Editor:
Act one:
A kitchen in any province in Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Entrepreneur drink coffee, surfing on their laptop and researching where they might like to re-locate and launch their cutting-edge business.
Mrs. E: “Oh, take a look honey. Williams Lake has some beautiful surroundings. Distinct seasons, and it looks like there’s great mountain biking. Hmmm… let’s see about the gymnastics club.”
Looking quizzical, typing various search terms, brows furrowed.
“That’s odd, a town of that size without a gymnastics club?”
Mr. E: “Take a look into minor hockey. Make sure they have that at least.”
Mrs. E: gasps in horror, and spins the laptop to face Mr. E.
Mr. E: “Holy @#%. Those ice fees are outrageous! How can an average income afford that?”
Curtain.
The above may be a work of fiction, but soon could be our reality.
The provincial government changes to gaming funds from a three-year affiliation to a one-year grant does not allow organizations the stability to plan, or to leverage other funding opportunities.
The timing leaves some organizations 11 months without funding to support existing programs.
Trudy Rick of the gymnastics club states “we’ll be closing our doors.” The Station House Gallery is facing the same fate.
Sheila Wyse with the museum reports “without gaming funds we will have to consider all options.” Nancy Gale says the Child Development Centre will be cutting horse-back riding and swim programs, a community garden, Yuletide Dinner, Christmas Wish Breakfast, pre-school, and youth street workers.
These are examples of the many programs that will discontinue, or become exorbitantly expensive and out of reach for many families.
According to the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s annual report for 2009/2010 Signal Point Casino revenues were $13,460,000.
Approximately $873,000 was returned to support your ice fees, school playgrounds, children’s programs. This was significantly lower than the funds allocated in the previous cycle. There continues to be a steady erosion of services to you, your parents and your children.
If you would like to see these activities and services continue to be offered, I urge you to write to Donna Barnett at donna.barnett.mla@leg.bc.ca, 301 – 383 Oliver Street V2G 1M4, or call her at 250- 305-3800.
Lorraine Levitt,
Executive Director
Big Brothers, Big Sisters