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Deadline Friday for non-profits to apply for Coquitlam spirit funding

Spirit of Coquitlam grants were reintroduced in early 2022 when its original funding source closed during the pandemic.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
CaribbeanDaysFestival4Coquitlam2022
The Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Society of BC, organizers of the Caribbean Days Festival in Coquitlam, received a $20,000 Spirit grant last fall, which will potentially be used to help organize its 2023 event this summer.Jennifer Gauthier, Tri-City News

Coquitlam non-profit groups and organizations have until the end of the week to consider applying for money towards projects meant to boost the morale of the community. 

The deadline is Friday (March 31) for the latest round of Spirit of Coquitlam grants.

Whomever is approved, the funding is set to provide financial help in paying for events, programs and gear related to arts, sports and social services — all for the community's health and well-being.

This is only the third time that Spirit grants will be handed out since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city's main funding source, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, closed for then restrictions on gatherings and events.

More than $201,000 in Spirit of Coquitlam grants were awarded to 25 registered groups last winter to continue with capital projects and hosting special events.

Darryl Lal, Coquitlam's policy and business services manager, said, this time, the cash must cover much-needed costs for projects in the works between now and early 2024.

"To be eligible for a Spirit of Coquitlam Grant, projects must take place in Coquitlam, primarily benefit Coquitlam residents, be sustainable beyond the grant funding, and have outcomes that align with the city's strategic goals," he added in an earlier statement.

"Applicants must also be in good financial standing with the city."

Funding amounts are set to be granted "based on the category and project," Lal added.

For more information about the Spirit of Coquitlam program, you can visit the city's website.

Coquitlam has distributed more than $9 million in grants to more than 230 local organizations since its inception in 2002.

The next intake is scheduled for September 2023.

Metro's money

Meanwhile, Metro Vancouver is launching its 2023 regional arts and culture grants.

Up to $10,000 can potentially be awarded to Tri-Cities organizations looking for additional financial help with hosting events and projects, including production, dissemination, research and staffing needs.

"Art connects us, challenges us, and inspires us to grow, and we have been consistently impressed with the projects from previous grant recipients, ranging from visual arts, theatre, film, music, and dance," said Metro Vancouver board chair George V. Harvie.

The deadline to submit and application is 4 p.m. on May 1.

You can visit the cultural grants page of Metro Vancouver's website for more information.