Communities throughout British Columbia will once again benefit from Provincial funding made available through the Hosting BC grant program.

Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender, made the announcement today of $145,247 distributed to 20 communities for assistance in hosting 37 different sporting events. These funds are administered by viaSport, the government’s lead agency for the development and promotion of sport and physical activity in the province.

This funding will help support the operation of provincial, national and club championships like the BC Men’s Curling Championship in Abbotsford, the 2016 Canadian National Multisport (Triathlon) Championships in Penticton, and the 2016 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Burnaby.

Since 2004, Hosting BC has invested $5.3 million in community-based sporting events, building B.C.’s reputation as a major sport-hosting destination. Event hosting stimulates economic activity and generates revenues that help support local businesses and jobs in B.C.’s local communities.

The Government of British Columbia has provided more than $1 billion to support sport in B.C. since 2001, including over $50 million in 2014-15.

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“These grants provide assistance to communities that are hosting significant sporting events of all sizes, in all regions of the province. These events bring considerable economic benefits to our cities and towns, and the Province’s new Hosting Toolkit will provide even more resources for guiding organizations through the various stages of event management.”

Sheila Bouman, CEO, viaSport –

“viaSport is proud to see a diverse range of sport organizations and clubs from across B.C., Canada, and the world hosting large-scale events in our province. These events bring incredible home soil advantages, not only for B.C. athletes, coaches, and officials, but also the host facilities and communities involved.”

Quick Facts:

• Hosting BC funds competitive level events that support long-term athlete development plans for B.C.’s provincial sport organizations.
• Grants typically range from $1,000 to $15,000 depending on the level of competition (e.g., regional, provincial, national, international).
• Applications for funding are reviewed by the Hosting BC Review Committee, which is comprised of leaders in the sport and tourism sectors.

Learn More:

viaSport is a not-for-profit organization created in 2011 as a legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Its mandate is to increase awareness, opportunity and participation in sport throughout the province.  Visit viaSport here: http://www.viasport.ca/

For a complete list of grant recipients go to: https://www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/Documents/2016_01_Hosting_Backgrounder_0.pdf

Learn more about the Province’s new Hosting Toolkit at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/events-hosting/hosting-toolkit