Non-profit groups got some Christmas cheer from Coquitlam city council this week when it announced more than $300,000 in casino grants.
On Monday, at its last meeting of the year, council presented the 2013 Spirit of Coquitlam grants to 34 organizations - many of them regulars on the city's gaming funding list.
The disbursements come after council earlier this year combined its Spirit, Active and Sports Hosting grant programs, loosening up the rules for eligible candidates to apply for money the city collects as home of the Boulevard Casino (which next week will be rebranded as the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver). Coquitlam sets aside 12.5% of the 10% in net proceeds it receives as host to the casino.
According to a staff report, the city received 35 requests this fall - totalling $547,669 - and shortlisted the applications to award $316,200. As a result of the recent handouts, the city's casino hosting account now stands at around $400,000.
Here's how the 2013 Spirit of Coquitlam grants were divvied up:
Austin Heights BIA, $11,700 (Daisy Day festival);
Oakdale Neighbourhood Association, $900 (Neighbourhood Day 2014);
Terry Fox Foundation, $6,500 (Terry Fox Run);
Tri-Cities Chinese Community, $11,800 (2014 Chinese new year gala);
Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society, $13,400 (Nowruz Marker/Fire Festival);
Vancouver Korean Dance Society, $9,200 (18th Korean Dance Festival);
Evening Optimist Club of Coquitlam, $1,000 (community skate);
Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, $3,700 (35th annual toy run);
Riverview Horticultural Centre Society, $3,000 (Treefest 2014);
Coquitlam Curling Association, $2,500 (Wheelchair Curling Championships 2014);
Ice Evolution Synchronized Skating, $3,100 (West Coast Challenge Cup);
Tri-City Bandits Lacrosse Club, $7,600 (2014 President's Cup championships);
Coastal Sound Music Academy, $4,000 (choir community event kit);
Coquitlam Heritage Society, $14,000 (history of Coquitlam street and place names book);
Coquitlam Minor Softball Association, $15,200 (house uniforms);
Dogwood Seniors' Dragon Boat Team, $1,300 (youth dragon boat program);
Family Support Institute, $3,500 (FamilyWORKs program);
Friends of Coquitlam Public Library, $3,300 (3D printer/education workshops);
Kateslem, $5,000 (Cultivating Creativity Art Projects);
More Sports Coquitlam, $5,000 (youth leader development);
Branch 263 Legion ladies' auxiliary, $1,100 (50th anniversary celebration);
Spectrum Society for Community Living, $9,600 (4x10x40 Community Connections);
St. John Ambulance Tri-Cities, $6,800 (supplies and equipment);
Stage 43 Theatrical Society, $20,500 (subscription theatre);
Tri-Cities Female Ice HockeyAssociation, $4,800 (hockey program);
Burquitlam Community Association, $16,000 (electronic reader board);
Coquitlam Sharks Aquatics Club, $13,000 (Colorado timing system);
Eagle Ridge elementary PAC, $24,000 (playground replacement);
Evergreen Cultural Centre, $40,000 (art gallery lighting system);
Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam, $9,600 (cooking trailer and covers);
Maillard middle PAC, $15,000 (student green initiative);
Place des Arts, $3,300 (chairs);
Walton elementary PAC, $20,000 (tot lot replacement);
Westwood Plateau Community Association, $6,800 (park benches).
