Harley Wright, on behalf of the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society (LNTCFS), reported that the LNTCFS is on board to guarantee up to $150,000.00 for the Splash in the Past Heritage splash pad. This allows the District of Barriere to complete their funding application for the Legacy Grant.
“We will be partnering with the Barriere 100th Anniversary committee, to assist them with further fundraising,” stated Wright. “Also, as a non-profit organization, we have access to some funding opportunities that the District doesn’t, so we will be exploring those opportunities with the committee over the next few months.”
“It is wonderful news that the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society will partner with the District of Barrriere’s 100th Anniversary Committee in their efforts to build a heritage project,” Mayor Bill Humphreys said. “The funding offer of up to $150,000 towards the “Splash In The Past” project will bring the funding efforts very near to completion. Partnerships such as this show that our community can work together for success.”
The total cost of this project is approximately $566,000.00. The District has applied for a grant of $250,000.00 from the Legacy Grant funding from Canadian Heritage (a federal government grant), and the community has already raised $12,000 through various fundraising efforts, as well as $129,000.00 in in-kind donations of materials and labour. With the $150,000.00 from LNTCFS, this leaves a shortfall of about $25,000, so there is a little more fundraising to do - but we are almost there.
“We will continue fundraising over the summer and fall,” explained Barriere 100th Anniversary co-chair, Tasha Buchanan. “The movie night on August 13 and the ongoing penny drive, as well the dance is being rescheduled for the fall, and we will be arranging a pie baking event, too. We also encourage community members and groups to think up and organize their own events.”
Anyone wishing to help the committee, or who would like more information about this project is encouraged to contact either Tasha Buchanan, 250-672-9751, or Lindsay Arcand, 250-672-9736 local 5402, co-chairs of the Barriere 100th Anniversary committee.