MLAs Parmar and Dean say grants will support local arts and extracurricular activities in the Westshore

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LANGFORD – New Democrat MLAs Ravi Parmar and Mitzi Dean say local organizations and parent advisory councils will be able to support young artists and extracurricular activities thanks to over $440,000 in Community Gaming Grants funding. This round of funding is from the Community Gaming Grants program’s arts and culture stream and parent advisory council and district parent advisory council (PAC/DPAC) stream.

“As an MLA and former chair of the Sooke School District, I have had a front row seat to how our arts and culture organizations serve people from all walks of life, including young learners supported by dedicated PACs and DPACs,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “Providing these groups with financial support ensures a diverse range of people benefit from their work.”

In the Westshore, 12 organizations are receiving over $175,000 in funding to support arts and culture including:

  • Amber Academy Youth Fine Arts Society, $17,500
  • The Sooke Philharmonic Society, $19,000
  • Victoria On Stage Musical Theatre Society, $68,000
  • Arts and Culture Colwood Society, $6,500

Thirty parent advisory councils/district parent advisory councils are receiving over $260,000 in funding to support extracurricular events, activities and equipment, including:

  • Edward Milne Community School Parent Advisory Council, $14,160
  • Ecole Poirier Elementary School PAC, $8,060
  • Association des parents de l’ecole Victor Brodeur, $12,280
  • Royal Bay Secondary School Parent’s Advisory Council, $30,080

“Community Gaming Grants help support the people in our communities whose dedicated service helps improve lives,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “This round of funding for arts and culture organizations and Parent Advisory Councils helps them deliver activities, events and services that bring people together.”

More than $18.2 million in new funding will go to over 650 organizations to support arts and culture across the province.

More than 1,300 parent advisory councils and district parent advisory councils will also receive over $11.2 million to support extracurricular activities throughout British Columbia.

Learn more:

Arts and Culture funding stream: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MUNI0055-001993

PAC and DPAC funding stream: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MUNI0053-001975