By Corey Fischer

Groups Benefit From Games’ Legacy

Mar 15, 2018 | 10:15 AM

Photo: Vernon & Area 2017 55+ BC Games President Wee Yee (centre, holding cheque) along with board members of the local organizing committee and VIP guests celebrate the distribution of $66,776 and in-kind legacy items with representatives from recipient local organizations.

The legacy of the 55 Plus BC Games held in Greater Vernon and Armtrong-Spallumcheen last year, will live on.

Thirteen groups that promote an active lifestyle for people 55 and over, were awarded grants by the organizing committee at a ceremony Wednesday night.

The Games, which featured 3,600 participants in 27 sports last September, generated a surplus of $92,000, with half of that going to local organizations, and the rest to the BC Seniors Games Society.

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Vernon Amateur Athletics was the biggest recipient, getting $5,000 in cash, and $7200 of in-kind track equipment.

Games president Wee Yee says the surplus came from good management by their board of directors, and support from the community.

“We had tremendous support from the business community. There was over 140 sponsors that donated either cash or value in kind towards the Games,” Yee tells CJIB News.

Yee says in addition to the cash legacy, there was over $20,000 in-kind legacy provided to local organizations.

Twenty-two applications were received from community groups.

“The committee did its due diligence and eventually narrowed down the applications to 13 successful recipients who will share the $46,000 cash legacy,” says Bruce Cummings, Director of Sport for the Games. “In addition, there are 13 organizations that received or will receive in-kind donations totaling over $20,000 from the 55+ Games.”

Funding will be primarily to support the development of facilities, programs or services. Funds must be used by December 31, 2018 and documented with a follow-up report.

The Vernon & Area 2017 55+ BC Games were held September 12-16, 2017 with over 3,500 athletes and 1,365 volunteers involved.

The following organizations received funding or in-kind legacy:

Armstrong District Fish & Game Association $5,005 – $1,900 cash $3,105 in kind (targets)
Armstrong & District Curling Club $2,500 cash
Armstrong Seniors Activity Centre $2,849 cash
City of Vernon $5,000 in kind (Bocce Courts in Polson Park)
Halina Seniors Centre $5,000 cash
Greater Vernon Recreation Services $805 in kind (two way radios)
North Okanagan Cycling Society $4,370 cash
Okanagan Masters Soccer Association $480 in kind (soccer balls)
Pleasant Valley Secondary School $160 in kind (badminton nets)
Ribbons of Green Trails Society $500 cash
Vernon Amateur Athletics $12,200 – $5,000 cash and $7,200 in kind (track equipment)
Vernon Curling Club $3,180 cash
Vernon Horseshoe Club $3,650 – $3,500 cash and $150 in kind (horseshoes)
Vernon Kokanee Swim Club $5,000 cash
Vernon Lawn Bowling Club $4,806 – $2,650 cash and $2,156 in kind (portable score signs)
Vernon Pickleball Association $5,721 – $5,000 cash and $721 in kind (nets, balls, clipboards)
Vernon Table Tennis Club $750 in kind (table tennis tables and balls)
Vernon Tennis Association $4,800 – $4,500 cash and $300 in kind (tennis balls)
Also donated in conjunction with the City of Vernon Safety Department
Okanagan Landing & District Community Association $2,500 in kind (AED)
Vernon Horseshoe Club $2,500 in kind (AED)