Community Granting

Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Recipients!
We have provided funding to the following 18 organizations:

• Big Lake Community Association: $ 5,000.00 to build a Timber Framed wood storage for the hall’s wood furnace fuel.
• Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy: $ 5,000.00 to create 20 Story Walks and have them displayed on various recreation trails during the spring / summer.
• Cariboo Disc Golf: $ 2,682.00 to purchase materials to delineate out-of-bounds, putting greens, and other required components of a tournament – grade disc golf course at the Esler disc golf course.
• Chilcotin Road Elementary Parent Advisory Council: $ 2,500.00 will go towards educational signage including Tsilhqot’in and Secwepemc names along the trail that parallels the highway between the Chilcotin Market and Woodland / Westridge neighborhoods.  This project has been extended to June 1, 2026 to align with the school calendar.
• Chimney Felker Lakes Landholders Association: $ 800.00 to purchase and install airbags on the Wildland Truck.
• Gavin Lake Forest Education Society: $ 5,000.00 towards cook wages for Grade 6 Fall Camps held at Gavin Lake.
• GROW Parent Advisory Council: $ 2,000.00 towards camp cook fees and groceries for 3 days / 2 nights at Gavin Lake for 50 people from home-schooling GROW.
• Horsefly River Roundtable: $ 5,000.00 towards materials and a modified Engineered Plan for the major project to update the wooden boardwalk at the Horsefly River.
• Invasive Species Council of BC: $ 4,773.00 to hold 2 weed pulls in the WL area, and educate residents on the identification of, concerns with and proper disposal of invasive species. Natural species will be planted in place to discourage invasive species from coming back.
• Miocene Volunteer Fire Department – $5,000 will go towards forestry hoses and fittings to supplement their wildland fire suppressing equipment inventory
• Mountview Elementary Parent Advisory Council (in conjunction with School District 27): $ 5,000.00 towards replacing the basketball hoops, poles and backdrops at Mountview Elementary.
• Williams Lake Field Naturalists / Scout Island Nature Centre: $ 10,000.00 will go towards the replacement of the bridge to Otter Point and wheelchair accessibility project for the trail leading to Otter Point.  This is a 2-year project set to complete in late 2026.
• WL Cross Country Ski Club: $ 3,003.00 will purchase an AED to be installed and available for use in case of emergency at the Bull Mountain Lodge.
• WL Cycling Club – Ride your Ride: $ 5,000.00 will be contributed towards a short film to be created during the Ride Your Ride Mountain Bike Festival, showcasing Williams Lake, its managed forests, and the positive impacts of women’s mountain biking culture.
• Williams Lake District 4H – $5,000 towards a Show and Sale Tent to protect projects and animals from the elements.
• Williams Lake Trail Riders Association – $5,000 towards improvements at the Stampede Park Trail Riders Arena including replacing footing material, stall, lighting, bleacher and skylight repairs.
• WL Senior Activity Centre: $ 5,116.00 will purchase a new industrial grade natural gas range for use in the WLSAC kitchen.
• WL Slo-Pitch League: $ 5,000.00 will go towards building an outdoor shelter / picnic area for the softball facility at the Esler Sports Complex.

These groups will share $80,874.

The next opportunity to apply will be mid-October 2025, so start planning with your group now!

Congratulations to the 2024 Grant Recipients who are sharing $75,000 and doing a variety of great things in our communities:

