City of Powell River council approved $732,863 in grant funding from its Community Forest Reserve Fund at a meeting on November 16.
Powell River Community Forest president Greg Hemphill and board members Mark Hassett, Janet May, Rod Tysdal and Bill Bird attended the council meeting on behalf of the community-owned forest company that provides funds for community projects.
Grants went to City of Powell River, Powell River Kings Hockey Club Society, Powell River Regional District, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164, Powell River Academy of Music and Lang Bay Community Club.
Since its formation a decade ago, the company has provided more than $8.5 million to city groups.
“After 10 years, obviously there’s a critical mass of projects,” said Hemphill.
Since its inception, 97 projects have been approved; installation of the track at Timberlane Park was the first.
The community forest board presented the city with a dividend cheque of $1.975 million last May and council approved 16 grants for a total of just over $1.6 million. Some of those projects have been completed since then and came in under budget, said Hemphill.
Hemphill said community forest’s impact on the Powell River region is “very satisfying” for board members and those involved with the forest company’s operation.
City of Powell River councillor Rob Southcott, who chaired the council meeting with mayor Dave Formosa attending by telephone, said approving the forest grants “feels like Christmas.”
“It represents the abundance, the sharing and generosity of this community, so I'm very thankful," said Southcott.
Formosa reminded council that Powell River was built on forestry and continues to benefit from the renewable resource.
"It's nice when we can showcase our forest industry,” said Formosa, “and the benefits of the forest directly to the people.”
Approved grants went to:
City of Powell River for the Powell River Airport runway extension project: $246,000
City of Powell River for Willingdon Beach playground upgrades: $175,000
Powell River Kings Hockey Club Society for LED or projector screen to be installed in Hap Parker Arena: $135,000
Powell River Regional District portable air-curtain burner for invasive plant disposal: $88,220
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 for building upgrades, including an accessible entrance, lighting and roof replacement: $73,080
Powell River Academy of Music for the International Choral Kathaumixw Choir of the World totem: $6,000
Lang Bay Community Club for building upgrades, including flooring, window coverings, an equipment shed and a defibrillator: $5,563
