2017 Community Investments
2017
CNC Grant Seeking Conference
This was a first for us: the opportunity to help local not-for-profits apply for grants and other funding.
The Quesnel campus of College of New Caledonia hosted the event over two days. On the first day, attendees heard from a panel of grant providers, including Rotary president Sandra Lewis, to gain an understanding of the types of grants available to groups and businesses in our community and the differences in what each grant provider looks to fund.
On day two, Barbara McMillan, Advanced Grant Proposal Writing Instructor, led a workshop as to how to apply for funding, including how to stand out from the crowd of applicants. (Click on the pictures to enlarge)
Given how Quesnel Community Foundation had just opened their 2018 Grant Cycle, the timing could not have been better...and our donation of $2,000 meant local not-for-profits were able to register at a heavily-discounted cost.
At our meeting on December 7th, Gayle Campbell, Project Planner for CNC, came to tell us of the success of their two-day Grant Seeking Workshop and thank us for our $2,000 sponsorship of local non-profits participation.
Best feedback quote:
"Very pleased that we had the opportunity to take this course and that a course of this caliber was delivered to us in Quesnel"
Such was the success, CNC is now thinking this will become a bi-annual event.
Q City Singers 
The 70-strong choir had a challenge: how to keep copies of music and lyrics in good condition. The simple solution was for everyone to have a ring binder...but imagine all those wonderful singers holding binders of different sizes and colours - not very professional and a potential distraction from their performances.
So they asked us for money to purchase proper choral folders, thereby ensuring the physical protection of their sheet music investment and providing a secure and professional way for their members to handle their music on stage. On November 23rd we presented QCS board members Katrina Scott and Kimberly Simpson with our cheque for $2,000.
Quesnel & District 4-H
Every year, 4-H holds a number of events requiring a PA system. And every year, they spend money on renting one for each event. Ever mindful of the avoidable drain on resources, they applied for Rotary funding to buy their own system...and, on September 14th, we presented Gwen Dillabough and Marlene Magnowski with our cheque for $1,300.
Quesnel & District Minor Hockey
As a result of updated safety regulations coming down from Hockey Canada, younger players can no longer play on a full-size ice surface. Last year, QDMHA put down a barrier that met the new requirements but they soon found other safety issues, such as players and officials tripping over the barrier and the occasional stray puck.Putting safety first, QDMHA shopped for some half-ice boards...and discovered they came with a $10,000 price tag. Not wanting to pass this all on to their registrants, they looked for financial assistance... and we were able to commit to a $4,000 donation, which Treasurer Samantha Wright happily received from President Sandra Lewis at our meeting of August 24th.
B
ig Brothers Big Sisters Quesnel: Teen Mentoring Programme
BBBSQ has served the children of Quesnel since 1978 through a variety of mentoring programmes aimed at building self-esteem and confidence. What appealed to us about their proposed Teen Mentoring Programme was how it would match Grade 11 Psychology students with elementary students, thereby benefiting both, the Grade 11 student getting to apply learned knowledge while earning volunteer hours as well as course credits.
At our July 27th meeting, our 2017-18 Club President Sandra Lewis presented BBBSQ Executive Director Michelle Riley with our donation of $5,000, part of the net proceeds raised at our 2017 Diamond Calcutta event.
Back Country Horsemen's Canada 150 "Cottonwood Camp" event
The horse has made a significant contribution to the settlement, development, and growth of Canada so, led by Rob LaFrance, the North Cariboo chapter of Back Country Horsemen of BC decided to celebrate that contribution by way of a camp-like event on the grounds of Cottonwood House over the July long weekend.
Their goal was to make the event admission-free and, back by $2,500 grants from each of Quesnel Community Foundation and the Community Fund for Canada's 150th Anniversary, along with $1,000 from us and countless other donations of cash and in-kind, that's exactly what they did.
Pictured is Rob accepting our cheque from President Kathy, along with their event poster (click to enlarge) - that's quite the list of activities!
Kersley Elementary School: War Memorial Update
On May 4th, Kersley Elementary School teacher Sarah Guest, along with five of her pupils, told us about a letter writing project inspired by their study of the meaning of Remembrance Day. The letters had been sent to veterans to say thank you for their service, and the attending pupils read out loud copies of their letters, most of which had resulted in responses from the recipients.
Subsequently, the pupils had discovered how, like many in BC, the Quesnel cenotaph had not been updated since the Korean War 1950-53. Inspired by Communities for Veterans "Ride Across Canada" and Terry Nichols' book, "My Sheep Story", the class decided to see what would be involved in adding three new plaques: “In the service of peace”, “The Persian Gulf 1990-1991” and “Afghanistan 2001-2014.
Having raised over $1,000 themselves, they sought our assistance in reaching a fundraising goal of $2,500 in order to have the plaques installed in time for 11th November 2017...and of course we said "Yes!" with a cheque for $1,450.
Following our donation, the group spoke at the City Council meeting of June 20th and received the green light on the work itself (click here for the piece by My Cariboo Now)
4th May luncheon presentation: 15th June cheque presentation:
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
On 3rd Octiber, the new plaques were revealed in a moving ceremony at the war memorial. See our pictures in the Photo Album.
Quesnel Festival of the Performing Arts
While we have been supporting QFPA for a few years now, we never seem to be able to stop them for long enough to get a picture! This year we did!
President Kathy Somerville, right, is pictured presenting QFPA President Romi Traber, centre, and QFPA Director-Speech Arts Trish Simpson, left, with our cheque for $2,000 to support their programs (click here for details).
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
Quesnel Motocross Association
BRRRRAAAAPPPPPPP! isn't now the only thing you hear at the track off Racing Road!
QMXA asked us to partner with Quesnel Community Foundation and Community Futures North Cariboo in funding the purchase of a new PA sound system. Director Brandi Swaan accepted our cheque for $2,000 towards their $12,000 project.
Click on pictures to enlarge.
InSong Quesnel Youth Choir
InSong is a youth choir for treble (female and unchanged male) voices, whose mission is to work cooperatively to create a love of communicating effectively with those around us through the medium of music, to encourage each other and respect each other in a choir setting, to unite InSong!
With such ideals, it was a simple decision to support their efforts to build a library of music by way of an investment of @1,450.
The day we make the cheque presentation, we were treated to a performance - beautiful!
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Bev Haluschak introduces the choir Conductor Melanie MacKinnon on what we are about to hear
InSong in full flow
President Kathy presents our cheque for $1,450
Quesnel Youth Centre
Since the Helen Dixon Centre closed its youth centre a couple of years back, various groups have been looking for a suitable new venue. North Cariboo Aboriginal Family Program Society identified the closure of Ecole Baker School as an opportunity and, on 2nd February, Executive Director Lorene Pulles, told us how our $1,500 contribution would be put to good use.
Long term, NCAFPS hopes to have the new centre brought under the umbrella of a Boys & Girls Club.
