A bridge over critical water is among the projects receiving Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF)’s Legacy Funds this year.
Funding awards for Pender Harbour Community School upgrades, a bridge over Chapman Creek, scientific equipment for a kelp nursery and water source pipes for the salmon hatchery were confirmed at the Aug. 2 District of Sechelt Council meeting.
The four projects were among 10 submitted for this round of grants. Several of the applications submitted this year were not considered as they fell outside of the granting criteria, SCCF executive director Sara Zieleman said in a letter to council.
“We have seen limited capacity among volunteer-run organizations as an emerging theme this year, and it’s possible that this has had a role in the decline of shovel-ready project applications,” she said.
Each successful grantee is receiving $27,000 (it is a coincidence they all asked for the same amount said Zieleman).
The non-profit Pender Harbour Community School Society received funds for the replacement of its old repurposed portable. The new building is essentially built, and just waiting to be shipped up, a representative said at an Aug. 15 cheque presentation ceremony. These funds will be for other costs involved with completing the building. “The numbers in this community have grown so much and the need keeps growing and we aren’t able to meet the needs without the new building,” said the representative.
The Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society received money to repair the water pipes supplying Chapman Creek Hatchery. “There seems to be some plumbing issues popping up all the time for the past few years,” said a society representative at the ceremony, speaking of the 40-year-old-ish building. “We have a major pipe leak that was coming up close to the parking area.”
BC Conservation Foundation received funds for scientific lab equipment for a kelp nursery for the Sunshine Coast – to cultivate kelp for restoration and planting. The funds will help “seaforestation or kelp reforestation that will help enhance marine environment and support culturally, economically and ecologically important species of animals,” Lee-Ann Ennis told the crowd at the ceremony.
Tetrahedron Outdoor Club is to use its funds next year and install a new 44-foot aluminum bridge. The bridge is to replace the damaged one over Chapman Creek so as to allow access to the club’s farthest cabin, McNair. The club used its 2022 funds to build a bridge over Steele Creek this year. “Our next bridge will be a little bit smaller but just as expensive unfortunately,” said a club representative. She also encouraged audience members to make the trek to see Chapman Creek or Chapman Lake if they hadn’t already done so, “to see how amazing our water source is.”