• Big Lake Community Assn
  • $3000 has been set aside for a fencing project to keep cattle off the Big Lake Hall property. The hall is for public use and is situated along the shores of Big Lake.  Enhancements to the hall and property will increase its use and enjoyment by the community.
• Cariboo Chilcotin Orienteering Club
  • This club is affiliated with Orienteering BC and Orienteering Canada and obtained $5000 to build an orienteering map (cartography and fieldwork) and host an orienteering event (Summer 2024) in the area behind 150 Mile Elementary School. Much of this land has been designated a recreation reserve and is managed by the 150 Mile Greenbelt Trails and Heritage Society.
• Cariboo Disc Golf Club
  • $5000 went to the Cariboo Disc Golf Club to help bring a tournament-grade disc golf course to the Esler Sports Complex in Williams Lake. Funds have been earmarked primarily for signage and the course is really taking shape.  The kiosk frame has been installed and things are moving along well.  Stay tuned for photos.
• Chimney & Felker Lakes Volunteer Fire Department
  • The WLCF Granting Program contributed $4980 to improve security and safety at the Chimney / Felker Lakes Fire Hall this year. The hall’s exterior doors were upgraded and the wildland fire truck was further enhanced.
• Gavin Lake – Grade 6 program
  • Gavin Lake Forest Education Society continues to host the Grade 6 outdoor program annually thanks to continued contributions from the Williams Lake Community Forest Granting Program and many other sponsors. Numbers aren’t in yet for 2024 but in 2023 the GLFES hosted 45 classes, a total of 1130 participants including students, teachers and chaperones.  The WLCF contributed $5000 for 2024.
• Horsefly River Roundtable
  • This $3000 project centered around completion and maintaining the kiosk project along the River Trail that follows the Horsefly River near “downtown Horsefly”. It’s a lovely facility with great recreation and education components and everyone is encouraged to take a trip out and see for themselves.
• Miocene Community Club
  • $5000 was granted to clean up the logging debris left after the Fire-Smart work done to protect the Miocene Community Hall Property. The area was logged in 2018 and much debris and stumps were left making the area unsightly and useless.  Funds are earmarked to allow natural development of trails and safer enjoyment of the property.
• Miocene Volunteer Fire Department Society
  • A second batch of Wildland Fire Fighting gear including helmets, goggles and uniforms were the request of the Miocene VFD as a follow up to the 2023 WLCF Grant that outfitted about ½ of their volunteers. This grant is valued at $5000.  Check out this attractive bunch of volunteers here.
• Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin
  • A new recipient this year, $4500 was granted so that the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake could update their browsing boards from analog to digital.
  • The first of the kiosks have arrived and software is the next step – stay tuned for unveiling to the public.
• Scout Island Nature Centre
  • This $5000 grant will be used to replace broken fence posts and rails on sections of Scout Island’s “Island Trail” to keep walkers on the trail itself.
  • Click here to read the report from other work done in the aftermath of the Spring 2020 floods… it’s a great report highlighting the huge job done mostly by volunteers in our amazing community.
• School District # 27 Jr Fire Crew Trainees
  • Occupational First Aid Level 1 & Transportation Endorsement course fees were covered for 24 students in the Junior Fire Crew training. $5464 was set aside for this essential training.
• Spi7uy Squqluts Language & Culture Society
  • This $5000 grant is intended to support hosting of an Educational / Traditional Plant Teaching event held July 15-19 2024.  8 elders and 31 students participated, and the educational resources developed will be made available.
• Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department
  • $4715 will be spent on kitchen renovations to bring the Wildwood Fire Hall up to a standard suitable for community use with new appliances and additional cabinetry.
• Williams Lake & District Seniors Activity Centre
  • $4340 will help the Seniors Activity Centre retain, attract, and train volunteers through Volunteer Appreciation Events and Training Courses.
  • Volunteers are essential to operating WLDSAC facility that supports our oldest and some of our most vulnerable people!
• Williams Lake Climbing Assn
  • Thanks to the financial support from the WLCF granting process, the WLCA successfully ran three intro to climbing courses over the May long weekend. The WLCF was also able to offer a specialized climbing day with teenagers from the Denisiqi Services Society on May 17th.
  • All said, a total of 24 participants got to learn how to safely rock climb outdoors from a certified ACMG rock guide. Dane Shellenberg returned to instruct these intro to climbing courses, and once again expressed how impressed he was with the quality of climbing and the improvements to infrastructure over the last 2 years.
  • A wooden sign kiosk was installed by New Path Forestry at the parking lot of the climbing bluffs, and a 8’x4′ info sign is being designed by the WLCA via Wrangell Designs and in collaboration with both the WLFN and the WLCF. In addition to an area map, the sign will include local historic and geologic information, as well as information about the WLCF and about local plants and species.
  • Sign printing and final installation is slated for October 2024.
  • This grant was valued at $5000.
• Williams Lake Cycling Club
  • $5000 has been set aside for the Williams Lake Cycling Club to restore the Cherry Popper and Brownie Wings trails.

