FORT ST. JOHN – BC Hydro’s Site C project has provided $45,000 in grants to support five non-profit organizations in the Peace Region through its Generate Opportunities (GO) Fund.
The $800,000 GO Fund was established in September 2016 as part of the Site C mitigation measures to help support Peace Region non-profit organizations that provide services to vulnerable populations, including children, families and seniors. This is the first time that grants have been awarded from the Fund.

Recipients include:
• $10,000 to the Palliative Care Society to aid in expanding their palliative care support.
• $10,000 to the Child Development Centre Society to support their Families Connect Program.
• $10,000 to the Peace Arts Gallery Society for their Let’s Art Program.
• $10,000 to the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society to support infant and toddler food security.
• $5,000 to support the Fort St. John Public Library Association’s Creating Literacy in Computer Knowledge program.

The GO Fund, which is administered by Northern Development Initiative Trust on behalf of BC Hydro, will be distributed over an eight-year period. Applications for funding are accepted on an on-going basis and funds are distributed on a quarterly basis.

The funding — which meets a condition of environmental approval for the Site C project — is targeted to non-profit organizations that serve the communities of Fort St. John, Hudson’s Hope, Taylor, Chetwynd and residents of the Peace River Regional District in Electoral Areas B, C and E.

BC Hydro has established a 10-person regional decision-making committee with two appointees from each of the communities and rural areas that the fund serves. The committee is responsible for reviewing applications and making all funding approval decisions.

The Site C Clean Energy Project is a hydroelectric dam and generating station under construction in northeast B.C. BC Hydro is building Site C to meet long-term electricity needs in the province. Once complete in 2024, the project will provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity for more than 100 years.

Quotes:

Jessica McDonald, President and CEO, BC Hydro

Non-profit organizations like these play a critical role in providing important programs and services to the Peace Region. We are really pleased to have the opportunity to provide support through our Generate Opportunities Fund.

Evan Saugstad, Chair, Northern Development Initiative Trust

Northern Development is pleased to collaborate with BC Hydro in the delivery of this program. Healthy populations breed healthy economies and these funds are a great support for members of our northeast communities.

Mike Bernier, MLA, Peace River South

This funding will help ensure non-profits in the region have the resources they need. I would like to thank both the committee members and Northern Development for their roles in making the GO Fund a success.

Lori Ackerman, Mayor, City of Fort St. John

Fort St. John has a strong non-profit community, which provides a wide variety of services to the Peace Region. I am thrilled to see the GO Fund support Fort St. John-based initiatives focused on children, families and those in need.

Laura Weisgerber, Councillor, District of Chetwynd

It is great to see the first round of funding getting out to our non-profit groups, so they can continue to do the excellent work in our communities that they do.

For more information:

BC Hydro Media Relations
604-928-6468

Background

Priority Funding Areas

Local governments and non-profit organizations identified the following regional priority areas that should be targeted for funding:

• Healthy food options (food bank support, nutrition education)
• Child development programming
• Family care and support
• Affordable transportation to improve access to services and programs
• Affordable access to technology.

Application process

• Non-profits that support children, families and seniors will be eligible to apply for individual grants up to $10,000 per year.
• Grant applications will be received on a continuous basis throughout the year and reviewed on a quarterly basis: November, February, May and August.
• For 2016-2017, there is a total of $200,000 available for grants.
• Full details on the BC Hydro GO Fund are available on the Northern Development Initiative Trust website: http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/funding-programs/capacity-building/bc-hydro-go-fund/.

BC Hydro GO Fund Regional Committee

The BC Hydro GO Fund is governed by a 10-person regional decision-making committee with two appointees: one from local government and one from the community.
Below is a list of committee members.

District of Chetwynd

• Councillor Laura Weisgerber
• Community representative: Marcie Fofonoff

City of Fort St. John

• Mayor Lori Ackerman
• Community representative: Connie Surerus

District of Hudson’s Hope

• Councillor Nicole Gilliss
• Community representative: Cassie Stark

Peace River Regional District (Electoral Areas B, C and E)

• Director Brad Sperling
• Community representative: Carol Kube

District of Taylor

• Councillor Betty Ponto
• Alternate: Councillor Dave Lueneberg
• Community representative: Wendy Kimmie