NDP MLAs say grants will support local arts and extracurricular activities in Surrey

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SURREY – New Democrat MLAs say local organizations and parent advisory councils will be able to support young artists and extracurricular activities thanks to almost more than $4.5 million 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.

“Dance competitions, recitals and performances put on by the Pacificaires Performing Arts Society bring so much joy to the children, teenagers and their families who have enrolled them. As the parent of a daughter who was involved in dance, I know first hand the life long value of dance training,” says Mike Starchuk, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale. “The grant funding of $54,000 that our government is providing to Pacificaires will help them to continue their programming and provide high-quality and accessible dance training.”

In Surrey, 14 organizations are receiving funding to support arts and culture including:

  • Pacificaires Performing Arts Society, $54,000
  • The Royal Canadian Theatre Company, $16,500
  • Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society, $20,000
  • Sanjh Foundation, $18,000
  • Surrey Symphony Society, $27,000
  • Surrey Japanese School Society, $2,000

“No matter their age, students who attend the Surrey Japanese School gain a better understanding of Japanese culture and language”, says Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford. “The Surrey Japanese School Society is the only school in Surrey that puts on this programming and I’m glad our government is supporting them with a grant that will help teach students about Japan”.

96 parent advisory councils/district parent advisory councils are receiving funding to support extracurricular events, activities and equipment including:

  • Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School PAC, $35,000
  • Fleetwood Park Secondary School PAC, $32,540
  • Ecole Panorama Ridge Secondary School PAC, $31,340
  • Khalsa Schools Surrey Secondary School PAC, $15,580
  • Bear Creek Elementary School PAC, $11,720
  • Old Yale Elementary School PAC, $9,420

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: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MUNI0055-001993 and https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MUNI0053-001975