Local MLAs were in a giving mood on Saturday.
Early in the day, Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart announced that the Central Okanagan Regional District (CORD) would receive $80,000 from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development’s Community Recreation Program.
The money is to help fund a project to implement phase two of the Westshore Estates Community Park project by developing a slow-pitch field and soccer field.
Stewart said the community seemed “genuinely surprised” about the announcement.
“We were able to give them a boost,” said Stewart.
“Along with our $80,000, the Regional District is putting up $20,000. So they’re going to be able to complete a major amount of work.”
The project will serve a population of 1,205.
Early in the afternoon, Stewart joined Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson and Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick in announcing a $200,000 grant to CORD to help improve the surface of walking trails in four regional parks.
CORD Chair Robert Hobson said the funding announcement is “integral to the success of the Regional District’s Trails to Health project.”
“This is a great opportunity for us to improve public health,” said Hobson.
Hobson said that the trail widening and improvements will take place in Mission Creek Park, Rose Valley Regional Park, lower Trepanier and Powers Creek.
“We want people to know where the trails are and we want the trails to stand up better to greater public use.”
CORD will also chip in $50,000 for the trail improvements.
Finally, the three MLAs announced that six organizations in the Kelowna area will benefit from a total of $243,300 in Civil Forfeiture Grants.
The Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society with receive $5,000, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club will receive $206,100, the Kelowna RCMP will receive $5,900, the RCMP E Division Commercial Crime unit will receive $8,600 and RCMP South East District Drug Services will receive $17,700.
“This most recent round of grants has awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in funding to organizations across the province,” said Letnick.
“From gang reduction programs to surveillance equipment, it’s put to very good use.”
wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
