BELLA COOLA – New Democrat MLA Jennifer Rice says new support from the BC New Democrat government will help local fairs, festivals and community events resume in the Central Coast.

“We’ve all missed being able to come together and enjoy the festivals, fairs and events that make our community vibrant,” said MLA Jennifer Rice. “We’re supporting event organizers with these grants so they can continue to bring people together to celebrate arts, culture and community.”

The Bella Coola Valley Ridge Riders Annual Rodeo will benefit from $17,230 in recovery funding.

These fairs, festivals, and events are among the 680 events across the province supported by the BC New Democrat government’s investment. The government is providing nearly $30 million in one-time grants to eligible event organizers to support their efforts to resume safely. Grant amounts for each event are up to 20% of the total event budget, up to a maximum of $250,000.

Successful recipients demonstrated the economic and social benefits of their event, as well as strong local or regional support. Examples of eligible expenses include operational costs, health and safety measures, venue rental, marketing, wages and promotion.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the New Democrat government has worked closely with B.C.’s tourism sector and provided $225 million in support to ensure businesses and non-profits can continue to draw visitors and benefit local communities for years to come.

Learn More:

To see the list of recipients for the Fairs, Festivals, and Events Recovery Fund, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TACS0078-002377