SUNDRE – Faced with an abundance of applications but only so many dollars to distribute through the municipality’s grants to organizations program, council recently debated at length how to allocate limited funds.
While a consensus was often quickly reached on many requests, not all of the decisions that were eventually made during the regular Feb. 24 meeting were unanimous.
The program’s intent as stated in a policy that was adopted in 2019 and last revised in 2023 is to provide funding to community-based organizations with an emphasis on supporting initiatives with a focus on recreation, arts and culture, as well as festivals and events that not only benefit residents but also bring people to town.
“Preference will be given to organizations that demonstrate community support, efficient use of resources, sound business practices and develop volunteer knowledge, skills and self-reliance,” reads part of the policy statement that can be found on the town’s website.
“Usually, organizations receiving funding assistance should be incorporated as non-profit,” it says. “However, groups that are not incorporated but have a demonstrated need and a positive history are eligible.”
The policy’s program components also defines “community-based organizations/other” as “community/local/business storefront improvements or landscaping.”
As well, “grants are intended to provide modest levels of support and assistance to community non-profit organizations and other organizations with a demonstrated need. The intent is to enhance a project, program, service or other, but is not intended to sustain the organization. The program attempts to balance on-going needs and a rotation of new applicants.”
That last point came up during council’s lengthy debate when the Sundre Community Choir and Handbells’ application of $1,000 for the purchase of new music – which the review committee recommended against – was discussed.
Recognizing that the full amount requested could not be accommodated, Coun. Owen Petersen also said he could not support a motion for zero funding.
Mayor Richard Warnock said the group had previously requested – and been approved – for some funding to purchase new music and that regularly recurring asks become routine.
“I know that we say those words all the time, but we don’t do that,” countered Petersen, adding council’s actions have shown otherwise.
“We fund things like the Kiwanis, year after year after year. We consistently give the rodeo money … we say this isn’t stabilized funding, but it kind of is,” the councillor said, adding that as such, the choir’s application ought at least be partially approved.
A motion not to provide the choir with any funding ultimately passed with only Petersen opposed.
There were overall 18 requests for funding submitted amounting to a total of $56,019, although one was a two-pronged application by Rockit Vocal Studios that requested a rental fee waiver of the Sundre Community Centre along with a separate ask to help promote upcoming music workshops.
The grant program has an annual budget of $50,000 for both intakes of applications, and the review committee’s recommendations amounted to $26,920, which would have left a remaining balance of $23,080 for the second intake, with applications due Sept. 30.
The Sundre Men’s Shed submitted a first-time application of $5,000 for equipment and project supplies and received $1,000 with Coun. Todd Dalke opposed.
The Olds and District Kiwanis Music Festival, which has previously received funding, was unanimously granted $500 from their $700 request to support promoting the festival.
The West Country Cruisers, which has also previously received funding, sought $2,000 to help promote their sixth annual car show and a motion approving $1,000 was carried unopposed.
The Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society had asked for $2,000 to offset the costs associated with educational sessions for a seniors’ connection initiative and received unanimous support for $1,000.
The society also submitted an application of $3,000 for an unrelated request on behalf of The Den youth centre to offset the cost of a retreat at Camp Evergreen, and council approved $2,000 without opposition.
In a first-time application, the Royal Canadian Legion Sundre Branch #223 requested $5,000 to offset the much larger cost of rehabilitating the cenotaph at the Veterans’ Homecoming Park. Council unanimously carried a motion approving the full amount.
The Sundre and District Aquaplex, which had previously applied only once, sought $5,000 to help offset the costs involved in hosting an inaugural triathlon with the review committee recommendations of $1,000 approved by council with Dalke opposed.
In what turned out to be the longest-debated request, council considered the two, first-ever applications submitted by Rockit Vocal Studios. The first request of $1,680 in community centre rental fee waivers was ultimately approved at the committee’s recommended $420 with Coun. Jaime Marr opposed.
The review committee did not recommend approving any funding for the second ask of $2,000 for additional funding to promote the event. But councillors Dalke, Marr and Petersen felt the application should be at least partially granted and the latter moved to approve $1,000. That motion narrowly carried by one vote following extensive discussion with Petersen, Marr, Dalke and Coun. Paul Isaac in favour and councillors Chris Vardas and Connie Anderson as well as the mayor opposed.
The Sundre and District Historical Society, which is among the groups regularly receiving some funds, sought $4,641 for the costs incurred in putting on Winterfest and the review committee recommended $4,000. A motion to that effect went onto carry following some debate with Petersen opposed only because councillor felt the full amount should have been approved since Winterfest is more of a town event that the museum is put into the position of hosting.
Sundre Broncs, Bulls and Wagons, which has received funding for a few years, had applied for $5,000 and council unanimously approved the review committee’s recommendation to grant $3,000.
The Sundre Rodeo and Race Association, which has received funding for the Sundre Pro Rodeo every year since the grant program was introduced, had applied for $10,000. The review committee recommended $5,000, and while a motion to that effect was unanimously carried, a suggestion came up to consider how to keep supporting the rodeo outside of the grant program that is not intended to offer annual sustainability funding.
The Main Avenue Kidz Club, which has sporadically applied for funding and previously been approved for some, sought $1,000 and was awarded the committee’s recommended $500 with Dalke opposed.
The Sundre Volunteer Search and Rescue Association, which has previously received some funding, sought almost $2,000. But the review committee recommended not providing any funding this year, which council agreed with Dalke opposed.
Submitting a fourth application, organizers of the Foothills Bluegrass Music Festival had asked for $2,000 and received unanimous support from council to approve the committee’s recommended $1,500.
The organizers of the annual Slingfest, who have previously received some funding, applied for $2,000 but the review committee recommended not providing anything this year. This request also drew some debate with a motion supporting the committee’s request narrowly passing by only one vote with councillors Petersen, Marr, and Dalke opposed.
The Sundre Seniors Protected and Respected Under Community Engagement Society, which has previously applied for but not received funding, applied for $1,000 for a rental fee waiver with the committee recommending $500. That motion carried with Marr opposed but only because the councillor feels facility rental waivers should be handled differently.
The Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association, having previously applied only twice with some funding approved, received unanimous support for the review committee’s recommendation to approve $500 of the $1,000 that had been requested.
