th anniversary celebration.
The largest total donation was given in the Physical Activity Grant Program category. The sole donation in the category, to the Saskatchewan 4-H Council, totalled $80,000 and was for a program entitled "Saskatchewan 4-H on the Move: Every Day, Every Way." Though specifics of the program have not been determined, it will be based in physical fitness of 4-H members. This could potentially mean creating a new 4-H project, doing research about the physical activity of members, providing resources for 4-H clubs to help them deliver physical activity programs or organizing competitions.
The second-largest donation, for problem gambling prevention, went to the Saskatchewan Science Centre. The $58,556 donation fully subsidizes the cost of the Risk It All Camp-In for under-served rural and at-risk youth in Grades 6 to 9. The camp explores "the science of risk-taking" and runs from October to February.
The Community Initiatives Fund also provides funding for an Urban Aboriginal Community Grant Program, but the program had no recipients among the June donations.
"This overwhelming response to (CIF) programming indicates communities are working to enhance the quality of life of their residents," explained Tracey Mann, executive director of the Community Initiatives Fund. "We are very pleased to be able to support community efforts that benefit Saskatchewan's residents."
"The government of Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport are proud to support the Community Initiatives Fund," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. "These grants help communities across the province enhance economic growth and ensure residents and visitors enjoy a vibrant quality of life. Stronger communities create a stronger Saskatchewan."
For more information about the Community Initiative Fund, or for the full list of grant recipients, visit their website at www.cifsask.org
