Grants to help our community bounce back

Spring has finally sprung in our community and families are coming out of their winter hibernation to attend garage sales, youth soccer and baseball games and creek cleanups.

Hockey in our community has concluded for the season, but it is my privilege to congratulate the St. James Canucks for finishing their 2022-23 season with their second straight Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League championship win. Congratulations to all players and coaching staff for bringing the trophy back to home ice at the Ab McDonald Memorial Arena. Well done, Canucks!

With spring comes the provincial government announcements for the Green Team and the Building Sustainable Communities grants. I am thrilled that these funds will provide program support to so many local projects in our community.

The Green Team grant funding will strengthen our communities and help to grow our local economy by employing youth and promoting green projects this summer. I am pleased to announce the Assiniboia recipients are:

• Assiniboia West Recreation Association, $34,833.60);

• Bruce Oake Recovery Centre ($49,649.85);

• Friends of the Living Prairie Museum ($4,905.45);

• Heritage Victoria Community Club ($7,229.25);

• Manitoba Jockey Club ($35,890.40);

• Red River Exhibition Association ($15,528.30);

• St. James Minor Hockey Association ($2,562.90).

Through the Building Sustainable Communities grant program, the Manitoba Jockey Club at the Assiniboia Downs will receive $208,381 for accessibility upgrades to improve vertical lifts and washrooms. The Red River Exhibition Association will receive $75,000 to construct a community engagement space which includes a multi-purpose building, landscaping and fencing, complete with water and electrical components.

Since the inception of this grant in 2019, the BSC program has provided municipalities and non-profit organizations access to all-encompassing community grants. This year the total funding across Manitoba amounts to $25 million. These projects provide a much-needed boost to our community’s recovery, both economically and socially, and I am pleased to announce that our government has more than doubled the BSC fund. I look forward to seeing these completed projects.

Earlier this year our government announced we are providing additional financial support for Manitoba’s seniors through the Manitoba Seniors Hearing Aid grant program. We are moving forward quickly with new initiatives to ensure older adults can age in their homes and communities as long as they choose with convenient access to services that meet their needs and enhance their quality of life. The Manitoba Seniors Hearing Aid grant program will be ready by June 7. Information can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/seniors/hearing_aid_program.html

If you have any questions or concerns please email assiniboiamla@outlook.com