The Boissevain and Morton Foundation held their long-awaited granting evening last week Thursday, with a great turn-out from the community.

“We had a really good turn out and I think everybody was very pleased with the money that they got,” shares Executive Director, Raylene Conway-Smith.

To hold the granting evening was a very special event, as it was the coming together of community organizations after 20 months of restrictions.  “It was really good.  We gave out $89,000 that night,” shares Smith. “It was good because we had the curling club serve lunch and it was … ‘normal’, she laughs.

Because the Foundation pushed the ‘Covid pause button’ last year they weren’t able to grant out the funds they wanted to. So, the Board asked that organizations re-apply for this year’s granting season.  Smith says some applications changed from the previous year because perhaps a lack of funds for that organization where that could no longer afford their portion of the project, and some of the needs had changed.

Of the more sizeable projects, the Turtle Mountain Ag Society acquired funding for a portable stage for $11,500.  Smith notes that the portable stage was to be made available for other organizations to use as it is an item that others had asked for in the past.

Along the recreational lines, $2,637 was awarded to the Turtle Mountain Nordic Ski Club, a new venture for the area to purchase skiis, poles and boots.  The Boissevain Junior Curling Club received slip on sliders and brooms for young people to learn the sport of curling.  Smith says they had awarded funds for the junior curling club quite a number of years ago and it was time to replace that equipment.  As well, an irrigation system has been funded for the Boissevain Centennials baseball diamonds in the amount of just over $10,000.

Smith adds that the awarding of the $89,000 made for a very nice evening of supporting the community.  However, she explains what that designation actually looks like when you look at the past 2 years.

“That is only part of last year’s because last year we still had the Manitoba 150 and we gave $40,000 out there, and then the Youth in Philanthropy Grant we give out every year for $2500 to the school so the kids can decide the grants, and then we do a scholarship off of that too, so that’s $1000 every year,” adds Smith.

“So, the $89,000 is not the full amount.  The amount that’s on the front of our brochure says $170,000.  That’s the undesignated and the scholarships included this year because they went out last year too.”

2021 Undesignated Requests

1 Boissevain Golf Course Outdoor dining area - repair deck $10,947.69

2 Prairie Partners Raised planters for herb garden $1,799.84

3 Boissevain Arts Park shrubs, plants, greenhouse $3,000.00

4 Boissevain & Morton Arts Council repairs- brick repointing $10,638.61

5 South West Seniors Inc. Furnishings for common areas-computer-kitchen sm wares $12,543.25

6 Boissevain & Morton Library shelves to expand Large print Section and LP Books $4,500.00

7 Boissevain/Morton Fire Dept. Emergency warning signs $1,800.00

7.1 Boissevain/Morton Fire Dept. 20 office chairs $2,600.00

8 Tiny Turtle Playroom blocks, Fold & Go Barn, Building Table $3,804.98

9 Turtle Mountain Nordic Ski Club Skis, poles, boots $2,636.97

10 Boissevain Rec Commission Upgrades to walking trails, signage $2,492.00

11 Turtle Mtn Ag Society Portable stage $11,500.00

12 Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 10 Flags for legion members at Cemeteries Nov 11 $922.16

14 Boissevain Curling Club Water line $4,000.00

15 Boissevain Nursery School art tools for individual art spaces $1,713.38

16 Boissevain Junior Curling Club Slip on sliders and brooms $3,863.62

17 Boissevain Centennials irrigation system $10,237.50

 

Qualified Requests $89,000.00

Available disbursement $89,000.00