The Nelson Regional Sports Council asked for an increase to their City of Nelson grant for the first time since 2005.
“We’ve only been getting $55,000 since 2005 and all our costs have been going up. Every year our water, sewage, electricity, gas, everything has gone up and we’ve never had any increase in our grant,” said the sports council’s executive director Kim Palfenier.
Palfenier said the sports council gets income from ice rental and receives project specific grants from Columbia Basin Trust, but that doesn’t go towards operations.
City councillors suggested during last month’s committee of the whole meeting that the sports council consider approaching the Regional District of Central Kootenay for additional funding from discretional funds.
The sports council said they have given the Civic Centre “a new lease on life” including new windows and work on the museum which can be viewed at the Civic.
“Now when people come into the building, especially parents, they say ‘Oh, it’s wonderful what you’ve done with the place and it’s more comfortable to come and watch our kids,’” said Palfenier. “You can actually see the kids playing [through the new glass], it’s so much better than the plexi glass that was there.”
Sports council director Bill McDonnell said he personally feels that it was important to maintain the quality of the Civic Centre.
“I was just lucky enough to get the original plans of the blueprints of the building and to have a look at that and to have this historical landmark in our community,” said McDonnell.
“Now it is that lifeline again, it’s a viable place that people have really enjoyed going in there. The windows have made a great deal of difference and the exhibits give it some colour and in conjunction with Touchstones we have the painting in there and I’m applying for some trophies. It’s brought some life back into the old lady there.”