Community groups receive Regional District of North Okanagan funds

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 19, 2012 1:00 AM

There’s a significant infusion of cash going into Greater Vernon’s cultural scene. The Regional District of North Okanagan board has ratified funding for eight community groups. “What do you value as a community? It can’t be just roads and sewers,” said director Juliette Cunningham of tax money going towards these initiatives.  “If we’re going to look at economic development and attracting businesses to the area, those are the amenities they look for in a community.” Gallery Vertigo will receive $15,000 towards operations, while the 2014 Royal Bank Cup bid committee has been promised free use of Wesbild Centre if the junior A hockey championships come here. There will be a $175,000 grant to the Vernon Public Art Gallery while a $128,360 operating grant will go to the Vernon Arts Centre. A $180,034 operating grant has been designated for the Greater Vernon Museum and there’s a $66,000 grant for Teen Junction. RDNO is also providing $147,348 to the Boys and Girls Club, and there will be a $32,500 grant-in-aid to the Okanagan Science Centre. Because the number of financial requests are increasing every year, the district is developing a standardized application form which stipulates what funding has been received historically, what funding is being sought now and the reason for any increase. There will also be the ability for the RDNO board to base its decisions on how many users a group has. “We need a mechanism to review these grants and we need to hear from the public on them,” said director Mike Macnabb.