NDP MLAs says grants for South Island organizations will help people access vital community services

SOUTH ISLAND – New Democrat MLAs Mitzi Dean, Rob Fleming, Grace Lore, Lana Popham, and Murray Rankin say that people who receive services from local non-profits will benefit from funding to improve community health, accessibility and well-being.

This year, over 130 organizations in the South Island received over $6,138,600 in funding through the human and social services stream of the Community Gaming Grants program. Recipients include:

  • Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society – $45,000
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre Society – $165,000
  • The Mustard Seed Street Church – $175,000
  • Lochside After School Program Society – $30,300
  • Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre Association – $85,000
  • [Complete list in backgrounder]

This year, the New Democrat government will distribute more than $61 million in grants to 1,364 human and social services organizations around B.C. This funding means people can continue access to services such as food banks, children and youth programs, mental health supports, and other services that enhance health and wellbeing.

Quick Facts:

  • Community Gaming Grants provides around $140 million annually to approximately 5,000 not-for-profit organizations that deliver services to people throughout the province.
  • In addition to human and social services, the grants fund arts, culture and sport, public safety and environmental conservation, as well as parent and district parent advisory councils in B.C. schools.

For more information on Community Gaming Grants, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gaminggrants/community-gaming-grants

Quotes

Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin –

“Many people in our community of Esquimalt-Metchosin rely on the range of services these local organizations provide, whether it’s counselling, harm reduction, employment training, or after-school childcare. They have such a wonderful impact and make a real difference – I’m glad our government can support them.”

Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake –

“I am thrilled to see that we are investing in the important programs and services offered by so many not-for-profits in Victoria-Swan Lake, including the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Burnside Gorge Community Association, and the Shelbourne Community Kitchen.”

Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria- Beacon Hill –

“These community organizations and not-for-profits bring people together and provide vital services to our community. I am so glad we are supporting organizations like AVI, Our Place, Bridges for Women, and the Together Against Poverty Society, to continue to offer their much-needed programs.”

Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich-South –

“Saanich South is full of organizations that help people live their best and fullest lives by providing childcare, supporting people with disabilities, or empowering people through physical activity. Their work is invaluable and it’s great news that we are investing in them.”

Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head –

“People in Oak Bay-Gordon Head benefit greatly from the programs these local not-for-profits provide. I am delighted to see so many local pillars, including the Victoria Hospice Society and the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, receive this funding to continue to offer their vital services.”

Backgrounders

Community Gaming Grants for Oak Bay-Gordon Head:

  • Braefoot Community Association – $60,500
  • Crisis Intervention and Public Information Society of Greater Victoria – $83,300
  • Evening Optimist Club of Victoria – $28,200
  • FOM Music Society (Friends of Music) – $70,700
  • Gonzales Pre-school Group – $8,500
  • Goosey Gander Kindergarten Association – $45,400
  • Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre Association – $85,000
  • Lambrick Park Preschool & Childcare – $8,500
  • Oak Bay (Parent-Owned) Preschool  – $7,000
  • Oak Bay Volunteer Services Society Other – $75,000
  • Optimist Club Of Victoria – $24,800
  • Queenswood Montessori Society – $21,200
  • Scouts Canada – 10th Garry Oak – $4,300
  • Scouts Canada – 5th Garry Oak Group – $10,000
  • Victoria Hospice Society – $100,000

Community Gaming Grants for Saanich:

  • Cordova Bay Preschool – $8,000
  • Help Fill A Dream Foundation of Canada – $31,500
  • International Institute for Child Rights and Development – $11,600
  • Island Kids Cancer Association – $35,000
  • Island Montessori House Society – $19,000
  • Knights of Columbus #9703 – $20,000
  • Lions Club of Sidney – $12,000
  • Lochside After School Program Society – $30,300
  • Namaste Transition To Community Society – $13,000
  • Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence Society – $24,000
  • Percy’s Clubhouse Society – $15,000
  • Power of Hope Society – $33,000
  • Rotary Club of Saanich – $9,000
  • Saanich Neighbourhood Place – $76,800
  • Saanich Volunteer Services Society – $35,000
  • Scouts Canada – 3rd Douglas – $10,000
  • Scouts Canada – 5th Tsartlip Group – $5,000
  • Scouts Canada – 1st Tsartlip – $2,800
  • Shrine Club #42 – Sidney – $13,000
  • Sidney Pre-School – $8,500
  • Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Vancouver Island – $225,000
  • Strawberry Vale Preschool Society – $7,000
  • The Countryside Pre-School – $8,500

Community Gaming Grants for Victoria:

