Organizers have released their final economic impact report from the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and it’s even better than expected.

Sixty non-profit organizations in 44 British Columbia communities have received funding support from EventHostBC. This Government of B.C. initiative was designed to encourage and support small-scale, volunteer-driven events that build community spirit, volunteer capacity and promote out-of-town visitation.

The Province of British Columbia is providing $60,000 to two communities in the Peace Region to help host the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) has received $10 million to implement the first year of a 20-year infrastructure development plan.

Almost $6 million ($5,900,499) is being provided to 127 artists and arts organizations as part of the latest round of successful BC Arts Council grant adjudications.

A newly released Statistics Canada report measuring the economic importance of arts, culture, heritage and sport shows that British Columbia compares very well with other Canadian jurisdictions, Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes said.

The Provincial government is expanding its successful After School Sport and Arts Initiative (ASSAI) with up to $150,000 in annual funding for children shared by three new communities.