ASSINIBOIA - Beyond luck? Did you know that Sask. Lotteries funding helps aid communities through their grant program? Your lucky lotto and ticket purchases can also benefit your community through community grants offered.
The Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program assists non-profit, volunteer-led, community organizations. These organizations develop impactful and innovative sport, culture and recreation programs that meet the needs of the local community.
Steph VanDeSype. Recreation and Community Wellness Manager for Assiniboia, said that organizations that are eligible to receive funding include municipal governments (city, town, village, organized hamlet or RMs), First Nation communities and northern settlements. These authorities distribute funds to local non-profit groups to provide programs.
Community grants through the Sask. Lotteries funding opportunity are determined by population with the minimum grant of $250 for southern communities and $500 for northern communities.
“If the community grant is more than $2,000, a portion of the total grant must be used for programs aimed at increasing participation for equity groups, such as Indigenous people, newcomers, seniors, women, single-parent families, persons living with disabilities and persons facing financial instability. The equity requirement can be met by welcoming and encouraging diversity among regular programs and/or by creating special programming,” noted VanDeSype.
The Town of Assiniboia has received $25,676 for allocation between 20 organizations that applied for 2023-2024 programming. VanDeSype also announced that they are allocating $29,264 for 2024-2025 programming to 18 different organizations that applied.
The recipients for 2024-25 include the Music Festival, Shurniak Art Gallery, the Arts Council, 55 Club, soccer, Group of 10 Photography, Sr. Rockets football team, the Minor Ball Association, the Assiniboia Curling Club, Communities in Bloom, Gymnastics Club, Minor Hockey, Swim Club Skating Club and Minor Football.
Applications open in January each year and any community organization who are looking for more information on this funding are welcome to call Steph VanDeSype at 306-642-5007.
The details of the program as well as a full list of recipients is available by visiting the website at https://www.assiniboia.net/recreation/sask_lotteries_grant.html