For 2023, 18 different organizations submitted applications, all of which were eligible for consideration.  These 18 projects were valued at over $240,000, with a combined total request of $91,285. The Standing Committee approved $68,067 in funding to 15 groups. Details on those are below.

Here is a list of the 15 projects approved for WLCF Grants in 2023.

1. Big Lake 4-H Club – $5000 towards replacing the wooden corral system at the Big Lake Hall with metal panels for the 4H Achievement Day.
2. Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy Society – $5000 towards new books for new StoryWalks and repairs to existing permanent StoryWalks in Kiwanis Park and Horsefly.   StoryWalks are an innovative way for people to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time.  Laminated pages of a book are transformed into signs that are then laid out on a trail, inviting families, children, caregivers, teachers and others to follow the path of pages.  As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story.  The goal of a StoryWalk is to help build children’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for both adults and children.  Books chosen through the WLCF Grant were specifically about Forests, Fish, Wildlife and the Environment.
3. Cataline Elementary – School District #27 – $2730 for tools and wood for experiential learning with forest products in John Kovach’s grade 5/6 class (2022-2023 School Year).
4. Central Cariboo Search And Rescue in partnership with the Cariboo Regional District – $7000 to help replace rescue equipment and tools lost when the SAR Truck was stolen in April 2022.
5. Chilcotin Road Elementary – School District #27 – $2500 towards purchasing intermediate-student-sized snowshoes to supplement the existing snowshoe inventory at Chilcotin Road, so that there is a complete set for both intermediate students, and primary students.  Chilcotin Road Elementary students can use these snowshoes for adventures in the school yard as well as into the Community Forest.
6. Gavin Lake Forest Education Society – $5000.  Again this year the Williams Lake Community Forest is proud to sponsor the Grade 6 program at Gavin Lake where students can attend Gavin Lake Camp with their classmates for no charge.  The Grade 6 Program at Gavin Lake provides educational modules on sustainable forest management, forest ecology, and freshwater ecosystems with outdoor recreation activities.  Experienced teachers and local forest industry professionals teach the modules over 3 days.  Students leave camp with a new appreciation of the economic, recreational, and scientific learning opportunities provided by the forests around us.
7. Horsefly Board of Trade – $5000 towards constructing the warming shelters at the Horsefly Community Skating Rink, providing security from the ice surface by adding rink-grade plexi-glass.  The rink will also have doors added from the rink surface to the warming area, and the back and one side of each shelter will be sheeted-in for wind and storm protection.  The skating rink is used by all age groups, in all times of the year.
8. Miocene Community Club – $5000 was used to purchase a new 48″ deck lawn mower so that volunteers can maintain the 2 ball diamonds and the soccer field at the 3 acre Miocene Community Centre.  A storage area has also been secured, and having a good machine to maintain the property has increased the hall’s appearance and usefulness for weddings, family reunions, funerals, parties and other events both indoors and outdoors.  The new mower had the added bonus of decreasing mowing time, so more volunteers were willing to pitch in some time and keep the property fire smart and enjoyable.
9. Miocene Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the Cariboo Regional District – $5000 will be used to purchase wild land firefighting gear and uniforms.
10. School District #27 – Junior Fire Crew – $2900 was used to put 11 Junior Fire Crew applicants through First Aid training without cost to the student.  Of the 11 trainees, 8 were hired and worked for the Cariboo Fire Centre in the summer of 2023.
11. Streets for All – $5000 will be used to purchase and install 7 bike racks of various sizes in a variety of locations around Williams Lake to support bike riding as a viable transportation option.  Stay tuned for installation locations!
12. Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the Cariboo Regional District – $4487 will go towards improving the Wildwood Fire Hall’s kitchen.
13. Williams Lake Climbing Association – $3650 was used to offer 3 training courses for local climbers at the Esler Bluffs.  Improvements were also made to the nearby outhouse.  The courses were run by ACMG-certified guides (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) and was by all accounts successful.
14. Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club – $6000 has gone towards the solar panel array and fencing around the array at the new clubhouse at Bull Mountain.
15. Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association – $3800 will be used to purchase and install a replacement motor for the main zero-turn-radius lawn mower so that fields can be kept in optimum condition for all players.

