The District of Sechelt awarded over $100,000 in grants to various groups through the community investment program during its Feb. 5 regular council meeting.
The largest single grant of $12,800 went to the Sunshine Coast Tourism Association to aid the group in a new marketing campaign.
The next two largest grants were awarded to the Arrowhead Centre Society to help with operational expenses and to the Sechelt Outdoor Festival. Each group received $10,000.
The Sechelt Downtown Business Association was the recipient of three grants totalling $12,249 to help fund Canada Day, the Sechelt Arts Festival and Oktoberfest activities.
Sunshine Coast Com-munity Services Society was given two grants totalling $13,000. The first, an $8,000 grant, will help support the extreme weather emergency shelter, while the second, a $5,000 grant, will go to Thyme second stage program - a transitional housing and support program for women and children.
Deer Crossing The Art Farm was also the recipient of multiple grants, receiving $1,000 for Ignite, which is a business start-up program, and $3,500 to bring the Rainforest Circus to Sechelt this year. The art farm also received $4,000 to support its Fuse Work Hub - a shared office space for those who work from home.
The Sunshine Coast Arts Council was granted $5,167 to help with upkeep of the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt, which houses a community space used by various groups.
Council decided to up their bursary donation to Chatelech Secondary School this year, giving two $2,500 bursaries totalling $5,000. In the past the District has committed $4,000 in bursaries to the high school.
Council also gifted an elementary school with $5,000, naming West Sechelt Elementary School's playground enhancement committee as a grant recipient.
The Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society was awarded $3,500 to support its endeavours, and the Coast Cultural Alliance was given $2,100.
Grants of $2,000 were given to the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts and the One Straw Society, while the Suncoast Racquet Club got a little more at $2,083.
Council gave the Sunshine Coast Special Olympics $1,913 and the Community Resource Centre $1,500.
The Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre, the Clean Air Society and the Sharing Abundance Association were each granted $1,000.
Finally, the Coast Recital Society was given $567 and the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society was given $500.
The community investment program is meant to help support Sechelt's sustainability principle, which is "living well."
"Creating a caring community that lives well and celebrates together is a primary role of local government," wrote chief financial officer Victor Mema in a report to council. "The community investment program helps foster social well-being through supporting health, housing, education and arts and cultural initiatives."
