Tag Archives: Area C Grants in Aid

Politics

Director’s Report: gratitude, grants-in-aid, & wharves

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Festive greetings! I’m sending you wishes for warmth and joy during this season of long dark nights, and I hope you enjoy some quality time with those who are dear to you.
 
Gratitude to volunteers
It’s wonderful what an engaged and involved community ours is. Shoutout of gratitude to the many many islanders volunteering across the islands, building community. During 2024 I’ve had a chance to work with a spectrum of volunteers and I’m so grateful for everyone’s dedication.

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Politics

SRD Considering a Grant-In Aid Policy; Directors Mawhinney, Whalley and Vonesch opposed

The Strathcona Regional District Board SRD is considering amending the Grant in Aid process. A proposed ‘Financial Assistance to Organizations’ policy from 2021 is being considered. Regional Directors Gerald Whalley from Area A, Robyn Mawhinney from Area C and Mark Vonesch from Area B (Cortes Island) voted in opposition, but were defeated.  

The associated staff report refers to a recent grant in aid to the Cortes Island School, questions the relationship between the school and Parent Advisory Council and asks whether the funds being requested should actually have come from School District 72.  

The policy brought forward in 2021 proposed that in the future: 

  • Applications must be submitted directly to the SRD’s Financial Officer.
  • Only registered non-profits can apply.
  • The funds are not to be used for core funding, operating costs, wages, insurance or multi-year funding etc.
  • Applicants must include a written statement indicating how the grant-in-aid will benefit the community.
  • The board will give preference to applications that do not exceed $5,000.
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Community, Politics

Area C matters at the March 29 SRD Board Meeting

A number of Area C Initiatives were passed at the Wednesday March 29, 2023, Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board Meeting. 

The only audio clip I am using in this broadcast comes from a segment dealing with Grants in Aid. Chair Mark Baker is speaking throughout most of it. He brings a levity to the board that I do not remember witnessing in four years of observing SRD meetings. You can hear an example in the podcast. There is usually some laughter, even if only for a few moments, in most meetings. As none of the directors had anything they wished to say, this segment is almost like a drum roll: “Discussion: All in favour? Opposed? Seeing none the motion is carried.” 

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Finances

Where do Discovery Island property tax dollars go? 

How our local government works – Part 2 of 5 from the Feb 9 SRD Board Meeting

Electoral Area C is the largest electoral area within the Strathcona Regional District. It spreads out over 10,650 square kilometres: from Quadra throughout the Discovery Islands to some of the Mainland Inlets. The vast majority of people live on Quadra. In the second of five articles arising from the SRD Board meeting of Feb 9th, 2022, Cortes Currents is looking at how the tax dollars from this area were spent in 2021 and a proposed budget for 2022. 

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Politics

Proposed EASC Grant in Aid Service Denied

Regional Directors Jim Abram, Brenda Leigh and Gerald Whalley would prefer to more independent of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board. For reasons obvious to anyone who has observed the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) over the past two years, Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson would rather stick with the board. A proposal that staff study the feasibility of an independent EASC Grant in Aid Service was brought forward at the May 27, 2020, SRD Board Meeting. 

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