A number of local community, sports and arts organizations have received money from the provincial government’s Community Gaming Grants program.
The program, which so far this year has provided 537 organizations with $16,855,256, includes a number of local groups.
The Penticton Art Gallery Society was one of the groups that was allocated funding through the grant, receiving $40,000.
Gallery administrator Rosemary Fullbrook said the grants are hugely important to allow the gallery to keep bringing in interesting works for the people of Penticton.
“It definitely helps to bring in featured artist, maintain our gallery space, update our website, and contribute to our adjunct programming,” she said. “Anytime we want to do something in conjunction with an exhibition, these funds help us do that as well.”
As well as providing grants for local culture, some of the money went to local sports clubs, one of which being the Apex Ski Club.
Jorgen Anderson, the head coach and program director for the club, said the $20,000 the club received would go directly to keeping costs down, helping to make lessons more affordable for everyone.
“In some ski clubs it’s perceived as a rich sport, and by getting that money it helps kids of all family incomes to participate in some pretty high-end programming,” he said.
The other groups to receive grants were: the Glengarry Figure Skating Club; Thompson-Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League; South Okanagan Minor Baseball Association; Penticton Academy of Music Society; Penticton Curling Club; Summerland Orca Swim Club; and the South Okanagan Figure Skating Club.