Seniors in Williams Lake will continue to have access to the seniors advocate and assistance services after city council approved a new fee-for-service agreement in the amount of $22,920, for a one-year term.
The program is offered through the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy in a room at the Seniors Activity Centre.
Initially funded by the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the program had then received Red Cross funding which was slated to run out Dec. 31, 2023.
During the regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, Coun. Angie Delainey said even though the program falls outside the city’s mandate, the seniors advocate and assistance services is an important service for the community.
“I would like to put it on council’s mind to be able to go back and advocate to the provincial government that we just budgeted $22,000 out of our municipal taxes to actually provide a service that is supposed to be provided to us from our provincial government,” Delainey said, adding she applauded the work being done by the program.
Council also approved an additional $5,000 annual fee-for-service with Better at Home Williams Lake to provide sidewalk snow clearing for seniors.
A $10,000 fee-for-service for the Williams Lake Stampede Parade, also new, was approved unanimously.
Stampede Parade organizer Willie Dye was on hand to tell council his parade committee is now incorporated and he had received the certificate of incorporation earlier that day.
Several grant-in-aid applications were also approved at the meeting after council and staff meet during two committee of the whole meetings.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Youth Fiddle Society - $4,000 to support running a student music workshop, all in favour.
Gavin Lake Forest Education Society - $2,500 to subsidize grandparent camp fees, Coun. Angie Delainey and Coun. Jazmyn Lyons opposed.
The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin Society - $2,500 for seed funding for a new Cowboy Christmas event, Coun. Delainey and Coun. Joan Flaspohler opposed.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 139 - $5,000 to replace an existing ice machine, Coun. Delainey and Coun. Flaspohler opposed.
Williams Lake Stampeders Men’s Hockey Team - $5,000 for bus maintenance, travel expenses and ice expenses, Coun. Delainey and Coun. Flaspohler opposed.
Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Society in the amount of $5,000 to assist with the replacement of the temple roof, Coun. Flaspohler opposed.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor excused himself from the discussion and vote because he attends the temple as a place of worship.
Council voted to deny a grant-in-aid application from the Williams Lake Trail Riders Association in the amount of $5,000 for the addition of a water system for indoor and outdoor arenas, Coun. Scott Nelson opposed.
Council voted unanimously in favour to refer a grant-in-aid application from the Social Planning Council for funding to perform social infrastructure connectivity mapping to the Central Cariboo Joint Committee for discussion before a final decision is made at a future council meeting, but approved in principle a contribution of up to $10,000 for the group.
A grant-in-aid application from Cariboo Chilcotin Elder College for $4,452 to purchase of sound equipment, was denied, unanimously.
READ MORE: Williams Lake seniors advocate role in precarious position
With files from Ruth Lloyd.
