On April 4, Council discussed requests for grant-in-aid (GIA) funding and fee-for-service (FFS) requests.
First, the good news. The TR Forever Young Society was approved for a three year fee-for-service request for $96,139.44. According to their application, they “provide a gathering place for those approaching or in their golden years to socialize over ‘a cuppa’… a place to enjoy light refreshments, snacks, board games, cards, puzzles, a good joke or ‘did you hear?’ conversation.”
Funds are needed “to cover the operational costs at Willow Hall, telephone, internet, insurance, office supplies, contract cleaning of the bathrooms & carpets and to continue to a full time contract office manager/program coordinator who is responsible for the daily operations as well as working closely with the board in planning, implementing and seeking funds for the provision of activities and events which have been identified by our members; exercise themes, art and crafts, day trip travels, plus educational talks and seminars. She is also responsible for keeping the premises common area and kitchen clean.”
They are not seeking funding for established or new activities or events or equipment.
Also approved was a $14,700 GIA application for the TR Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club to put on an FMX show in Tumbler Ridge. The show would feature “a motorcycle and snowmobile freestyle display in downtown Tumbler Ridge.
“This event aims to bring the community together and showcase world-class tricks and stunts by professional athletes on dirt bikes and sleds,” writes Ridge Riders president Trevor Cutler in the application. “The FMX Show will provide a unique experience for residents, fostering community pride and identity.”
Also approved was a $26,250 GIA for the Grizzly Valley ATV club. The club is planning on bringing back Ostacruiser again this year, and is hoping to use the funds to “support a dynamic marketing initiative, collaborating with renowned off-road powersports figures to capture backcountry adventures in and around Tumbler Ridge. This project aims to produce high-quality content for marketing ATV/SxS, motorcycling, and dirt biking, benefitting both the local community and the ATV club.”
Finally, the newly formed Tumbler Ridge Outdoor Recreation Association (TRORA) was approved for a $17,373 GIA, which will be used for three things: The TRORA Website (half of which will be covered by this GIA, half of which will be covered by a grant from Northern Development Initiative Trust. Second, $7500 would go towards paying the club’s executive director. Finally, $4000 would go towards operational costs, such as insurance.
However, the District did not approve the Tumbler Ridge Youth Services Society application (see story elsewhere this issue), the Lions Club of Tumbler Ridge request for funding for Meals on Wheels, the business licence fees to the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce, or a request from the TR Days Society to help bring Grizfest back.
The Lions Club were not approved for a number of reasons, including too much money in their bank account. (See story elsewhere.) Council also didn’t approve funding for the Tumbler Ridge Chamber. Historically, council has provided the business licence fees collected to the chamber, but this year, they decided against providing the grant. Again, at least part of the issue was the amount of money the chamber has, with just over $50,000 in the bank account.
However, that wasn’t the only reason. Much of the discussion revolved around the fact that the chamber had not come to make a presentation to council. “We never received them as a delegation,” says Mayor Krakowka. “Normally we do hear from the chamber. I have concern that we have not heard from them and have them come in as a delegation the board to explain their events and such for 2023. We haven’t heard if they lost or made money at their Christmas party. So there’s those concerns.”
He says he was thinking about deferring discussing the chamber’s grant, but a motion to defer was defeated, as was a motion to grant the chamber their request.
Councillor Gulick says the small business fundraiser didn’t lose money, but didn’t make much, either. “It looks like they made an $830 profit for the small business Christmas party,” she says. She says she agrees that an effective chamber is an important part of the town, “I Feel like there may be at a point where they need to rebuild, because I’m not feeling like we have a strong chamber. I would rather use those funds to try and support them in another way, whether that’s bringing in the BC Chamber folks to say ‘hey, this is how we can reorganize you guys, this is a way maybe to get engagement within your community’ because I believe that we don’t have the engagement in the community. I feel they are struggling for whatever reason and it doesn’t seem like we’re actually giving them a helping hand. I would like to see us put the fund someplace else.”
The chamber, for their part, say they are disappointed by the decision. “For many years, the District has been a crucial partner in supporting the chamber’s operations, initially through the chamber’s management of the Visitor Centre, then through grant writing assistance, and most recently through the provision of in-kind business license fees amounting to $20,000,” says chamber president Kaila Pack. “This decision will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the chamber’s ability to continue its operations effectively. However, despite this setback, we remain committed to supporting local businesses and serving our community.”
Pack says the chamber was never invited to appear before council to discuss their application, so denying the request because the chamber never showed up is a hard pill. “We are particularly dismayed that the chamber was not afforded the opportunity to present our case to the council, as outlined in the TR 40–Fee for Service Policy which states, ‘Applicants may be provided with an opportunity to present to council at a council meeting before final deliberation. We believe that our track record of contributions to the community and support for local businesses should have warranted such an opportunity.”
She says that the Chamber will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, April 11, where the future of the organization will be discussed. “We urge all members and stakeholders to attend and participate in this important discussion. Since its establishment in 2004 under the Board of Trades Act, the Chamber has been a vital part of the Tumbler Ridge community, operating on a modest budget of under $30,000 annually. Despite financial constraints, we have achieved significant milestones, including attracting the Still Standing TV show, trail building initiatives, business fairs, shop local campaigns, advocacy efforts, and various community events. While we are disappointed by the District’s decision, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serving the interests of local businesses and fostering a vibrant community in Tumbler Ridge.”
The biggest ask of the evening—a one year GIA for $95,000—would have seen Grizfest return in 2025.
However, council rejected the request from the TR Days Society, too, feeling that spending that much money for a single event was not fiscally responsible.
According to Terry Cosgrove, the society will be meeting in the next few days to determine what to do with the news, and has no statement at this time.
However, the committee has spent the last five years and a half a million dollars to build a fairground with the express intent of having the annual music festival return, and off-the-record comments from members of the organization bely a deep disappointment with the decision.
Expect an in-depth look at this in the next issue.
Above photo: Councillor Chris Norbury at the budget discussions on April 4.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.