Members of the local adjudication committee for the Columbia Basin Trust’s  Community Initiatives and Affected Areas program as well as members of the public got to check out proposals from local groups on Thursday, before the groups made their presentations. Photo: Korie Marshall
Members of the local adjudication committee as well as members of the public got to check out proposals from local groups before the groups made their presentations.
Photo: Korie Marshall
Eighteen local organizations and the public gathered at Valemount Secondary School on Thursday, March 13 for an open house, followed by presentations and question periods. The organizations pitched 19 projects, looking for a total of $421,246 in grant funding, but only $271,478 is available this year from Columbia Basin Trust’s Community Initiatives and Affected Areas program.

During the open house in the lobby, residents had a chance speak directly to the organizations about the projects, but the forms for the public to evaluate the projects weren’t available until the main presentations, in the Community Theatre. The public’s ratings will be considered by the adjudication committee, made up this year of Bill Kruisselbrink, Rita Rewerts, Ray Mikolash, Owen Torgerson, Dorthe Flauer, Arnold Wied, and Sandy Salt, representing Council. Braden Hutchins is the staff liaison.

The committee is expected to make their recommendations to Council in late March, and Council will review the recommendations and make approvals at the April 22 council meeting.