Island Health has announced its 2024 Community Wellness Grant recipients and of 53 new locally-led wellness projects, the Cowichan Valley has five.
Receiving funds from the health authority are: Ladysmith Family and Friends (LaFF) for their Nourishing At Risk Families program, the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society for their Indigenous Day Gathering, the Cowichan Restorative Justice Society for Restorative Justice in Education program, OUR ECOVILLAGE Cooperative for their Medicine Basket Learning Circles Series, and Warmland Women's Support Services Society for their Calling Ourselves Home - Indigenous Outreach program.
“Communities’ needs and priorities vary, and local organizations know best how to make their neighbourhoods stronger and more resilient," said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health. "Community Wellness Grants support grassroots projects that remove obstacles to good health and make people feel more socially connected in Vancouver Island’s coastal communities, remote and rural areas."
The total pot for the Community Wellness Grant Program was $800,000, though individual grant amounts were not announced.
“We know that our personal physical and mental health is inextricably linked to the health of our communities,” said Adrian Dix, minister of Health. “When we live in more active, inclusive and interconnected neighbourhoods, we all benefit. I want to congratulate all the organizations and programs that received Community Wellness Grants, and thank them for all they do to improve the lives of people throughout Vancouver Island.”
Island Health says the grant program "is designed to support collaborative community-led upstream wellness interventions that reduce barriers and increase supports, enabling all members of the community to enjoy health and wellness."
The call for 2024 applications went out in February and the theme of the year’s grant program was community resilience. Applicants were asked to focus on one or more of the following criteria: diverse communities, connected communities, safe communities, nourished communities and active communities.
A complete list of 2024/2025 grant recipients is available on Island Health’s website at http://communitygrants.islandhealth.ca/
