Surrey – (SurreyCares Community Foundation, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan, Central Okanagan Foundation; Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies, Maple Ridge Community Foundation, North Okanagan Foundation, Port Moody Community Foundation, Coquitlam Foundation, Port Coquitlam Community Foundation and Nakusp and Area Community Foundation).
As Canadians continue to adapt to the realities of COVID-19, local governments and community partners across the country are adapting their spaces and services to keep residents safe and healthy, support economic recovery, create jobs, and build vibrant, resilient communities.
Today, SurreyCares Community Foundation and Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, and Surrey MPs ( Ken Hardie, Randeep Sarai, John Aldag and Sukh Dhaliwal) are announcing $937,284 in funding to support 17 projects in the Southern BC area as part of the second round of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. Through the $31-million Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, the Government of Canada, alongside Community Foundations of Canada, is building safer spaces and ensuring a higher quality of life for people across the country, by helping communities adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19.
The BC Southern Community Foundations are supporting the following projects as part of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.
Small Project Stream:
- $59,525 was invested to fund the Helping Out People Exploited for the App for Vulnerable Women project. (Kelowna)
- $61,048 was invested to fund the Kimberley Wellness Foundation for the Swan Ave Park project. (Kimberley)
- $98,097 was invested to fund the Walk Around Lake Country for the Lake Country Trail Mapping, Signage and Wayfinding project. (Lake Country)
- $74,000 was invested to fund the Township of Langley for the Grief & Bereavement Symposium, Community Outreach, and Website Collaborative project. (Langley)
- $86,150 was invested to fund the Stalew Arts and Cultural Society for the Grounding Langley: Sharing the Language of the Land and Water project. (Langley)
- $12,000 was invested to fund the Pacific Parklands Foundation for the Kanaka Creek Regional Park Interpretive Art Murals project. (Maple Ridge)
- $56,250 was invested to fund the Kootenay CarShare Cooperative for the Air Carshare expansion to the Kootenay Region project. (Nelson)
- $25,000 was invested to fund the City of Nelson for the Rosemont Multigenerational Park Project. (Nelson)
- $84,350 was invested to fund The Lower Mainland Purpose Society for the Digital Inclusion Hub project. (New Westminster)
- $33,765 was invested to fund the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre Society for the Digital Lending Library project. (Oliver, Osoyoos, Okanagan Falls)
- $39,900 was invested to fund the Erris Volunteer Fire Association for the Erris Outdoor Recreation Area project. (Princeton)
- $9,180 was invested to fund the James Gilmore Elementary School for the Gilmore Community Gardens project. (Richmond)
- $82,830 was invested to fund the Spuzzum First Nation for the Spuzzum Village Community Infrastructure Initiative project. (Spuzzum)
- $74,468 was invested to fund the NightShift Ministries for the Beyond Our Walls (community outreach) project. (Surrey)
- $22,491 was invested to fund the Society for Children & Youth of BC for the Play Streets: Child-and-Youth Centered Public Space Activation project. (Vancouver)
- $68,246 was invested to fund the Windermere Secondary School, Vancouver School Board for the Windermere Community Fitness Park project. (Vancouver)
- $49,984 was invested to fund the Individualized Funding Resource Centre for the Accessible Nature Wellness Program. (Vancouver)
Additional, Large Stream Projects were also approved:
- $105,668 was invested to fund the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Kelowna for the Digital Mentoring Programs and Services project.
- $249,848 was invested to fund the Matsqui First Nation for the Matsqui First Nation Multi-use Pathway and Nature Trail project.
- $250,000 was invested to fund the Boothroyd Indian Band for the Indigenous Gathering Space for Boothroyd Indian Band project.
- $250,000 was invested to fund the East Kootenay Foundation for Health for the Not Alone Campaign – Foundry East Kootenay project.
Inter-Regional Project Stream:
- $75,350 was invested to fund The Yoga Outreach Society for The First Nations Women’s Yoga Initiative project. (Surrey)
“The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is supporting projects across the country that build more inclusive communities and ensure a higher quality of life for Canadians. Investments like the one announced today in Surrey, BC are vital to strengthening communities and ensuring they are resilient today and for years to come.”
Ken Hardie, Randeep Sarai, John Aldag and Sukh Dhaliwal, Members of Parliament for Surrey.
Christine Buttkus, Executive Director, SurreyCares Community Foundation stated, “Public spaces are the glue to our communities: they enable a feeling of belonging and of social cohesion. They are a big part of what makes communities safe, vibrant and connected. As the southern BC region faces increased isolation due to COVID-19, these projects from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will help our community to connect safely and will benefit the mental and physical well-being of our residents.”
