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White Rock, Surrey events receive slice of B.C’s $30 million COVID-relief pie

Hilarapy, Christmas on the Peninsula among those to benefit
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The annual Christmas on the Peninsula event, held this year on Nov. 27, is among White Rock events to benefit from provincial COVID-19 relief funding. (Perry Aasman, In-Focus Photography photos)

A handful of White Rock festivals and events are to receive a cut of the province’s $30 million COVID-19 relief fund.

READ MORE: B.C. doubles COVID-19 relief fund for community festivals, events

According to information announced Monday (Dec. 13) by Tourism Minister Melanie Mark, groups to benefit include White Rock Concerts:2021-2022 Concert Season, in the amount $16,106; Hilarapy: The Show ($12,900); White Rock 2022 Multicultural Celebration ($8,600); Christmas on the Peninsula Festival ($4,000); and, the 5 Corners Buskers & Comedy Festival ($6,000).

In Surrey, 19 events are to receive funding, including Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair ($250,000); Party for the Planet ($50,000); The World Round-Up Freestyle Skateboarding Championships ($13,600); and the Music and Meditation Festival 2022 ($5,000).

An “enormous” response to the B.C. government’s grant fund for community festivals prompted an increase in the fund from $12.9 million to $30 million, allowing it to support more events, Mark said.

“This means that over 680 local fairs, festivals and events have support for the safe resumption of their activities in 134 communities.”

Mark announced the grant program for community festivals in August, with an Oct. 1 deadline for applications. The $12.9 million fund was established to cover up to 20 per cent of the total event budget, to a maximum of $250,000, for events that took place after July 1, 2021 or are planned up to Sept. 30, 2022.

For the full list of community events receiving funds, visit news.gov.bc.ca/files/BCFFE_Funded_Events.pdf

- with files from Tom Fletcher



tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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