Invasive Species Council of BC – School Visits
Community Granting
About the Williams Lake Community Forests Granting Program
The Williams Lake Community Granting program is an annual program aimed at providing support and enhancements for neighbouring communities and residents of the two blocks that make up the Community Forest.
This program aims to disperse funds to help strengthen the rural communities across the defined local area of the Community Forest.
2019 Applicants
We anticipate opening up the application window for WLCF Grants again in mid October, 2019
Check back later this year for 2019 info
Grant application info for 2019 will be available later this year (mid-October 2019). Subscribe for email updates using the “Remind Me” button above.
Community Granting Results
The very first Williams Lake Community Forest Granting Application process was very popular. 32 applications were submitted, with requests for grants totalling $141,664.98 for projects worth over $505,000.
In January 2019, the WLCF Standing Committee recommended that the WLCF Board of Directors award $23,500 to 9 organizations.
We are in the process of finalizing funding contributions and contracts with these 9 successful grant applicants from the Fall 2018 application process. Stay tuned for formal announcements and additional details about these exciting projects.
UPDATE: April 24th, 2019
The Williams Lake Community Forest is pleased to announce the following 9 successful grants from the Fall 2018 intake process:
- The Big Lake Community Association has received $5,000 towards the purchase of a Water Tender truck for the Big Lake Volunteer Fire / Rescue Department. The new-to-them truck will allow the department to maintain their certification from the Fire Underwriter’s Survey, as trucks over 20 years need to be replaced. The BLCA and VF/R members were instrumental in protecting local neighbors and their homes in 2017 and received commendations from both the Province of BC and from the CRD for their excellent work and service as a base for the Provincial Wildfire Service.
- The Horsefly & District Board of Trade has received $4,500 to help rebuild and repave the Horsefly outdoor skating rink. The rink is used all winter-long for skating, but also serves as a community gathering-place during the ice-less months as well. Other financial partners include the Cariboo Regional District and School District #27.
- The Scout Island Nature Centre has received $3,000 that will be used to provide ecosystem programs to School District #27 students in grades 3-7, with training for elementary teachers not yet comfortable with outdoor classrooms. These funds will also be used to enhance the ecosystem content of the Earth Challenge booklet, and to advise on developing the program for grades 3-6.
- The Invasive Species Council of BC will install “Play-Clean-Go” signs that will have brushes attached to the signs to encourage recreationalists to clean off plant material and dirt before leaving an area in order to reduce the spread of invasive species. $2,000 was provided by the WLCF Granting Program for this project, which will also see direct education to several rural schools as well as to Little Moccasins’ Daycare about invasive species.
- The 150 Mile Greenbelt, Trail and Heritage Society has been developing signs to recognize the origins, community pride and history of the area. $2,000 from the WLCF Granting Program will help to pay for the creation and installation of two signs once the highway project is complete. The signs will acknowledge the ranching and mining history of the region, the old Red Schoolhouse, and will welcome travellers and visitors alike.
- The 150 Mile Volunteer Fire Department has received $1,500 to repair damage done to the 150 Mile Ice Rink during the 2017 fires when the rink was used as a staging area. Minor concrete repairs, new lights and some new boards will extend the longevity of the rink and allow continued use by residents of the area all winter long.
- Fencing panels, clipping chutes and animal walkers will be built and purchased by the Horsefly 4H Club so that their annual achievement day can be safely attended by family and friends this summer. $2,000 from the WLCF Granting Program will purchase a number of panels for penning the kids’ projects, as well as wood to build the chutes needed to safely unload / load and manoeuvre the animals as needed throughout the weekend. The kids will assist with planning efficient layout options for the fencing panels prior to the event, and they’ll also experiment with animal walker designs and then build additional (potentially enhanced versions) in subsequent years.
- The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society has received $2,000 towards a trail and sign project being built in the Flatrock Block of the WLCF. Eight interpretive signs, with a hydrological focus including Shushwap words, will be installed along the trail, and another sign introducing the project will be installed at the trailhead.
- The WL Community Forest is providing $2,000 towards a non-competitive outdoor trail run organized by GROW from School District #27 that will be held for the next 3 years in the late Spring. This trail run encourages kids to get outside their comfort zones and experience the forest and its beauty, while challenging themselves as they tackle a few obstacles along the route.
