Interlake non-profits to share $1.2M in provincial funds

Two dozen community non-profit organizations helping seniors, veterans and youth across the Interlake will receive a portion of $1.2 million in funding from the provincial government.

Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard said the Gordon Howard Centre in Selkirk, which received $100,000 for renovations and replacement of its aging furnace and air conditioning systems, is just one of 24 community projects being supported in the Interlake through the province’s From the Ground Up — Safe Healthy Communities program.

“We believe in supporting these types of projects to have a broad scope outside of the Perimeter (Highway) for communities,” Simard said during the announcement at the centre Friday.

“This is a core belief: that we are one Manitoba, that we work together, we look after each other. Allowing people to actively age, with the work they are doing here at Gordon Howard, I just think it’s commendable.”

Lee Hanson, the centre’s executive director, thanked Simard.

“This is fantastic news for our organization,” he said. “Our furnaces are over 30 years old, so the timing couldn’t have been better.”

Other organizations in the Interlake receiving funding from the program include the Eriksdale Active Living Council, which received $19,000 for equipment upgrades and the City of Selkirk, which got $39,000 for Hydro Park improvements and $18,000 for youth program enhancements.

The provincial program will see a total of more than $12 million to go to 200 development projects across Manitoba.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca