OVER $35,000 IN COMMUNITY GRANTS APPROVED FOR NORTH

Four northern community-based organizations received over $35,000 through the Community Initiatives Fund.

The grants are part of 41 recently approved projects receiving $500,000 in funding for communities across the province. A total of $2 million has been distributed this year in Community Initiatives Fund grants for projects that assist vulnerable children, youth and families.

"These grants will help support important projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of northern people - youth in particular - and will contribute significantly to the rich culture and vibrancy of our communities," Northern Affairs Minister Joan Beatty said on behalf of Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Glenn Hagel. "The grants will promote cultural pride and awareness which is so important to the health of our communities."

Approvals for the funding in the North includes:

• Let's Play: The Family Resiliency Project - Children North Early Childhood Intervention Program – designed to promote positive play with children and result in enriched family life, $15,194.50;

• Families Learning and Growing Together – Community Youth Resource Centre – designed to promote cultural pride and awareness, resulting in greater family and community unity, $7,500;

• Cumberland Youth Development Project – Cumberland House Community Reference Panel – designed to promote community pride through traditional learning experiences and resulting in higher self esteem and self worth of the participants, $2,500; and

• Northern Physical Activity Week - Northern Recreation Co-ordinating Committee – designed to promote physical ativity, resulting in a healthier northern population, $10,000.

Community-based decision making is an important part of the Community
Initiatives Fund. Grant decisions are made by an arms-length board of trustees based on advice from regional committees. These committees include representatives from agencies and community organizations involved in human service delivery at the regional level. This approach helps ensure provincial funds are responsive to community priorities.

The Community Initiatives Fund was established in 1996 to provide tangible benefits from casino profits for Saskatchewan communities. Since its inception, over $60 million dollars has been distributed to community programs across Saskatchewan. The Fund has supported a variety of community initiatives including cultural and recreation facilities, increased physical activity through the "in motion" campaign, problem gambling prevention and treatment, projects to increase Aboriginal participation in culture and recreation activities, exhibition associations, hospital foundations and centennial projects.

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For More Information, Contact:

Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967