Six organizations that help keep people safe in the Central Okanagan will share $119,400 in Community Gaming Grants from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue Society is receiving $33,200; the Canadian Ski Patrol Ogopogo Zone is receiving $25,000; Kelowna and District Safety Council Society is receiving $20,000; the Kelowna Snowmobile Club is receiving $18,000; the Orchard City Amateur Radio Club is receiving $13,200; and the Canadian Ski Patrol System—Pacific Division is receiving $10,000.
“We’re investing in the safety of the Okanagan with these grants of more than $100,000,” said Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country.
“Safety is a top priority for our government and, in partnership with these hard-working organizations, we are preventing unnecessary accidents and saving lives,” he said.
Fellow MLA, Steve Thomson, Kelowna-Mission, said: “Public safety is about giving our community the tools to prevent accidents, and working together to make sure that we are able to react to unforeseen incidents, to save lives.
“It’s great to see funding go to these great groups who work every day to keep Kelowna safe.”
Westside-Kelowna MLA and premier, Christy Clark said: “From preventive education to search and rescue, these organizations do great work keeping people safe. They not only prevent emergencies, but step in and save lives in emergencies.”
Across British Columbia, 127 recipients share $5,386,380 in the latest round of grants.
In 2012-3, the B.C. government distributed a total of $135 million in Community Gaming Grants to approximately 5,300 community groups.