Tuesday was a big day for Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Community Development Corporation, and an even bigger day for the projects it was assisting in the community.
A total of $299,000 in funding commitments were announced by BATC CDC to four worthy area projects: the Credit Union CUPlex, the North Battleford Golf and Country Club Irrigation Project, the Battleford Opera House and Bridgefest.
All four grants are for the fiscal year 2011-12 and presented to city officials at the offices of BATC by CDC general manager Vivian Whitecalf on Tuesday. Also there was Gage Bird, councillor from the Moosomin First Nation.
On hand to accept the donations were Mayor Ian Hamilton of North Battleford and Mayor Chris Odishaw of Battleford. As well, North Battleford councillor Don Buglas and Battleford town councillor Garth Walls, both members of the CDC board, were in attendance as well.
The donation to the city towards the CUPlex project is for $200,000, provided in four installments of $50,000 over the course of the fiscal year.
"It's been a great sponsor towards the CUPlex activities," said North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton, who said BATC were "great supporters of this initiative".
This is not the first big donation the BATC CDC has made to the CUPlex project, and will not be the last. The mayor adds that BATC has stated it will contribute over and over again to the project as funds become available. "They've indicated they're in for the long term," said Hamilton.
The town of Battleford was the recipient of funds for the Opera House project and for Bridgefest. The BATC CDC commitment to the Opera House is for $75,000. Mayor Chris Odishaw of Battleford said that funding will be put toward phase II, or detail design, for the opera house.
"It's a fairly big undertaking. It's great to see support from BATC," said Odishaw of the opera house funding.
The BATC CDC commitment to Bridgefest is for $24,000. Battleford mayor Chris Odishaw said BATC CDC is the main title sponsor for the event.
"I'm very proud of BATC and the CDC for being the main title sponsor for the event," said Battleford mayor Chris Odishaw, who described Bridgefest as one of the biggest events " bringing cultures in the community together.
The donation of $10,000 to the Donate to Irrigate campaign helps the golf and country club to pay off its debts for its irrigation project, according to executive director Dana Johnson.
That project was completed last year, and "the golf course is now chosen as number four in all the places to play in Saskatchewan", said Johnson.
He adds that the golf club plans to continue its fundraising efforts to pay off approximately $300,000 still outstanding towards the irrigation project. The club is coming off a very successful Sportsmans' Dinner and Johnson said the plan is to make it an annual event to help raise money to pay for the irrigation project.
"Every little bit helps," said Johnson of the latest CDC donation. He estimates that including past donations the CDC has provided $110,000 in funds to the irrigation project.
