INNISFAIL – All local schools are receiving a late but welcomed financial boost from remaining Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grant funding for 2022.
Kristen MacKenzie, community and social services manager for the Town of Innisfail, told town council at its regular meeting on Nov. 14 that the local FCSS Advisory Board met on Nov. 2 to discuss recommendations for the distribution of this year’s remaining $16,816.
The municipality received about $207,592 from the province in FCSS funding for 2022. The town utilizes a portion of the funds for internal FCSS programs and operations.
The municipality then distributes the balance to selected local organizations.
Last Dec. 13, town council approved more than $112,000 worth of 2022 funding recommendations by the advisory board to support local programs and services for the young and elderly.
On Nov. 14, council was told there was $16,816 remaining for 2022; monies withheld to allow for the ongoing identification of gaps and trends in services. The funds are then allocated to community needs.
“The intention is that preventative social programming will continue to be offered within our community,” said MacKenzie.
The FCSS Advisory Board recommended the following distributions:
• $3,757 to École John Wilson Elementary School for professional development opportunities for Family School Wellness through Trauma Informed Yoga Certification and Art Therapy Course, and to support the Naturally Nurtured Animal Assisted Learning Program.
• $3,000 to Innisfail Middle School for guest speaker Ryan Straschnitzki; a Humboldt Broncos crash survivor who is expected to make a presentation to three local schools.
• $2,000 to Innisfail High School for Naturally Nurtured Course on Coping with Change.
• $4,600 to St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School for guest speaker Michael Linklater, an award-winning Indigenous Canadian basketball player. The allocated funds will also go towards supplies for classroom Mindfulness Boxes and professional development opportunities for a counsellor to attend the Ever Active Schools Conference in Lake Louise from Feb. 2 to 4.
• $1,165 to Innisfail’s Youth Empowerment & Support Program (YES) for program supplies for social emotional programming to benefit Chinook’s Edge students in kindergarten through to Grade 8.
• $2,294 to the Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Society for administrative costs.
Council unanimously approved the recommended allocations from the remaining 2022 FCSS grant monies.
