Summerland council has approved funding for two late grant in aid requests.

The Summerland Firefighters Association has asked the municipality to waive banquet room rental fees for its 2025 Summerland Firefighters Christmas party, for $538, and a children鈥檚 party and skate event, for $199. This is a total of $737.

The Summerland Secondary School鈥檚 senior boys basketball team has requested funding to represent the community at the B.C. High School Basketball provincials in Langley.

The municipality鈥檚 grant in aid policy provides for a maximum of $500 travel assistance to teams or individuals participating in provincial, national or international championships. The basketball team鈥檚 request is for the full $500 amount. 

Earlier, during the 2024 budget process, Summerland council reviewed 17 grant-in-aid applications, totalling $78,888. Council approved $43,799 in grant in aid funding.

The amount leaves $1,201 in unallocated funds for late applications.

The three late applications are for $1,237, which is $36 more than the budgeted amount.

While the funding was approved, members of Summerland council had concerns with the funding for the school basketball team.

鈥淭raditionally, we don鈥檛 fund school sports. We leave it to the schools,鈥� said Mayor Doug Holmes. 鈥淲e fund community sports.鈥�

Coun. Marty Van Alphen suggested council discuss its grant in aid policy ahead of the next municipal budget.

Coun. Erin Trainer said the funding for the team should be seen as a one-time expense, provided after the completion of the high school鈥檚 new gym. 

鈥淚 want them to know they have the support of the hometown,鈥� Trainer said.

Kendra Kinsley, director of corporate services for Summerland, said council had previously provided grant in aid funding to school sports. She said in 2022, council received three late requests for funding, including one from the school鈥檚 basketball team. This request was granted.

The funding requests were approved unanimously.