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COVID-19: Parksville distributes nearly $150K to successful applicants for relief grant

Funding designed to help eligible non-profits with pandemic-related expenses
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The Parksville Civic and Technology Centre located at 100 Jensen Ave. (PQB News file photo)

Nine Parksville Qualicum Beach non-profits were recently granted funding through the City of Parksville’s COVID Relief Grant-in-Aid program.

Council approved the allocation of $149,840 to the various groups as the second and final intake of the grant relief program.

“What was particularly enlightening to me was reading the background information from all of the associations that came forward and applied for it - very worthy. And their activities and their contribution to our community is immense,” said Coun. Doug O’Brien, who sat alongside Coun. Adam Fras and Coun. Teresa Patterson on the selection committee.

As per the Feb. 23 council meeting agenda, the organizations that applied were the Forward House Community Society for $14,000; the Mid-Island Pensioners and Hobbyist Association for $2,500; the Oceanside Community Arts Council for $23,475; the Oceanside Community Church for $7,545; the Oceanside Hospice Society for $15,000; the Parksville and District Historical Society for $49,970; the ParksvillePastoralCharge (Knox United Church) for $10,000; the Parksville Seniors Activity and Drop in Centre for $26,900; and the Broombusters Invasive Plant Society for $450.

READ MORE: COVID-19: Parksville council to approve second intake of grant-in-aid applicants

The varied amounts granted were based on the requested amount of each organization’s application, indicated Fras, and was not determined as a reflection of their value or appreciation in the community.

Last year, on Feb. 17, 2021, Parksville council established the COVID Relief Grant-in-Aid program, with an initial budget of $280,000. On June 7, 2021, council approved grant relief in the amount of $130,160 to 11 of 15 applicants during the first intake.

The funding is to help eligible non-profits with COVID related expenses, including related losses in regular revenue due to the inability to hold annual and ongoing fundraising events, as well as the the associated costs to adapt programming or services during the pandemic.

“Without the availability of these volunteers for these associations, these associations wouldn’t exist… I think we’re really blessed to have the kind of volunteerism we have here,” said Coun. Mark Chandler. “Thank you to all the volunteers who make this happen. And, of course, you make giving these funds special because of what you do for our community.”

As Patterson pointed out, Parksville’s city council still has two intakes in 2022 for the city’s regular grant-in-aid program, if some non-profits still require grant-in-aid opportunities.

mandy.moraes@pqbnews.com

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Mandy Moraes

About the Author: Mandy Moraes

I joined Black Press Media in 2020 as a multimedia reporter for the Parksville Qualicum Beach News, and transferred to the News Bulletin in 2022
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