Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett says after three years of work on the part of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, he is approving its Official Community Plan.

Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett encouraged education and awareness about youth bodychecking for parents, coaches, and all involved in youth hockey.

Non-profit arts and cultural organizations, First Nations band councils and friendship centres in B.C. will share $2.384 million in grants for 118 projects through two new arts programs.

Thirty-eight local sport organizations and Aboriginal communities in northern B.C. are benefiting from grants of up to $5,000 each through the Northern Sport Strategy Initiative.

The 14th annual BC Arts and Culture Week, April 21-27, will offer British Columbians great opportunities to enjoy exciting arts events in communities throughout the province.

Government has approved a regulation setting May 30, 2013 as the effective date for the Athletic Commissioner Act to come into force.

Twenty-one B.C. communities will benefit from government grants geared to the development of local sport programs.

Thanks to significantly increased funding, the BC Arts Council Scholarship Program can offer more opportunities for young British Columbians to study the arts.

The government of British Columbia is providing an additional $1 million to Creative BC bringing the total new contribution to the society to $2 million and enhancing its ability to focus on priorities areas.

As a signatory of the Climate Action Charter, communities throughout B.C. received more than $6.2 million with the latest round of grants through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program.