Tag Archives: Grants in Aid

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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Deadline for Cortes Island 2024 Grant-in-Aid Applications – Monday, Oct 21

The Cortes Island Community Foundation is helping to review Grant-in Applications again. As in the past, the Strathcona Regional District Board will be dispersing a pool of approximately $25,000 to Cortes Island Social Profits. The average grant award is in the range of $1000 – $5000 and will be dispersed by end of 2024. This year’s Grant-in-Aid funding will prioritize projects supporting Arts, Culture or Environment. Any non-profits or charitable societies who wish to participate sust send their  applications in by midnight on Monday, October 21.  

Manda Aufochs Gillespie, Executive Director of the Community Foundation explained, “We  are working to assist Regional Director Mark Vonesch and the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) with reviewing the grant and aid applications for this year. Most of the nonprofits on Cortes are quite familiar with the fact that we have a bit of our tax money that comes back to us for assisting community groups on the island.”

Continue reading Deadline for Cortes Island 2024 Grant-in-Aid Applications – Monday, Oct 21

Debate On proposed SRD Grant In Aid Policy  continues

The Strathcona Regional District is considering a Grant in Aid policy which would funnel all applications through staff. According to Gerald Whalley, who has been a Regional Director since the SRD was formed in 2008, this is the third time the idea of a policy has come up. After an intense debate, the proposal has been forwarded to the Electoral Areas Services Committee and Municipal Services Committee for further discussion. 

Continue reading Debate On proposed SRD Grant In Aid Policy  continues

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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The Cortes Food Bank at a Critical Crossroad

The Cortes Island Food Bank has met the rapidly expanding need for its services, but says it is time the local, provincial and federal governments stepped up to the plate. Only 110 food hampers were given out in 2022, but since August they have seen at least a threefold increase of demand every month. There were 86 clients in January and 70 in February. Prior to this, the highs for both months was 12. 

“We really knew that the numbers that we were seeing in previous years were not reflecting the level of poverty that exists here.  So we were doing some strategic things to try to increase people’s awareness of the food bank. That was a major reason  why our numbers went up so significantly.  People felt that they could come to us.  They knew it was a safe place to come for support. I think our clients are already dealing with so many challenges in their lives. I encourage anybody listening, if you  could use some help,  just come to us and we’ll get you some food,” explained Beatrix Baxter, one of the Food Bank’s Directors.  

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