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How we're staying positive and adapting to COVID-19

This is an unprecedented time for all of us — but challenging times have a way of bringing out the best in West Coasters. We’re proud to work alongside community partners like you as we rise to this new challenge to serve our region safely and effectively.

Here’s what we’re doing to “flatten the curve” 

  • Our office is closed to the public for the time being
  • Staff are working remotely: contact individual staff members by phone and email 
  • Voicemails on the office line will still be checked (remotely) and responded to
  • All meetings will be conducted as a video- or audio-conferences. Our staff will be in touch with details.

Remember that social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. :) Reach out to us with any questions, comments, concerns, or just to let us know how you’re doing! With the increasingly nice weather, it’s also a great time to get out into nature and enjoy the biosphere while maintaining social distancing. 

For current grantees
If you currently have a grant from CBT, we appreciate this is an unusual time and that you may not be able to meet the objectives you’ve committed to. We know it is difficult to cancel the programs and events people rely on and you have worked hard to provide. We trust you to rework your project’s budget to shift or rethink your community engagement activities as you see fit – no need to check in with us first. We’ll be flexible with all reporting timelines and will work with you to reschedule activities as needed.

CBT Spring 2020 grants
We’ve recently accepted applications to the following grant streams: Arts & Culture, Research & Environment, Community Development, Youth & Education, Biosphere Research Award, and Vital Grants. We’ll continue to review those applications and meet with advisory committees remotely with the goal of maintaining our granting timelines. We understand that COVID-19 is bringing about big changes for your organizations and projects plans. We want to support your changing circumstances. If it is necessary to revise your application, please connect with CBT staff to discuss further.

What comes next for Neighbourhood Small Grants?
NSG can become a catalyst for exploring and trying out new ways to build community and local social support networks in order to foster inclusion and mental wellbeing. We’re connecting with project leaders and partners to rethink our spring call for NSG. Please let Brooke know if you have ideas and suggestions. We know that the need to tackle social isolation and build stronger and resilient communities is more important than ever.

Holiday Giving Catalogue raises over $42K for regional charities

January 13, 2021
Over the month of December, the CBT worked alongside 20 local charities to raise funds for our most critical needs. Donors answered the call to stand together to strengthen our communities and ecosystems and together we raised $42,675. These gifts of all sizes will have a collective impact in a region that means so much to us all.

Emergency Community Support Fund Round 2

December 14, 2020
As the social and economic implications of the pandemic continue, community-serving non-profits are struggling to keep up with the increased need for responsive services and programming while facing significantly lower revenues than typical years. The CBT is proud to announce 5 diverse community projects receiving $30K in funding from Round 2 of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) from the Government of Canada, via the CBT. In total, $70K has been granted from the ECSF. Check out the list of organizations and projects who have received funding here!

Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants: a show of west coast community resilience

August 19, 2020
We’ve wrapped up our COVID-19 Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants (R-NSG) and couldn’t be more proud of our west coast communities! The 4 months since we launched the program have been a wild and unpredictable ride, but west coasters have come together to support each other— while maintaining physical distancing— in many inspiring and innovative ways.

CBT collaborates on a new SDG Guidebook

August 13, 2020
This week, Community Foundations of Canada launched a Guidebook and Toolkit to help Canada's 191 Community Foundations—and all the communities they support—find bolder, creative and innovative ways to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. CBT research director, Laura Loucks, helped author a case study on p. 29 about our organization's dual role as a community foundation and UNESCO Biosphere Region.

We've met our Giving Catalogue fundraising goal

July 2, 2020
On Giving Tuesday Now (May 5th) CBT launched the Community COVID-19 Response Giving Catalogue, a place where west coast registered charities and not-for-profits share current and emerging needs with people who want to help. We are excited to announce that we have met our $30,000 for local organizations!

Red dresses in the office window

June 30, 2020
If you walk by the CBT office at 316 Main Street later this week, you may notice the red dresses hanging in the front window. The simple and elegant dresses are adorned with black silhouetted feathers and bring awareness to the staggering amount of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) across Canada, but especially those from our community.

2019 Neighbourhood Small Grants Announced

October 29, 2019
We're so grateful for all the amazing community members who are taking on a Neighbourhood Small Grant project this year This blog post includes a list of all the funded projects, the organizers, the approximate dates, and a summary of the project in the organizers' words. Make sure to check out what events are happening in your neighbourhood!