An astronomy initiative in one of three projects being funded by the provincial grant program. (Photo 86326370 © Allexxandar | Dreamstime.com)

By Derek Cornet

programming

Tri-community organizations receive $72K through provincial grant fund

Jun 15, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Close to $72,000 has been awarded to three local non-profits from the Community Initiatives Fund.

The successful applicants were Air Ronge’s Keewatin Community Development Association (KCDA), Pre-Cam Community School, and Visions North Community Futures Development Corporation, both located in La Ronge.

In specific, KCDA is receiving $30,000 for a Community Astronomy Initiative, Pre-Cam is receiving $30,000 for the Healthy Snack and Emergency Meal Program, and Visions North is receiving $12,067 for Tools of Everyday Life Women’s Workshops.

“Over the last number of years, I have been traveling to the northern schools doing astronomy presentations with a portable planetarium, and interest has kind of grown in some of the communities at the grassroots level and there is some interest in getting some training on telescopes and stuff so that we can start doing programming for observing the moon,” said amateur astronomer Scott Bell.

Bell plans on visiting 12 northern communities in the fall as part of an after-school program. Aside from bringing the planetarium with him as he has since 2000, participants will also be taught how to use binoculars and a telescope.

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He noted the goal of the initiative is to start building an inventory of people and equipment that’s around the North so that he can continue to promote astronomy and other science activities.

“Through the summer, I am hoping to talk to some Elders about some of the traditional star stories and lores we might be able to pick up,” Bell said.

“There are people like Roger Jerome who is an active astronomer around here. He’s a Métis gentleman that I hope is going to help me with some of this. We will package a thing together to try and take a multi-cultural sort of aspect view of the sky.”

A website will also be developed for the initiative by KCDA and Bell is hopeful to get some radio spots with the Canadian Space Agency.

larongeNOW reached out to Pre-Cam and Visions North for comment, but there was no response by the deadline.

Saskatchewan communities will benefit from 354 grants totaling $4,503,747 from the Community Initiatives Fund’s Feb. 1 and April 1 deadlines. These grants will contribute to the well-being of 143 communities, serving an estimated 104,338 individuals across the province.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

by Derek Cornet

Tri-community organizations receive $72K through provincial grant fund

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