(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Ben Tompkins

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Broncos Tribute Centre government funding application denied

Jul 19, 2022 | 8:00 AM

Back in May of this year, the City of Humboldt administration submitted an application for partial funding of their Broncos Tribute Centre project.

The application was done through a joint provincial and federal initiative known as the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

Recently, the city received notification from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations that, although eligible, due to the total number of applications and funding requests exceeding the amount of funds available, their application was not selected and will not be forwarded to the federal government.

The ICIP application was for 73 per cent, or $25,550,000, of the estimated $35,000,000. ICIP applications are a two-step process.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations reviews all applications on a provincewide basis before sending their recommended projects to the federal government for final consideration and approval.

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Although this does represent a setback to the timelines of the project, the city intends to continue working with the provincial and federal governments to find the appropriate grant program that can assist with this project.

“This is a disappointment, however, we can appreciate that there were other applicants whose needs are similar, perhaps on a smaller scale,” said Mayor Michael Behiel, in a press release sent to northeastNOW.

Although the ICIP funding would have ensured a faster construction and completion schedule, the city and the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee remain passionate about the vision of a roadside memorial at the site of the 2018 tragedy and of the Broncos Tribute Centre in Humboldt.

“The (tribute centre) will recognize the support from all over the world, the resiliency of the families and the community and be an appropriate tribute to those involved in the tragedy,” said Kurt Leicht, father of Jacob Leicht, one of the 16 who lost their life in the April 2018 bus tragedy, and a member of the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee.

The city is confident these projects are the right things to do and will benefit all of the community of Humboldt and stand as an inspiration to those who come to visit.

City manager, Joe Day, told northeastNOW they are grateful for the continued support for the facility.

“We know that across the country, there’s still a lot of support for the initiative of the Broncos Tribute Centre. Certainly, locally, we want to show our thanks to those that lent a hand to Humboldt and area, the families and all that, we certainly intend to complete some sort of a project to properly recognize everything.”

For more information about the Broncos Tribute Campaign, you can visit their website.

On April 5, 2021, the Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee, comprised of members of the 2017-2018 Broncos families, Humboldt Broncos Board members, Humboldt Public Art committee members, together with the City of Humboldt, unveiled their vision for a Humboldt Broncos Tribute Centre and Roadside Memorial.

Since then, DCG Philanthropic, along with a number of volunteers at the local, provincial and national levels have supported the fundraising campaign to raise funds for the project.

~ With some files from the City of Humboldt

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8