Skip to content

Local projects get a helping hand

Almost $80,000 in provincial grant funding was handed out to three Okotoks sports groups to help upgrade their facilities and equipment.
The Okotoks BMX Club was one of three recipients of the Province’s Community Initiative Grant. Grants were also given to the Okotoks Curling Club and the Karate Alberta
The Okotoks BMX Club was one of three recipients of the Province’s Community Initiative Grant. Grants were also given to the Okotoks Curling Club and the Karate Alberta Association.

Almost $80,000 in provincial grant funding was handed out to three Okotoks sports groups to help upgrade their facilities and equipment.

The Okotoks BMX Club, the Okotoks Curling Club and the Karate Alberta Association each received grants from Alberta Culture and Tourism’s Community Initiative, presented by Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson on Nov. 8.

The Okotoks BMX Club will use the $34,944 grant they received to complete construction on its new track. The track reopened this year after two seasons of work.

Club president Trudi Andres said the funds will be put toward landscaping and a new start gate for the track.

“Our gate is getting a little well-used,” said Andres. “We can get one that can be used for the next 20 years.”

The renovation project for the BMX track has been a significant investment, she said. The total cost will be close to $250,000 and has been largely funded by donations, with most labour coming from volunteers.

Last year, the club applied for the same grant but was unsuccessful. Andres said the money is greatly appreciated this year because expenses in 2017 are expected to be between $50,000 to $60,000.

There are still some things on the wish list, but they’ll have to see what kind of funding becomes available, she said.

“We’d still like to have some paved corners, but we’ll have to fundraise for those because they’re so much money,” said Andres. “Of course if someone’s willing to donate, I’d be willing to take it.”

Okotoks Curling Club past-president Ingrid Warnock said the club received a $23,291 grant to purchase new curling rocks, which took a weight off its shoulders.

“This is just a great bonus, it just takes the heat off of us as a club,” said Warnock. “We didn’t realize just how pricy new rocks would be, but they were necessary.”

The club had two sets of rocks, one 45 years old and the other just over 30 years old.

They were reconditioned over the years, but one more refurbishing would have meant the rocks would be underweight for competitive curling. The rocks were nearing the end of their 50-year expected lifespan so the club opted to replace them.

The total bill came to more than $68,000, but the club received a credit for returning their old rocks, bringing the total down closer to $46,000. The provincial grant will cover half the cost of the new rocks, she said.

New rocks have already made a difference this season, she said.

“It’s so much more fun now,” said Warnock. “The old rocks were flat, they were boring and it was a boring game. Now we have a more lively house and it’s a fun game and our members are excited again.”

The Karate Alberta Association received a $21,205 grant to help offset the cost of hosting the Western Canadian Championship in Okotoks last June.

President Mark Ward said it was the first time the Westerns had been held in 18 years.

“Everybody says they’re going to do it and nobody did and I just said, ‘It’s going ahead, this is where it’s going to be and I don’t know how it’s going to work but we’ll make it work,’” said Ward. “I think we’re going to hold it in this area again next year.”

He’s pleased to have the Westerns back up and running, because it’s the stepping-stone between Provincials and Nationals, he said. From there, competitors move on to the Pan-Americans and then the Worlds.

Karate competition has garnered a lot of support since the announcement it will be included in the 2020 Olympics in Japan, he said.

It takes a lot of volunteers and officials to make these events works, he said.

“You pay a lot of money for qualified officials to run the tournament,” said Ward. “It’s worth it because you need that high quality official to have a high quality event.”

He said he intends to submit another grant application in 2017 to help with next year’s tournament.

Anderson said the application process is lengthy and arduous, but it’s beneficial for community-building projects.

“These groups received their funding, and it’s nice they can give back to the community,” said Anderson. “It’s taxpayers’ dollars, really. It’s nice to be able to present this.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks