VERNON – New Democrat MLA Harwinder Sandhu says that funding through B.C.’s Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction will increase accessibility, allowing more people to participate fully in their community.

“Everyone should feel welcome and included when they’re exploring the incredible things the North Okanagan has to offer,” said MLA Sandhu. “I’m really glad to see the Arts Council of the North Okanagan and Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society taking on projects that will make the work they do accessible to more people. Supporting accessibility and inclusion is one of our commitments as a government, and I’m excited to see this happening in our communities.”

In the North Okanagan, $12,132 has been awarded to the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society in partnership with the RDNO, and $10,525 has been awarded to the Arts Council of the North Okanagan. They are two of the 15 recipients across the province of grants to enhance inclusion for people with disabilities in areas like employment, emergency planning and response, arts, culture and tourism, sports and recreation, education and learning, and community participation.

This is the fourth year in a row that the New Democrat government has made grants available to not-for-profits to build a more inclusive society and over the last three years, 44 community projects have been funded. This year’s funding total is over $450,000.

The grants are evaluated by Disability Alliance BC in partnership with the B.C. Government.