By Janis Warren
The Tri-City News
More than two dozen non-profit organizations are flush with cash after Coquitlam city council this week handed out its annual casino grants.
But the $388,093 in Spirit cash and the $19,584 in Active funding was only half of what the municipality set aside this year for community groups.
At Monday's meeting, council heard the city had about $800,000 to give away - 12.5% of the 10% in net proceeds it receives as host to the Boulevard Casino. Instead, council passed out a total of $407,677 in grants.
This year, the city received 31 bids for Spirit of Coquitlam grants totalling $850,128 in requests. But not all requests met grant criteria, thus the difference between the money that was available and the money that was handed out.
"We are supposed to give this money out to the community," Coun. Selina Robinson said. "It's not wise to not make full use of the money."
But Coun. Craig Hodge argued it's OK for the city to have a bit of padding in the account given that Coquitlam is growing and the future of the casino money is uncertain.
The 2012 recipients are:
PROJECTS
Alderson elementary PAC: $55,520 (playground equipment and installation);
Burquitlam Community Organic Garden Society: $11,082 (terrace front flag garden and cold frame garden plots);
Children of the Street Society: $1,405 (venue and art supplies);
Coquitlam Heritage Society: $5,488 (heritage building plaques);
Coquitlam Public Library: $55,689 (two mobile Coquitlam heritage display units);
Coquitlam Rotary Club Foundation Society: $97,500 (Blue Mountain playground equipment enhancement);
Crossroads Hospice Society: $7,500 (community mural);
Evergreen Cultural Centre: $8,740 (ceramics kiln and supplies);
Fraser Pacific Rose Society: $28,695 (irrigation, disease-resistant roses, two benches and signage);
Meadowbrook elementary PAC: $29,273 (playground equipment);
Minnekhada Park Association: $3,320 (video history 100 years of Minnekhada Park);
Northeast Coquitlam Ratepayers' Association: $25,173 (reader sign);
Place des Arts: $8,800 (replacement of dance floor, installation, table and chairs);
Red Cross Society: $858 (workshop materials and supplies);
Tri-Cities Community TV: $4,950 (high-def handheld camcorder);
Watershed Watch Salmon Society: $1,800 (educational series).
FESTIVALS
B.C. Highland Games: $8,500 (city services and logistics, washrooms, garbage, stadium rental and fencing);
Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame: $5,000 (sports fair event);
Korean Cultural Heritage Society: $5,000 (city services and logistics, staging and washrooms);
Oakdale Neighbourhood Association: $500 (2013 Neighbourhood Days' tents and tables);
SHIFT Theatre Society: $1,800 (one-act festival);
Theatrix Youtheatre Society: $6,500 (Hearts and Soul Arts Festival and workshops);
Terry Fox Foundation: $5,000 (Coquitlam run logistics, licensing fee, road closure, garbage and tents);
Tri-City Chinese Community Society: $5,000 (facility rental, permits and licensing);
Vancouver Korean Dance Society: $5,000 (facility rental, permits and licensing).
ACTIVE
And for the Active Grant program - set up in 2009 to promote and increase activity with children and youth - the city received nine applications, totalling $47,604 in requests. The 2012 recipients are:
BC Aquasonics: $2,970 (pool rental, bathing caps and nose plugs);
Coquitlam-Moody Ringette Association: $2,894 (athletic and goalie equipment, ice rental for Try It);
Dogwood Dragon Boating Society: $3,010 (PFDs, gloves, paddles and race entry);
Kateslem Youth Society: $2,610 (sports equipment and instructor support);
KidSport Tri-Cities: $5,000 (support youth with financial barriers);
Saint Jalaram Charitable Foundation: $3,100 (sports equipment and first aid kit, dance program).
Lori MacKay, Coquitlam's general manager of parks, recreation and culture services, told council that city staff are considering reworking the criteria next year, given the number of festival applications. Still, she said it's indicative of the direction the city is heading with its events tourism and Celebrate Coquitlam strategies.
Since 2002, the city has handed out about $5.8 million in community gaming grants.
