Applications are now being accepted for B.C. government grants supporting school-based extracurricular activities.

Parent advisory councils (PACs) and district advisory councils (DPACs) have until June 30, 2014, to apply for community gaming grants to support kindergarten-to-Grade 12 students. Each year, funding supports a broad range of school-based activities including sports, arts, educational camps, class trips, playground equipment, scholarships and bursaries.

Last year, B.C. community gaming grants provided a total of $11.7 million to 1,470 PACs. In addition, $125,000 was provided to 49 DPACs.

Examples of grant funding provided include funding for a writing workshop for grades 6 and 7 students at Muheim Elementary school in Smithers, and new playground equipment at Falkland Elementary school in North Okanagan.

Grants are also available to help support travel to sport competitions and to buy equipment for sports teams. For example, Langford’s Belmont High school Parent Advisory Council received over $27,000 for tournament fees and transportation and accommodation costs for volleyball, soccer, basketball and golf and equipment and field rental costs for football.

Applications must be submitted by a PAC or DPAC.

For more information, please visit: http://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/grants/pacdpac.htm#two

Community gaming grants also support arts, culture and sports organizations. Arts, culture and sports organizations are reminded that applications are being accepted for community gaming grants in support for their sectors until May 31, 2014.

Each year, the B.C. government distributes $135 million in community gaming grants that benefit over 5,000 local organizations. For more information, please visit: https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/grants/community-gaming.htm

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 888-1462