New Westminster families struggling to cover education expenses for their school-aged children will get some relief courtesy of the B.C. government.
School District 40 (SD40) received a $191,000 boost on Monday, April 15, from the province's Student and Family Affordability Fund to provide direct support to local families.
This includes cash to cover school supplies, field trips, sports and music programs, and other related fees, according to a news release.
The money for New West's district comes from a grand total of $20 million in the latest round of funding.
"As the former Minister of Education, I understand that ensuring every child has access to essential school activities and supplies is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being," said New West MLA Jennifer Whiteside in the same statement.
"This financial support demonstrates our commitment to supporting families in our community."
B.C.'s announcement comes on the heals of one of the largest investments in provincial school food program history, which recently unveiled a $214-million expansion over the next three years.
To date, SD40 has been granted nearly $827,000 from the province's Feeding Future Fund for its food programs for the 2023-24 school year.