End-of-year 2022:

The Chimney / Felker Lakes Volunteer Fire Department

• The Chimney / Felker Community Association’s Volunteer Fire Department received $4905 in 2022 achieved a variety of goals.  They had a second electrical panel added to run most of the hall from a generator when needed, added a new Forest Fire Hazard Signage and purchased additional wild-land fire tools (1 ½” forestry hose and grub hoes) topping up the equipment purchased in 2021 and creating 4 “packages” meeting the BC Wildfire Service / Fire Chiefs Association of BC standards.  Annual S-100 Wild-land Fire refresher training also occurred.
• Fire Smart assessments were highly variable, indicating more work should be done in the community.

• Below is the link to the WLCF News article on the CFLVFD’s 2022 funding.
• https://williamslakecommunityforest.com/news/fire-hazard-signage-and-electrical-improvements-are-complete-at-the-cfvfd-hall/

Invasive Species Council of BC

•  The ISCBC received $4685 in 2022 and has received an extension into 2023 to complete their Native / Invasive Trail Pamphlet project.  The idea was to create a field guide aimed at young learners, describing invasive and native plants found locally, traditional Secwepemc names of the native plants and concerns about the invasive plants.  The project will be taking advantage of QR codes and technology in favour of exclusively printed materials to reduce garbage in the forest, decrease production costs and allow for edits over time.  The project is anticipated to be officially rolled out in the late Spring of 2023, so stay tuned.

Scout Island Nature Centre.

• The unprecedented high-water levels in Williams Lake in 2020 caused significant damage to many of the trail boardwalks around Scout Island.  $5000 was awarded to the Scout Island Nature Centre towards installing new boardwalks incorporating new standards & safety requirements as well as wheelchair accessibility. The Williams Lake Community Forest’s grant will be combined with other funding sources, so the timeline has been extended into 2023 to capitalize on other installations and reduce contractor travel times/costs.

April 2022:

Several of the latest WLCF Granting Program projects are now underway.  The following describes several of the projects, set to roll out in 2022.

Big Lake Community Association

• The Big Lake Community Association has maintained a Community Hall on the shores of Big Lake for decades.  The Hall is central to the community’s recreational, cultural and economic life, hosting children’s groups, fairs, school events, weddings, sports, business meetings, celebrations of life and so much more.  The BLCA will be receiving $5,000 from the WLCF Granting Program to purchase and install a dock at the Community Hall public lake access.  The dock will provide a place for various events to expand their activities to the shoreline and beyond.  It is anticipated that this dock will positively affect booking rates and the enjoyment of facility users.
  News post with pictures is below:
  https://williamslakecommunityforest.com/news/an-accessible-dock-to-all-to-enjoy-at-big-lake/

Gavin Lake Forest Education Society

• The Gavin Lake Forest Education Society’s Grade 6 Program will receive $5,000 again this year to bring an all-expenses paid forest education experience to local students.  Evidenced by the various pictures from prior years and the thank you notes that students send us, this is an amazing program enjoyed by many.

Horsefly Board of Trade

• The Horsefly Board of Trade is going to resurface their recently repaved outdoor skating rink so that it is better suited for a variety of sports during warmer weather.  The resurfacing won’t negatively impact its use as a rink during the winter, but will allow basketball, pickleball and other sports to be enjoyed by all ages with less wear and tear on equipment.  The resurfacing project is expected to cost approximately $18,000, with $5,000 of that coming from the WLCF Granting Program in 2022.

Miocene Community Club

• The Miocene Community Club is another local club whose 30-acre property will have re-sloping work funded by the WLCF Granting Program in 2022.  The Miocene Community Hall has a picnic area frequently submerged by a foot of water each spring due to improper drainage.  This area is between the tennis courts and soccer fields, and after years of ground movement it is time to regrade the area to improve its function.  This is the first project at Miocene done with financial support from the WLCF.

School District 27 – Career Program Department

• First Aid course fees will be covered by at grant for $2,750 for 12 students taking the Junior Fire Crew training through the Career Programs department of School District 27 in Williams Lake.  The Junior Fire Program is offered in partnership with the Cariboo Fire Centre for up to 20 grade 12 students.  Students are trained to become wildland firefighters through rigorous training and required coursework.  Upon completion of the mandatory training and courses, students will have the opportunity to apply for positions on the fire crew for the summer, where they will gain additional skills and experiences to help them gain a regular crew member position the following summer.

