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BC Games Legacy Funds up for grabs

Summer Games monies available for local groups
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The Abbotsford 2016 BC Summer Games torch is lit at the opening ceremonies in July. Games officials are now accepting applications for potential Legacy Fund projects from the Games.

Thousands of athletes from all across the province competed at the 2016 Abbotsford BC Summer Games this summer, but the real winners of the event are set to be local sports groups.

Approximately $150,000 is to be distributed through the Games Legacy Fund, with the board of directors accepting applications now.

The legacy funds are the monies left over at the end of the games, with much of it coming from provincial grants, corporate partners and through local businesses that supported the event.

"It's a sizeable amount," said Steve Carlton, the Abbotsford BC Summer Games president. "We're extremely pleased to have reached that amount."

Carlton said Abbotsford's generosity helped turn the Games into a success.

"The Abbotsford business community was very generous both in-kind and through donations," he said. "We're very grateful for the support from local businesses. The tremendous success of our Summer Games was due in part to the generosity of our provincial, corporate and community partners combined with the prudent management of the Games budget."

Following the 2004 Abbotsford BC Summer Games, money was given to the Abbotsford Community Foundation for student bursaries and scholarships, the University of the Fraser Valley and a saddle tent was purchased. That tent is still used to this day for local events such as Abbotsford's Canada Day celebration. Legacy funds from the 1995 Western Canada Summer Games in Abbotsford helped build the Legacy Building at Rotary Stadium, which houses the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame.

Carlton said the board of directors are hoping for a similar large scale project for the funds.

"Rather than giving out dozens of small grants, they are hoping for projects that are fairly broad in scope," he said. "Those which cover several sports or venues or have a broader community impact. We could also combine already existing funds to have a larger overall impact."

Games officials will accept applications until March 31, and the application form is located at abbotsford.ca/BCSGapplication.

It is anticipated that successful recipients will be notified in April or May, with a public presentation set for the one-year anniversary of the Games in July.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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