  • 1Up Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre Society – $96,750
  • Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees Association – $25,000
  • ACPD – Action Committee of People with Disabilities Society – $157,000
  • AVI Health and Community Services Society – $129,500
  • Beacon Community Association – $93,000
  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region – $175,500
  • Bike Victoria Society – $21,000
  • Bridges for Women Society – $78,500
  • Burnside Gorge Community Association – $94,300
  • C.N.I.B. – Vancouver Island Region – $100,000
  • Capital Region Charitable Gaming Association – $28,000
  • Capital City Volunteer Services Association – $20,000
  • Castleview Child Care Centre Society – $14,000
  • Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Society of Greater Victoria – $12,000
  • Cloverdale Child Care – $45,000
  • Community Options for Children & Families Society – $44,000
  • Crean Coastal Research, Education, and Advocacy Network Society – $14,000
  • Downtown Blanshard Advisory Committee – $90,000
  • Fairfield Community Association of Victoria – $89,000
  • Family Services of Greater Victoria – $99,000
  • Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group Society – $99,950
  • Garth Homer Society – $65,000
  • Greater Victoria Citizens’ Counselling Centre – $36,000
  • Greater Victoria Lifetime Network Society – $55,000
  • Greater Victoria Volunteer Society – $77,000
  • Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria – $49,000
  • James Bay Child Care Society – $11,000
  • James Bay Community School Society – $26,200
  • James Bay Health and Community Services Society – $100,000
  • James Bay New Horizons Society – $27,000
  • James Bay Newspaper Society – $13,900
  • Kiwanis Club of Victoria – $15,000
  • Lakehill Pre-school Association – $7,000
  • LDABC The Learning Curve Society – $45,000
  • Mental Health Recovery Partners Society – South Vancouver Island – $51,000
  • Move Adapted Fitness & Rehabilitation Society of British Columbia – $12,000
  • O.C.C. Our Children’s Centre Society of Greater Victoria – $20,000
  • Oaklands Community Association – $47,500
  • Oasis Society for the Spiritual Health of Victoria – $29,000
  • Our Place Society – $100,000
  • Pacific Training Centre for the Blind Society – $11,500
  • Public Service Pacific #127 Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion – $9,000
  • Rainbow Express Day Care Society – $11,200
  • Red Cedar Cafe Association – $71,000
  • Rotary Club of Victoria-Harbourside – $26,500
  • Scouts Canada – 2nd Fort Victoria – $10,200
  • Scouts Canada – 1st Cedar Hill Mt. Tolmie – $3,500
  • Scouts Canada – 1st Douglas – $16,000
  • Seniors Serving Seniors Association of British Columbia – $17,500
  • Shelbourne Community Kitchen Society – $42,500
  • Silver Threads Service – $54,600
  • Soap for Hope Canada – $25,000
  • Society for Kids at Tennis – $10,000
  • South Island Centre for Counselling and Training Society – $77,000
  • Springridge Early Childhood Centre Society – $14,000
  • Story Studio Writing Society – $11,000
  • Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour – $10,000
  • The Cridge Centre for the Family – $85,000
  • The John Howard Society of Victoria – $35,000
  • The Mustard Seed Street Church – $175,000
  • The Pandora Arts Collective Society – $11,000
  • Together Against Poverty Society – $100,000
  • Umbrella Society for Addictions and Mental Health – $78,000
  • Vancouver Island Autistic Homes Society – $10,000
  • Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition Society – $51,500
  • Vancouver Island Men’s Therapy Centre Society – $18,000
  • Victoria Association for Community Living – $62,000
  • Victoria Brain Injury Society – $20,000
  • Victoria Children’s Centre Society – $6,000
  • Victoria Cool Aid Society – $100,000
  • Victoria Disability Resource Centre – $88,000
  • Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society – $79,500
  • Victoria Lions Club – $28,000
  • Victoria Shrine Club #9 – $9,000
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre Society – $165,000
  • Victoria Women’s Transition House Society – $107,000
  • VIDEA a BC-Based Victoria International Development Education Association – $24,000
  • Youth Excellence Society – $40,000
  • Zonta Club of Victoria – $33,000

Community Gaming Grants for Esquimalt and West Shore:

  • Lions Club of Esquimalt – $9,000
  • 2483 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, RCACC – $5,000
  • Belmont Park Pre-School Society $7,000
  • Boys and Girls Club Services of Greater Victoria – $102,500
  • Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society – $100,000
  • Friends of Living and Learning Through Loss – $36,900
  • La Societe de la Garderie et de la  Prematernelle Francophones de Victoria – $69,800
  • Peers Victoria Resources Society – $84,000
  • Rotary Club of Westshore (Victoria) – $14,000
  • Scouts Canada – 3rd Arbutus Scouts – $9,400
  • Scouts Canada – 7th Juan de Fuca Scout Group – $5,000
  • Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society – $45,000
  • View Royal Out Of School Care Society – $24,500
  • Voices in Motion Choral Society – $15,000
  • WITS Programs Foundation – $60,000
  • Sooke Family Resource Society – $75,000
  • Sooke Region Communities Health Network – $15,000
  • Sooke Shelter Society – $25,000
  • Scouts Canada – 14th Juan de Fuca – $3,800
  • Scouts Canada – 5th Juan de Fuca Group – $12,000
  • Scouts Canada – 6th Juan de Fuca Scouting Group – $3,400
  • West Shore Lions Club – $30,000
  • YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island – $100,000

Community Gaming Grants for Southern Gulf Islands:

  • Galiano Activity Centre Society – $7,500
  • Mayne Island Assisted Living Society – $5,000
  • South Malahat 4-H District Senior Council – $18,000
  • Pender Island Child Care Society – $9,000
  • Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Centre – $13,500
  • Fulford Harbour Child Care Society – $7,600
  • Gulf Islands Early Learning Society – $8,000
  • Salt Spring Preschool Society – $5,600
  • Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands – $45,000
  • Salt Spring Therapeutic Riding Association – $15,000
  • The Circle Salt Spring Education Society – $63,000