The city has the chance to take advantage of $150 million that the federal government has put up for grabs in celebration of the nation’s 150th birthday, but there isn’t much time to waste.
The fund was announced on May 15 and applications are due in no later than June 17.
Mayor Andy Adams said at Monday night’s council meeting that city staff are working to identify projects that could be ready to go on short notice.
“Staff are already looking at options, perhaps things that are shovel-ready that we could consider moving forward,” Adams said. “The time frame is really tight.”
The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will provide $150 million for 1,800 community infrastructure projects across the country. The fund is a tribute to Canada’s 150th birthday which is on July 1, 2017.
North Island MP John Duncan said in a letter to city council that priority may be given to projects that can be completed within the next two years.
“The primary focus of the Canada 150 Fund is to support initiatives that will be delivered during the 150th anniversary period in 2017, with special consideration given to initiatives that will both build momentum in the period leading up to the anniversary and have on-going impacts in 2017 and beyond,” Duncan wrote.
The second piece to the fund is a community component. Funding will also be made available for projects taken on by not-for-profit groups, business corporations (for non-commercial projects), and schools.
Coun. Charlie Cornfield said he hoped that by discussing the fund at Monday’s council meeting, community groups would be made aware of the money.
“Local groups aren’t always aware of the funding out there,” Cornfield said. “My hope is that by bringing it up at council, it would get the information out there.”
Projects eligible for funding under the community-driven activities include:
n Celebratory or commemorative activities and events
n Community-building activities and events
n Sport and active-living activities and events
n Exhibits, commemorative plaques, monuments and permanent installations
n Site dedication ceremonies, interpretive programming and tours
n Documentary films, learning materials and activities
n Theatrical or musical performance
n Large-scale artwork contests and projects.
Since 2012, the Government of Canada has been planning and building momentum toward Canada 150 by highlighting historic nation-building milestone anniversaries. These milestones have included the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the anniversaries of the First and Second World Wars, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald and the 50th anniversary of the National Flag.
For more information on the Canada 150 Fund, visit www.canada150.gc.ca