The Village of Clinton, along with 18 community groups, has a good reason to be grateful to the Clinton and District Community Forest (CCF); 201,974 reasons, to be precise.
At its AGM on June 27, the CCF – which was established in 2012 – announced $201,974 in grants, which were awarded to the Village of Clinton and 18 organizations serving the people of Clinton and the surrounding area. As per its Operational Agreement of October 2013, once all funding for operational needs have been met, 60 per cent of the CCF's annual profits are given to the Village of Clinton, which is the sole shareholder.
Forty per cent of the annual profits are distributed to community organizations through the Community Grant Funding program and application process. The Community Funding policy ensures that profits generate funding capital for arts, recreation, culture, and social projects, and to ensure that profits stay in the Clinton and district area.
Grant funding is awarded via an application process to organizations that are considered to be contributing to the general interest and well-being of the citizens of the Village of Clinton and surrounding area.
In 2024 the Village’s grant funding amounted to $119,524, and Clinton mayor Roland Stanke thanked the Community Forest board members for their hard work and dedication.
“Forty per cent of the net profit going back to community groups really helps in the very important area of volunteerism. The 60 per cent balance of the net [for the Village] is a welcome addition to the annual budget in offsetting operational and capital costs.”
This year a total of $82,450 was awarded to community organizations. The 2024 recipients are:
70 Mile House Community Club (Riding Committee): $10,000 for upgrades at the 70 Mile House riding arena.
Ashcroft and Area Community Resources Society: $800 for the 2024 Christmas Hamper campaign.
Clinton and District Agricultural Association: $15,000 for fencing panels and fencing repairs at the Clinton rodeo grounds.
Clinton and District Assisted Living Society: $3,000 for a new gazebo for Clinton Creek Estates.
Clinton and District Outdoor Sportsmen Association: $5,000 for materials to build and install bluebird and bat boxes (in partnership with David Stoddart School students).
Clinton Annual Ball: $3,000 for catering and hall rental for the 2024 event.
Clinton Communities in Bloom Beautification Society: $1,500 for fencing repair and equipment maintenance at the Clinton community garden.
Clinton Firefighters Association: $7,150 for wildfire deployment equipment.
Clinton Food Bank: $5,000 for 2024 operational costs.
Clinton Minor Sports Association: $1,500 for storage bins, protective eyewear, and Nerf guns.
Clinton Old Timers’ Tea: $500 for groceries and insurance for 2024 event.
Clinton Parade Committee: $1,000 for costs for the 2024 parade.
Clinton Quilters and Crafters Group: $3,000 for quilting materials for donated quilts.
Clinton Seniors’ Association: $3,000 for 2024 operational costs.
Clinton Snow Jockeys: $2,500 for signage for trails at Big Bar and Highway 97.
Integris Credit Union Christmas Stocking Campaign: $1,000 for the 2024 Christmas Stocking campaign.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #194 (Clinton): $7,500 for the seniors’ soup program and kids’ Christmas party.
South Cariboo Historical Museum Society: $12,000 for signage repair, shed upgrades, 2024 operational costs, and a cement pad for the fire truck at the Clinton Museum.
Profits were first distributed to the Village and community organizations in 2018. Since that time, and including 2024, the Village of Clinton has received a total of $777,263.08, while community groups have received a total of $501,686.
In 2015 the CCF established a Scholarships and Bursaries policy, to benefit students graduating from David Stoddart School in Clinton. The first bursaries were awarded in 2016; this year $4,000 ($2,000 each) was awarded to Rachel Miller and Cole Townsend, bringing the total amount awarded to students since 2016 to $28,000.
Since 2018 the CCF has partnered with the Psalm 23 Transition Society to distribute half-cords of firewood to those in need who apply, with CCF directors often delivering the firewood personally to people’s doors. Applications (to clintoncommunityforest@outlook.com) must be received by Sept. 30. Since 2018 the CCF's Firewood Donation Program has delivered 178 half-cords of wood to people in and around Clinton.
For more information about the Clinton and District Community Forest, go to https://www.clintoncommunityforest.com/.
