The Prince George Canoe and Kayak Club are just one of the Prince George recipients of the $1.5 million Local Sport Relief Fund provided by the BC Government.
The Local Sport Relief Fund covers administration and operational costs for local sports organizations dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Club president Bini Bell says the total $1,915 they received in funding will help pay for 18 new life jackets so they can accommodate people of different ages and sizes.
“It’s all the younger kids and families that have never been involved in any water sports that don’t have life jackets,” explained Bell, “so a lot of people were unable to participate in our programs.”
The club experienced an increase in demand for their programs this summer as the pandemic pushed many to pursue new outdoor activities.
“There were a lot of people that were unable to participate which is unfortunate because we have so many beautiful lakes and rivers available up here,” she noted.
22 of the 288 local sports organizations that received funding across the province were in the North.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, rural and remote communities and under-represented populations, such as Indigenous peoples have been disproportionally impacted by limited physical activities during the pandemic.