Office of the Premier
British Columbians can look forward to 37 new provincial, regional, national and international sport events close to home next year, thanks to support from the B.C. government.
“Sports events bring people together, attract new visitors to our province and boost local businesses,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “From skiing to sailing, fencing and more, the Hosting BC Grants will help communities around B.C to attract and benefit from major sport competitions.”
The Province will provide $185,500 to support 37 sport events throughout the province, including the North American and Canadian Biathlon Championships, the 2019 World Ringette Championships and the 2019 West Coast Blind Curling Provincial Playdowns. The B.C. government provides $500,000 in Hosting BC grants each year as part of its annual $50-million funding commitment for amateur sport in the province.
Hosting BC grants are administered by viaSport, a non-profit society that provides funding and support to more than 70 provincial sports organizations.
“Events like these make it possible for communities across the province to host an incredible lineup of sport competitions, helping to make them healthy, vibrant and connected spaces,” said Sheila Bouman, CEO, viaSport. “These grants help provide access to people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport that is safe, inclusive and meaningful.”
The Hosting BC program was established to promote sport, economic and community development and to maintain B.C.’s reputation as an exceptional sport event destination. Three times per year, applicants can apply for grants to help host international, national, Western Canadian, provincial and regional sport events in their communities. The next intake period is planned for January-February of 2019.
Since 2004, the Hosting BC program has provided $6.6 million, supporting more than 1,000 sporting events.
Quick Facts:
- ViaSport British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization created with the support of the provincial government in 2011. ViaSport envisions a society where people and communities are truly healthy, vibrant and connected because they value and participate in sport. By leading collaboration across sectors, viaSport’s purpose is to transform and scale the impact of sport through social innovation, investment and capacity building. It emboldens and enables leaders to provide sport experiences that are inclusive, safe and meaningful.
- Hosting BC grants range from $1,000 to $35,000.
- Applications for funding are reviewed by the Hosting BC review committee, which is comprised of leaders in the sport and tourism sectors.
- In the summer of 2018, viaSport awarded $175,650 in Hosting BC grants to help sports organizations stage 39 competitions throughout B.C., including the 2018 Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
- Hosting BC grants open for applications every four months.
Learn More:
viaSport British Columbia: viasport.ca
For information on the Hosting BC grant process and application: https://www.viasport.ca/grant/hosting-bc
Learn more about the Province’s new hosting toolkit at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/events-hosting/hosting-toolkitSports
A backgrounder follows.
