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Nakuspians cast their vote for the CBT Community Initiatives Program

The annual program allows residents to vote on the programs they would like to see receive funding.

Nakusp residents came out in the hundreds to vote in the annual Community Initiatives Program, created by Columbia Basin Trust.

This is the 19th year the vote has taken place, and coincidentally, this year there were 19 projects taking part in the vote.

A total of $184,407 in funding is available. Of that number, $140,407 will go to large projects, and $44,000 will go to smaller projects.

Being able to take part in the vote is important.

“With a lot of communities, the councils or directors decide where the funding goes,” said Karen Hamling, mayor of Nakusp. “In this community, we’ve always felt they (residents) should have a say.”

Voting took place in the auditorium of the Nakusp Arena. Organizations and committees had tables around the outer walls of the auditorium, and people were able to walk around, ask questions, and get information about what each group wanted and why they were applying for funding.

Voters choose five big projects, and five small projects. The projects that get the most votes will receive funding. Last year, over 500 people voted.

One of the organizations applying for funding was Puppets on the Move, created by Nikki Cole.

Cole feels there is a need in the community to build connections and express ourselves freely without the fear of being judged.

“By putting a puppet on, or bringing yourself into a place where you don’t have to think, you’re just there, all of a sudden you can express yourself freely, you can be recognized for those gifts, and people around start going, ‘I want to try that,’ because they can feel it, the energy starts building and it’s a great experience.” she said.

Cole was asking for $5,000 to go toward a portable puppet theatre, along with materials and rental fees.

Voting ends at 4 p.m. After that, the votes are tabulated by hand, with one table counting the small projects, and one table counting the large ones. Because it’s done by hand, getting the results of the vote can take a couple of hours.

This year, 581 people voted, one of whom was Brendalee Morgan.

“It’s super important, it does so much for the community,” she said. “It’s amazing that anyone who wants to can try and enhance the community, and we have a part in it.”

 

For the small projects, funding will go toward the following:

1. The Nakusp Child Care Society for maintenance upgrades.

2. Kootenay Sufferfest Society for trail upgrades and route maintenance.

3. Nakusp Rail Committee for the caboose and plow donation project.

4. The Old Firehall Collective Society for the root and branch harvest.

5. The Nakusp Centennial Gold Club for lighting and electrical upgrades.

6. Bayview Residents’ Association for fire protection equipment.

7. Arrow Lakes Historical Society to help publish a book on the SS Minto.

 

For large projects, funding will go toward the following:

1. Rotary Club of Nakusp for the waterfront lighting project.

2. Arrow Senior Citizens Society for phase five of the Arrowtarian Rotary Village.

3. Nakusp and Area Bike Society for Mt. Abriel mountain bike trail network development.

4. Halcyon Assisted Living for automatic door openers for the main entry.

5. Nakusp Elementary School for a playground gazebo/outdoor learning space.

6. Nakusp Medieval Society for Medieval Days 2016.