Williams Lake Cycling Club

• The Williams Lake Cycling Club will be using its 2022 WLCF Grant to improve the trail named “Hung” which is within the WLCF Flatrock block and part of the Westsyde Trail Network.  Hung is a blue, flow-style trail with some older jumps and stunts needing repair.  Repairing this trail will reinstate an accessible flow bike line from the top of the Westsyde network, down to the Log Yard / River Valley access trail.

Three other projects are in the final approval stages, and project updates will be posted on the WLCF website throughout the year

February 2022:

The Williams Lake Community Forest Standing Committee has recommended 9 projects to share $45,000 in funding for 2022.  These projects have a combined project cost of over $233,000, and the WLCF is excited to help bring these exciting projects to our local communities. Stay tuned to learn more about each project, and watch our NEWS page to see updates as the projects progress.  

The Community Granting Intake Window for 2020 closed on December 3rd 2020.

The following groups have been approved for funding – congratulations to each them!

• Big Lake Community Association
  • $5,000 – Mower purchase for summer maintenance of several Big Lake Community Sites
• Chimney-Felker Lakes Volunteer Fire Department
  • $5,000 – Enhance the forest protection ability of the CFLVFD through equipment & training
• Gavin Lake
  • $4,000 – Support of the Grade 6 program
• Horsefly Community Club
  • $4,000 – Horsefly Community Hall Kitchen Improvements, Phase 2
• McLeese Lake Recreation Commission
  • $2,000 – Picnic Seating at the McLeese Lake Community Hall Property
• School District 27
  • $4,000 – Cross Country Skiing recreation for four grade 7 classes at Bull Mountain
• SD 27 Career Programs
  • $5,000 – Junior Fire Crew First Aid course fees
• Sugarcane 4H
  • $5,000 – Establishing a 4H club, with show & sale to be held for the first time.
• WL Cross Country Ski Club
  • $4,600 – Lighting improvements at Bull Mountain
• WL Cycling Club
  • $4,000 – Westsyde Trail Improvements
• WL Field Naturalists
  • $2,400 – Hiring a facilitator for the Scout Island Nature Centre Management Plan

24 applications were received by the WLCF Granting Program between mid-October and December 2nd, 2019. From those 24, 13 Applications were approved for funding. The 13 organizations who receive grants are:

• Big Lake Community Association

• Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society

• Gavin Lake Forest Education Society

• Girl Guides of Canada – Big Sky District

• GROW Parent Advisory Council

• Horsefly Community Club

• Horsefly River Round Table

• Miocene Volunteer Fire Department

• Potato House Project

• School District 27 – Grade 7 Classes

• Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club

• Williams Lake Climbing Association

• Williams Lake Cycling Club

The Williams Lake Community Forest Standing Committee has decided to distribute $45,653 this year, almost doubling the $23,000 distributed from the 2018 applications.  The funded projects have a total value of approximately $208,000.

Follow this link to see the articles on our NEWS blog about the Successful 2019 Grant Applicants

Thank you to all the applicants, and to everyone working and volunteering to make our communities even better places to work, live, play, and do business. 

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.

The WLCF Granting Program has distributed over half a million dollars to students and community organizations since it started awarding funds in 2018/19.

Here are the rough Grant & Bursary Allocations for each application year:

2025 – $108,000 (80,000 Grants / 28,000 as Bursaries)
2024- $100,000 (80,000 Grants / 20,000 as Bursaries)
2023 – $86,000 (75,000 Grants / 11,000 as Bursaries)
2022 – $75,000 (65,000 Grants / 10,000 as Bursaries)
2021 – $50,000 (45,000 Grants / 5,000 as Bursaries)
2020 – $50,000 (45,000 Grants / 5,000 as Bursaries)
2019 – $50,000 (45,000 Grants / 5,000 as Bursaries)
2018 – $26,500 (23,500 Grants / 3,000 as Bursaries)

The next application opportunity is expected October 12th to November 19th 2026 for Projects completing in 2027.