More than a dozen Whistler events are getting a major funding boost thanks to one-time grants handed out by the B.C. government.
On Monday, Dec. 13, Victoria announced more than $30 million in one-time grants awarded to more than 680 events across the province. Of that, a total of $1,161,013 was handed out to 14 different Whistler events, a program intended to support event organizers as they resume operations safely in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We're thrilled that people can once again safely enjoy their local fairs, festivals and events with their families and friends,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport in a release. “We heard overwhelmingly from event organizers that grants, not loans, were key to keeping their doors open to the public and workers employed. Our government answered their call to action, as we know the major impact these community gatherings have on our mental health and local businesses around them.”
Whistler events that received funding were: Crankworx ($250,000); Granfondo Whistler ($250,000); the Whistler Film Festival ($250,000); Cornucopia ($135,000); the 2022 Canadian National Nordic Championships/US Super Tour Final and Continental Cup Nordic Combined Ski Jumping Championships ($125,000); the Whistler Music Festival ($48,040); the Whistler Writers Festival and Authors in Schools program ($25,000); the Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra ($21,733); the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation North American Cup Bobsleigh + IBSF Intercontinental Cup Skeleton Whistler ($20,000); the Flag Stop Theatre & Arts Festival ($15,000); the Whistler Half Marathon ($9,940); the Biathlon BC Cup ($5,000); the U-13 Biathlon Championships ($3,500); and the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association’s Back Forty mountain bike race ($2,800).
Three Pemberton events also received funding: Slow Food Cycle Sunday ($8,522); the Pemberton Enduro ($3,275); and the Spudcrusher Women’s Enduro ($3,275).
The Fairs, Festivals and Events Recovery Fund grant amounts cover as much as 20 per cent of an event’s budget, to a maximum of $250,000. Grant applications were accepted from Aug. 27 to Oct. 1 for events scheduled between July 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022.
For the full list of grant recipients, visit news.gov.bc.ca/files/BCFFE_Funded_Events.pdf.
Check back with Pique next week for a story catching up with some of the local grant recipients.
