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New Westminster starts doling out cash to community groups

The City of New Westminster has issued a stern directive to track clubs in the city: play nice. Each year the city gives out grants in a number of categories, including amateur sports. On Jan.

The City of New Westminster has issued a stern directive to track clubs in the city: play nice.

Each year the city gives out grants in a number of categories, including amateur sports. On Jan. 27, council approved $35,000 in grants that were recommended by the amateur sports fund committee and help with equipment, coaching, clinics and tournament costs. These will provide grants to minor hockey, Little League, minor softball, Shasta Trampoline, minor lacrosse, Royal City Youth Soccer, Hyack Swim Club, Royal City Hyacks Football, Burnaby/New West ringette, and three track and field clubs – Royal City track and field, New West Spartans track and Elite Track and Field Academy.

Council approved $1,000 for each of the three track and field clubs, but stressed the need for them to work cooperatively when seeking further grants.

Diane Perry, the city’s manager of community development, said the city has encouraged the groups to work together on grant applications.

“We haven’t been very successful to date,” she told council. “We are making very, very small inroads each year.”

According to Perry, the groups were warned last year that if they didn’t come forward with a group application this year the city wouldn’t give them any funding. Even though they submitted individual applications this year, the amateur sports fund committee recommended $1,000 for each of the groups.

“It is asking them to play nicely with each other,” she said.

The city recommends that the three clubs get together and create a long-term plan, which includes new and replacement equipment they want to buy.

The City of New Westminster annually gives out grants to help with environmental, amateur sports, arts and culture, community, child care, heritage and partnership initiatives. This year, the city reduced funding for several of the grant programs and redirected $241,000 into a new festival grant.

On Jan. 27, city council approved festival grants for the Arts Council of New Westminster (Arts to Go programs); the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area (Columbia StrEAT Food truck festival and the Key West Ford Show and Shine); Fraser River Discovery Centre Society (Riverfest); Royal City Pride Society (2014 Pride Festival); Sapperton Business Association (Sapperton Days Street Festival); and the West End Business Association (12th Street Music Festival).

Because of the ongoing concerns about the Hyack Festival Association, council deferred consideration of its request for $185,000 in cash and $40,000 of in-kind services until a governance and audit review is complete. Council also opted to consider new festival applications at a later date, with the exception of Fraser River Discovery Centre’s $1,000 request for its Family Day event, which was approved.

Council has yet to consider applications from the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area for a Columbia Street block party and a holiday party, and from the Uptown Business Association of New Westminster for Uptown Live (which was previously requested by the Hyack Festival Association).

Coun. Betty McIntosh suggested that the Uptown Live name is the proprietary rights belonging to the Hyack Festival Association, suggesting the Uptown Business Association must apply under a different name for the proposed music and street festival. Noting the 2012 and 2013 events were jointly offered by Hyack and the Uptown Business Association, Coun. Bill Harper said he’d like to know if the business association should be applying under a different name.

Coun. Jaimie McEvoy isn’t convinced it’s the city’s role to figure that out, saying that is a matter to be sorted out by Hyack and the Uptown Business Association.

Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks, culture and recreation, said the city didn’t receive any other grants requests for a similar event in the uptown.

In addition to some festivals grants, council approved $310,400 in partnership grants to not-for-profit groups putting on major events or services for the community that help the city meet its strategic goals. This year’s recipients include the Arts Council of New Westminster, Massey Theatre, Tourism New Westminster, Fraser River Discovery Centre Society, CERA (offers a community youth justice program), the New Westminster Homeless Coalition Society, Fraserside Community Services Society, the B.C. Seniors Services and Housing Information Program, New Westminster Victim Assistance Association, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Royal City Musical Theatre Society and the Queensborough Special Programs committee.

Coun. Bill Harper said the New Westminster Arts Council has been struggling for the past few years, having lost lottery and provincial grants. That resulted in the layoff of a part-time staff person, even though the group has been very engaged in various community projects.

Mayor Wayne Wright questioned what would happen with the arts council when Anvil Centre opens. The civic facility includes a number of arts components, including a gallery and theatre.

“They will still be there,” Harper said. “All the functions they carry on today, they will still be carrying on.”

In fact, said Harper, the arts council could be even busier as it will be dealing with the community art components at Anvil Centre.

City council also approved $18,781 for community based environmental projects in 2014: New Westminster Environmental Partners – $3,531 for a citizen forum, a shoreline cleanup and a workshop focusing on pollinators; the Queensborough Special Programs committee – $750 for Queensweep; Fraser River Discovery Centre – $9,500 for various environmental education programs and exhibits; HUB’s New Westminster branch – $3,000 for bike-to-school cycling workshops and a celebration event; and New West TV – $2,000 for live streaming and on-demand video of environmental events.