Funding recipients of the municipality’s Community Enrichment Program (CEP) reported back to council last Tuesday (Dec. 18) to detail how they’ve spent the money they were given for the 2012 calendar year.
The RMOW awarded over $143,000 to 27 different non-profit organizations or societies that contributed significant benefit to the community and the municipality. Thirty organizations applied for a total of $325,000 in potential funds.
“This year, we gave almost $150,000 to community groups and then there were fee for service amounts to the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, the Whistler Arts Council and others,” said Mayor Nancy-Wilhelm Morden. “It’s a way for us to support local organizations.”
Non-profits apply for funding in the spring, and if they are awarded less than $10,000 they must provide a one-page outline of how the grant was used and a financial statement to municipal staff. For groups awarded more than $10,000, they must hand over a financial report and make a short presentation in front of council detailing how they money was used.
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program received $26,850, the most awarded to any group. In 2012, those funds were used to cover a part of the $41,629 the organization paid in building permits and works and services fees for the Jeff Harbers Adaptive Sports Centre, the first disability-compliant building in town and the national development headquarters for para-snowboarding.
The Whistler Nordics Ski Club received a $10,000 grant to cover administrative costs and support their coaching team. The club enrolled 109 children in various youth programs over the year.
WORCA was awarded $15,000 and used that amount to fund its youth development program and to continue its trail maintenance efforts. Nearly 300 children enrolled in summer bike camps this year and 10 local certified mountainbike coaches were employed. Significant work was completed to maintain the Comfortably Numb and several Westside trails that see steady traffic.
The RMOW will announce details of the CEP funding proposal process in the coming months.
