Announcing the 2025 Community Development Grants

Credits: Carving on the Edge Festival

We’re excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Community Development grants. This year, eight inspiring projects in the region have been awarded over $36K in funding. These grants are dedicated to fostering accessible, inclusive, healthy, supportive, equitable, and sustainable communities, helping build a stronger and more united region.

We deeply appreciate the efforts of the Community Development Advisory Committee, comprised of dedicated local volunteers, for their thorough review of each application. The committee has prioritized projects that will have the most significant impact on those with the greatest need.

We also want to thank the West Coast Sustainable Tourism Association for contributing funding to two of these projects, allowing the Carving on the Edge Festival and the Wickaninnish Community School Society to carry out their programs. To learn more about the projects they supported directly, visit their website at https://wcsta.ca/projects.

To learn more about the projects or connect with project leaders, email brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org.

2025 Community Development Grant Projects

Afterschool Inclusion and Support Worker | Wickaninnish Community School Society

The Wickaninnish Community School Society (WCSS) is creating supports, such as after-school and extracurricular programming, for students with diverse needs. The WCSS offers afterschool, community, and extracurricular programming five days a week at the elementary school. These programs give students opportunities to explore art, sports, language, culture, science, and more, while ensuring that children with diverse needs can fully participate. To make programs accessible to all, WCSS offers supports such as supervised snacks, transportation, student subsidies, adaptive equipment, and family resources. The goal is to create a welcoming, enriching environment where every student can learn, play, and thrive beyond the classroom.

Backpack Lunch Program | WEPAC Lunch Program   

The WEPAC Lunch Program ensures that students at the Wickaninnish Community School have access to healthy food while they attend school. Their goal is to reduce food insecurity in an inclusive, non-stigmatizing way. They also work with the school administration to identify vulnerable families and provide them with food hampers, co-op gift cards, and backpack snacks. This project aims to increase their reach through their backpack project, sending home food and co-op gift cards to families in need.

Benches to Enhance Accessibility and Wellness | Sea View Housing Society

The senior residents of Forest Glen in Ucluelet have identified a need for benches along routes they walk regularly. Frequently visited locations, the Post Office, the Co-op, the Credit Union, and the Medical Centre, are within walking distance of their residence in Forest Glen. The Sea View Housing Society understands the vital role that walking plays in maintaining health. Endurance for walking longer distances decreases as we age and walk less. The opportunity to pause and rest would greatly enhance their ability to walk further. This first bench will hopefully serve as an example of the value of more such benches, thus encouraging greater participation in the District's planning for an increasing network of benches. 

Hang 21 Surf Event | Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

The goal of Hang 21 is to provide an inclusive and exhilarating surfing experience for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The project aims to foster a sense of community, celebrate abilities, and create lasting connections among families. Hang 21 also offers the opportunity to participate in activities that individuals with Down syndrome might not otherwise have access to.

The Hang 21 project creates an environment where participants can challenge themselves physically and mentally, breaking stereotypes and showcasing their capabilities in a sport not traditionally associated with individuals with Down syndrome. In addition, Hang 21 serves as a community celebration with food, bringing together families and supporters to share their experiences and celebrate the accomplishments of the day, reinforcing the sense of unity and inclusion that Hang 21 embodies.

Opitsaht Ceremonial Sweat Lodge | Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation

This project aims to convert a frame cabin into a community sweat lodge for traditional Indigenous sweat ceremonies, located in the village of Opitsaht. The goal is to provide accessible access for all ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) community members, including the elderly, disabled, and young children, who often cannot travel to traditional ceremonial areas. The sweat lodge is a sacred spiritual ceremony for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual purification and healing. Individuals come to prepare for other ceremonies, to seek guidance for important questions, and to ask for healing in body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

By creating an accessible space for these ceremonies, this project will preserve and honor the cultural heritage of the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ community, ensuring that the sacred practice of the sweat lodge remains integral to their way of life. The lodge will provide a safe haven where individuals can seek healing, guidance, and spiritual connection, promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle for all community members.

Professional Development Series | District of Tofino

The Professional Development Series is a program involving various workshops and information sessions, each with a different focus and subject. This program is hosted and organized by the District of Tofino's Recreation department with the support of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Tofino Arts Council. Held at the Community Hall, the series is free and open to all members of the community. This project offers professional development and community-building opportunities for local businesses, local artists, individuals with a skill they would like to share with the community, and non-profit organizations.

Tofino Surf Lifesaving Club Beach Ambassador Program | Tofino Surf Lifesaving Society

The Tofino Surf Lifesaving Club’s Beach Ambassador program is a public outreach initiative that focuses on improving ocean safety on Tofino’s surf beaches during the summer months. The program is modeled after the Pacific Rim National Park’s Coastal Stewards program and incorporates elements from the Lifesaving Society BC and Yukon’s Waterwise Program. Club members volunteer their time over the summer to engage with beach users about ocean hazards (e.g., tides and rip currents) while recommending safe areas for recreation. Club members are empowered as ocean ambassadors, promoting the safe and healthy use of the surf zone and beach, both to fellow community members and visiting beachgoers.

Youth Traditional Indigenous Arts Development | Carving on the Edge Festival

This project includes three days of traditional arts teachings for young artists, with one day being taught by an out-of-town Indigenous artist. The development days create opportunities for learning, practicing, and sharing traditional Indigenous arts, as well as social cross-cultural engagement, gathering, and connectedness. The participation in these activities fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous art and traditions and supports the development of young artists. This engagement is crucial for building stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, promoting mutual respect and collaboration.