Vancouver Foundation approves $203,000 for Interior and Columbia/Kootenay non-profits
January 29, 2009
Vancouver Foundation is funding eight unique projects that address a variety of community issues in BC’s Okanagan, Thompson and Columbia/Kootenay regions.
January 29, 2009
Vancouver Foundation approves $203,000 for Interior and Columbia/Kootenay non-profits
The Board of Vancouver Foundation has approved $203,200 in funding for eight unique
projects that address a variety of community issues in BC’s Okanagan, Thompson and
Columbia/Kootenay regions. The list of projects the Foundation has funded at the end
of 2008 includes the following, by region, and in alphabetical order by city:
OKANAGAN
Kelowna Art Gallery Association (Kelowna)
$20,000 for the Kelowna Art Gallery to mount a series of art installations in its outdoor
Rotary Courtyard space. Called “Dysfunctional Chairs”, the series will involve works in the permanent collection on display in the gallery’s entrance lobby, and the placement of cafe
chairs and tables in summer months. The grant will help commission two to four artists
annually to participate in the Dysfunctional Chairs project, beginning in January 2009.
Responsible Animal Care Society (Westbank)
$25,000 to the Horse Protection Initiatives Program to promote the humane treatment of
horses, educate the public about the unnecessary slaughter of horses in the horsemeat
export industry, and broaden existing horse protection and adoption initiatives. The grant
will help HPIP create an annual database of responsible horse rescue organizations, provide
adoption and humane euthanasia initiatives, and produce a broadcast-quality educational
public service announcement for community television.
THOMPSON
Kamloops Family Resources Society (Kamloops)
A two-year grant of $60,000 to develop the Mothers for Recovery Mentorship Program Pilot
Project, which will serve mothers and pregnant women who have struggled with drug and
alcohol addiction.
COLUMBIA
Mount Baker Secondary School (Cranbrook)
$7,000 for the Sharing Wisdom project. The school will hire an Aboriginal Elder from the
Ktunaxa First Nation, 40 hours per month, to connect with Aboriginal students. The Elder
will hold healing circles, be a role model, help students develop long- and short-term goals,
and leadership skills from an Aboriginal perspective.
The Land Conservancy of BC (Kimberley)
$13,000 for the Columbia Basin Community Stewardship Program, which will increase the
capacity of individuals, local governments and community organizations to understand,
protect and restore terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The program will provide
stewardship advisors who will give free technical advice to individuals and organizations
undertaking conservation projects.
KOOTENAY
West Kootenay/Boundary AIDS Network Outreach (Nelson)
$30,000 for the Trans Connect project, which is geared towards trans-gendered people in
the Kootenay region. The project will provide peer-to-peer support, family workshops, and
education resources.
Valhalla Wilderness Society (New Denver – project will be located in Cariboo-Chilcotin)
$20,700 for the Nemiah/Brittany Wild Horse Preservation Project to raise public awareness
within First Nations as well as other communities about the cultural heritage and ecological
values of wild horses and their intact ecosystem. The project will work with local First
Nations communities to improve the stewardship of wild horses and wildlife in the Wild
Horse Preserve that was established in 2002 by the Nemiah (Xeni) First Nations.
Salmo Valley Youth and Community Centre (Salmo)
$27,500 for the costs to retro-fit heating appliances for the Salmo Valley Youth and
Community Centre. The grant will help reduce greenhouse emissions and ensure the longterm
health of this valuable community resource.
With more than 1,200 funds, and assets of almost $600 million, Vancouver Foundation
is Canada’s largest community foundation.
Since 1943, Vancouver Foundation, in partnership with our donors, has distributed
more than $665 million to communities and innovative projects across British
Columbia.
Contact:
604.688.2204