Last year was not a banner year for the chief fundraising organization for the Sechelt Aquatic Centre and Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
With revenue of just $23,075 and expenses of $31,429, the Integrated Community Access Network (ICAN) society suffered a net income loss of $8,354 last year. The financial statements, prepared after a routine audit by a Gibsons accountant in August, were made public at the Sept. 18 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) community services committee meeting.
ICAN was formerly known as the Gibsons Area Community Centre Society and was incorporated in 2003. (The name change occurred in January.) The society posted net assets of $12,761 and net liabilities of $5,835, leaving their financial position at $6,926 at the end of last year. In 2006, the SCRD gave the society $54,900, from a $100,000 donation from the Sunshine Coast Credit Union towards the new facilities. "Our expectation was that it was going to go towards the furnishings and equipment for the weight rooms," said Dale Eichar, the credit union's chief executive officer. Of that amount, it was assumed a small portion would be used to kick off the society's fundraising campaign. Eichar said communication from the society since then has been infrequent, and it's unclear what portion of the funds were used on equipment.
ICAN chair Geran Capewell was reached in Ottawa but declined to comment until his return to the Sunshine Coast next week. Directors and staff at the regional district did not comment on the numbers during the Sept. 18 meeting. The statement brings into question the issue of dollars raised versus dollars spent, offered one SCRD employee who asked not to be named. The statement shows their phone bill surpassing the total from their fundraising events by $159, while fund development fees of $5,928 absorbed the $5,100 raised through the purchase of commemorative tiles, most of which have yet to be placed on the walls at the two centres.
The SCRD has retained ICAN to raise funds for the two facilities under an agreement that will last until the end of this year. Under that agreement, the SCRD pays the society a 15 per cent commission on the cash funds the society raises, with the exception of the Credit Union's donated amount.
"We are looking forward to working with ICAN and we are appreciative of their goal to increase access to the community's recreation facilities for those who do not have the resources," commented SCRD chief administrative officer John France.
