The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen is going to have to apply for funding through the town’s community service grant program like more than a dozen other community organizations have had to do in the past.

Council initially approved the allocation of $2,500 to the community foundation, but was unsure where the funds would come from.

The initial option from staff was to take the funds from the allocated budget from the community service grant program, said Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community services.

The allocated funds for this program is set at $43,000, however council has already allocated some of this funding to other projects, which decreases this budget by $7,250, said Davis.

“If we add the community foundation request of $2,500, then it will be further reduced,” said Davis. “One of the benefitting factors to the grant request was to get the community on board and challenge them to help build the fund.”

The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan/Similkameen is prepared to match the $2,500 donation from the town, which would bring the total budget for the town of Osoyoos to almost $10,000.

Council opted to provide a one-time grant of $2,500 that will be taken from the community service grant program for 2014 and challenge the public to help build the fund for future years.

Coun. C. J. Rhodes said he’s strongly in favour of supporting this cause, but didn’t like the fact so many other local organizations have to apply for community grant funding and this particular organization appeared to be jumping to the front of the line for funding.

“To take this and put it in front of all of the others bothers me a little bit,” he said. “I’m not against it. It’s just the source of funding that is bothersome to me.”

Coun. Mike Plante said the numerous community organizations that will be applying for community grants are meeting with the local committee responsible for approving the grants on Wednesday.

It would be a good idea if a representative from the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan/Similkameen was asked to show up at that meeting and make a formal application for funding from community grants program, he said.

Council votes to support local hockey teams at provincials

The two minor hockey teams from this region that are competing for provincial championships this week have been granted $500 from Town of Osoyoos council to help lower the extravagant costs of participating in provincials.

The South Okanagan rep teams in the peewee and midget divisions – which both feature numerous Osoyoos players – both qualified for provincials by winning their regional playdown championship.

The peewee squad is in Nelson this week, while the midget team is in 100 Mile House for provincials.

The budget for each team is $23,000 and the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association has provided $5,000 for each team, with fundraising efforts needed for both teams to compete at provincials, said Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community services.

As part of their fundraising activities, players and parents from both teams have been selling raffle tickets, holding bottle drives, hosting pub nights in Osoyoos and Princeton and having the team pack groceries while asking for donations, he said.

They have also approached the towns of Oliver, Princeton and Grand Forks asking for financial support.

As part of the Town of Osoyoos community service grant program, there is an annual allocation set aside that can be utilized for teams and/or individuals travelling to provincial competitions, said Davis.

Teams can receive a maximum of $500 and individuals can receive up to $200.

Once the funding is depleted, applications will no longer be accepted and past minor hockey and figure skating participants have utilized the funds, said Davis.

With the decision by council to give each team $500, there is a $1,000 balance for other possible teams and individuals for the remainder of 2014, he said.

Coun. Sue McKortoff said she strongly supports providing the maximum amount of funding to both teams.

“This is a great way to say thank you for doing such a great job,” she said.

Coun. Mike Plante agreed saying these players, the coaching staff and parents of the players have committed endless hours over the past hockey season on the ice and off the ice to qualify for this provincial tournament and helping them with a small financial donation is the right thing to do.

“We’re all very proud of those teams for reaching this level,” he said.

Both the peewee and midget teams had remarkable seasons as they both won more than 40 games and came out on top during several tournaments over the past few months.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times