Abbotsford’s school district plans to submit applications to the BC Summer Games Legacy Committee for help funding three new projects.
The district hopes to receive a portion of the $152,000 left over after the games wrapped up in Abbotsford this past summer. The money came from provincial grants, corporate partners and local businesses.
The three projects the district wants to start are: new lighting for the field and track at Rick Hansen Secondary and at the field and track shared by Yale Secondary and W. A. Fraser middle schools (estimated $35,000 cost for each) and a new media tower and scoreboard at W. J. Mouat Secondary (estimated $370,000 cost).
In February, Abbotsford BC Games president Steve Carlton said the board is interested in funding large-scale projects.
“Rather than giving out dozens of small grants, they are hoping for projects that are fairly broad in scope,” he said. “Those which cover several sports or venues or have a broader community impact. We could also combine already existing funds to have a larger overall impact.”
They are accepting applications until March 31, with successful applications being announced in April or May.
Following the 2004 Abbotsford BC Summer Games, money was given to the Abbotsford Community Foundation for student bursaries and scholarships and to the University of the Fraser Valley, as well as for the purchase of a saddle tent.
That tent is still used to this day for local events such as Abbotsford’s Canada Day celebration.
Legacy funds from the 1995 Western Canada Summer Games in Abbotsford helped build the Legacy Building at Rotary Stadium, which houses the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame.
– with files from Ben Lypka
