With a $30,000 boost from the Government of British Columbia, Canada's leading young luge athletes will surge down the track this weekend against top international competition at the Junior Luge World Cup in Whistler.

The BC Arts Council is accepting grant applications until Dec. 15, 2014, for book publishers seeking block funding or title assistance.

Almost $2 million is being provided to 116 artists and arts organizations in British Columbia as part of the latest round of successful BC Arts Council grant adjudications.

Artists and arts administrators have until Dec. 1, 2014, to apply to the BC Arts Council for project funding to support professional development or touring initiatives.

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes issued the following statement:

Local government elections day is Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, and eligible British Columbians can vote for their representatives in communities throughout the province.

Eligible professional visual artists, craft artists and independent critics and curators living in British Columbia have until Nov. 17, 2014, to apply for project assistance from the BC Arts Council.

British Columbians are reminded they can participate in advance voting Nov. 5, 2014, for the upcoming general local election on Nov. 15, 2014.

BC Assessment and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 1767 have reached a tentative agreement negotiated under the Economic Stability Mandate.