A pair of Courtenay-based organizations are each receiving $250,000 through the provincial Community Gaming Grants Program. The beneficiaries are the Wachiay Friendship Centre Society and the Comox Valley Child Development Association.
“These two organizations do critical work to support people of all walks of life in our community,” Courtenay-Comox NDP MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard said in a news release. “This investment by our government is very much needed in the Comox Valley and will help make life easier for a lot of people living here.”
The money puts the CVCDA about three-quarters of the way to a $550,000 target to expand its Autism Centre. The association is on track to begin construction April 1.
“We are exceedingly grateful for the support of the B.C. government, as well as the many Comox Valley community members who have supported the campaign,” said Lene Trieu, director of finance and administration at the CVCDA. “We look forward to celebrating the new resource with everyone in the fall of 2018.”
For Wachiay, the money will help the society purchase the building at 1625 McPhee Ave. from where it operates.
“The board and staff of Wachiay Friendship Centre Society have expressed their elation we will be able to purchase our building, and sincere gratitude to B.C. Gaming and the Province of British Columbia for providing funding that will ensure our future and continued delivery of our programs and services,” executive director Michael Colclough said in a news release. “We are an inclusive organization and as such, our programs and services are available to people of all ethnicities.”