The Community Initiatives Fund has announced approval of 464 grants totalling $4,911,259 in support of Saskatchewan communities, with several grants designated to projects throughout the Northwest.
CIF programs contribute to locally?led projects that enhance the quality of community life through leadership, development, inclusion, physical activity, facility improvements and celebrations in Saskatchewan communities.
Grants to North Battleford organizations include $5,000 to the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club for their Summer Adventure Day Camp and another $5,000 to the Battlefords Early Children Intervention Program for a summer respite program. Connaught Community School was also granted $5,000 for a family wellness summer camp.
Turtleford's Midwest Food Resource Project Inc. was granted $21,500 for leadership training.
Hafford and District Y-O Men's Club was given $1,800 for the Hafford Sports Gound and Redberry Lake Bisophere Reserve was granted $8,000 to restore roof, soffits, fascia and eavestroughs on the Ukrainian Nation Hall. An $11,562 to the Hafford and District Recreation Association will support that organization's Little Village People project.
A Spiritwood summer recreation program administered by Spiritwood Area Recreation, Culture and Sport receives $4,850. Spiritwood Literacy Partnership received $13,860 for prenatal bag handouts and $20,000 was provided to the Spirtwood Interagency Committee for a spray park project.
In Blaine Lake the Wapiti Library received $5,302 for a KidsSpace project.
Unity Interagency Committee was granted $5,00 for a pre-school summer program.
The CIF is also celebrating its own milestone of accomplishment. Cumulative since its inception in 1996, the CIF has granted over $100 million to Saskatchewan communities.
The most recent announcement includes 349 grants totaling $3,263,045 in support of the wellbeing of children, youth, families and community. This includes 204 summer grants for projects totalling $941,254 and 145 program grants totalling $2,321,791.
Grant approvals through the Community Vitality Program total $971,635 for 92 grants that help to improve infrastructure and community facilities or support significant milestones and cultural community celebrations.
The CIF also approved 22 grants totalling $616,579 through its Physical Activity Grant Program, helping to encourage more physical activity for all Saskatchewan residents and increasing its support of local initiatives.
The CIF also approved one grant under the Problem Gambling Prevention Program for $60,000.
"This is extraordinary, a significant accomplishment in the history of the Community Initiatives Fund demonstrating our overwhelming support for Saskatchewan communities," says Darlene Bessey, chairperson of the CIF board of trustees.
"Our board is proud to be a part of this significant one hundred million in grants milestone."
"The government of Saskatchewan is proud to support our partners who foster community growth and activities for all ages," says Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty.
"There is outstanding leadership in all Saskatchewan's communities," says Tracey Mann, executive director of the CIF.
"The CIF is proud to support the pride, creativity and resilience of Saskatchewan people as they strive to enhance the quality of life of their fellow citizens."
The CIF is a special purpose fund created through the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act and governed by a volunteer board appointed through the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. Grant recipients, their projects, and more CIF information is at www.cifsask.org.
