The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has announced the recipients of the 2012/2013 Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program.

This year, $1,001,854 will be given to 138 different projects within the Columbia Basin, and RDEK Community Services Manager Shannon Moskal said each and every project has its own merits.

“Every project is deserving and wonderful in its own right,” Moskal said. “They’re all a great benefit to the area.”

While funding for the program comes from the CBT, the RDEK and individual municipalities and electoral areas are responsible for making recommendations about projects within their own region. These recommendations are then passed on to the regional board, which makes the final decisions. There were a total of 152 proposals this year. Proposals are submitted once per year, must be submitted by a registered non-profit organization and must not be for ongoing operational costs. Notable local recipients include:

Tourism

Columbia Cultural Tourism Committee for Columbia Cultural Tourism: Social and Economic Development ($3,500); Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce for Lake Windermere Winter Village and Whiteway Expansion ($5,000); Lake Windermere District Lions Club for Toby Creek Campground ($3,000)

Sports & Recreation

Columbia River Greenways Alliance for Copper Point Trail ($6,500); Columbia River Greenways Alliance for Dry Gulch Trail ($5,000); Columbia Valley Cycling Society for Columbia Valley Mountain Bike Approved Trail Guide ($3,000); Columbia Valley Cycling Society for Columbia Valley Multi-Use Mountain Bike Trail Network ($3,500); Columbia Valley Gymnastics Association for Trampoline and Foam Pit ($3,500); Columbia Valley Swim Club for Purchase of Timing Equipment ($2,250); Invermere District Curling Club for Curling Centre Roof Repair ($7,500); Lake Windermere District Lions Club for Crossroads Ball Fields Netting and Dugout Upgrades ($3,500); Summit Trail Makers Society for Trail Maintenance Columbia River Valley ($3,800); Village of Canal Flats for Tilley Memorial Park Capital Upgrade ($15,000)

Arts

Fairmont Business Association for Hoodstock Music Festival ($3,250); Headwaters Arts Society for creating a Public Art Gallery/Centre in Canal Flats ($4,500); Steamboat Mountain Music Society for Steamboat Mountain Music Festival ($4,500)

Social Programs

BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch ($13,565.66); Canal Flats Food Bank ($1,200); Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy Sponsoring: Windermere Valley Early Childhood Development Team for Healthy Eating Project 2 ($2,918.72); Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce for Lake Windermere Winter Village and Whiteway Expansion ($5,000);Fairmont Business Association for Information Kiosk ($2,500) Friends of the Invermere Public Library Sponsoring: Invermere Public Library for Vestibule Construction at Library Entrance ($7,000); Lake Windermere Alliance Church for Sonshine Children’s Centre Playground Proposal ($2,000); Lake Windermere District Rod & Gun Club for 2012 Community Range Upgrades ($3,600); Lakeview Manor Society for Lakeview Manor Society Accessibility Initiative ($8,000); Village of Canal Flats for Canal Flats Civic Centre Upgrade ($10,000); Wilmer Community Club for Phase 3 Wilmer Community Hall Renovation ($4,646.70); Windermere Community Association for Community Hall Flood and Mold Renovations ($7,083.48); Windermere District Farmer’s Institute and Livestock Association for Columbia Valley Abattoir ($10,700)

For a full list of the approved projects, visit www.rdek.bc.ca, click on the ‘CBT’ link, then ‘2012-2013 Approved Projects.’