New Westminster city council is doling out grants outside of its annual grant process – and not everyone is happy about it.
Council has approved a grant for the Royal City Curling Club to support its efforts in hosting the 2017 B.C. junior curling championship in December. The grant includes $1,500 in cash and $2,500 in in-kind services.
Diane Perry, the city’s manager of community development, said the Royal City Curling Club was awarded the competition after the city’s grant deadline and prior to the 2017 grant program.
“It’s a one-off,” she said.
In addition to bringing economic benefits to the New West, the Royal City Curling Club noted the event would promote the city on a national scale, as the junior men’s and junior women’s championships will be televised on Sportsnet.
While she’s expressed concern about giving out grants outside of the regular grant process, Coun. Mary Trentadue supported the request because of the circumstances of the grant. She plans to bring forward a motion at a later date regarding requests for funds outside of the city’s timelines.
Each year, the city receives applications for eight grant programs and reviews and disperses funds.
Council also approved a $5,000 grant to the Rivershed Society of British Columbia to support events being held in New Westminster in 2016 and to assist with its annual general meeting.
Trentadue opposed that grant, noting the society applied late last year and was warned to submit applications as part of the regular grant process. By applying outside of that process, Trentadue said group’s request for funds isn’t considered with all of the other applicants – some of whom didn’t get grants from the city.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said he supports having flexibility to provide grants outside the regular process.
A staff report noted that council approved a budget of $834,000 for the city’s 2016 grants but had awarded $920,744 as of June 13.
