BASAC Executive Director Amber Stewart. BASAC was among the North West region's fund recipients. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Community Initiatives Fund

Community Grant Program to benefit Battlefords, Lloydminster and Meadow Lake area programs

Dec 20, 2023 | 3:33 PM

The Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) will provide some added benefit to programs in the North West region in the latest installments.

Family programs will receive support in the Battlefords, Meadow Lake and Lloydminster area in this week’s announcement.

Among the recipients announced is the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre (BASAC), which will see a $25,000 grant for its Gender-Based Violence Prevention Program.

Executive Director Amber Stewart said BASAC applies for this grant every year.

“The Community Initiatives Fund has been an integral part of our prevention education outreach work over the last six years,” she said.

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BASAC uses the grant for its programming.

“That specific grant has been what has allowed us to keep a fulltime staff member in the position,” Stewart added. “Without the CIF support, we would not have a fulltime staff dedicated to gender-based violence prevention.”

Saskatchewan Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said in the release by connecting individuals, families and communities with important programming across the province, the Community Initiatives Fund “enhances the quality of life for people in Saskatchewan.”

“Our government is proud to support the Community Initiatives Fund. These grants strengthen important community programs, and we look forward to continuing this important relationship,” Ross said.

The CIF’s Community Grant Program benefits programs that support community wellbeing, inclusion, leadership and vitality.

In addition to the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre (BASAC), other recipients in North Battleford include Battlefords Concern for Youth, which will see $24,000 for its Community Health and Arts Mentorship Project. The BGC Battlefords will receive $25,000 for its Drop In Program.

In the town of Battleford, The Reading Place, Child and Youth Development by Reading will receive $30,000 for the After School Program.

Biggar will see $25,000 for the Biggar and District Family Centre’s Family Programs.

Ile a la Crosse, north of Meadow Lake, will receive $30,000 for the Northern Village of Ile a la Crosse’s Community Wellness Development Program.

Lloydminster will see $30,000 for the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games’ Arts and Culture Programming.

Meadow Lake’s Paradise Hill School will receive $1,450 for its Youth Mental Health and Addiction Awareness Program.

Spiritwood will see $1,150 for its Spiritwood Area Recreation, Sport and Culture’s February Break Program.

Unity will benefit from $9,000 for its Unity Community Daycare After-School Program.

CIF is a Special Purpose Fund created by the Government of Saskatchewan through The Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan Corporation Act. CIF receives a portion of the net revenues from casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw via the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation and distributes those proceeds to support community-based projects throughout Saskatchewan.

The CIF board operates at an arms-length from the government, and is accountable to the Saskatchewan Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport.

In total, the Community Initiatives Fund is giving out about $2.5 million in support for 150 programs throughout Saskatchewan.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow