Teaching kids as young as five to code is just one of the countless programs being made possible though over $600,000 in gaming grant funds from the province, handed out to 13 local organizations. (submitted photo/Nanaimo Science)

By Alex Rawnsley

CASH INJECTION

Over $600k in gaming grants helping environmental, educational programs across central Island

Jan 28, 2022 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — Multiple mid-Island organizations are sharing in over $10.5 million in provincial gaming grants geared towards conservation, education and emergency response.

Thirteen groups from Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Ladysmith and Qualicum Beach received nearly $620,000, including $100,000 going to the Georgia Strait Alliance.

Christianne Wilhelmson, executive director of the Alliance, told NanaimoNewsNOW their sizeable grant supports education on the importance of the Salish Sea.

“Why it’s so important to our communities and our culture. We also talk about the threats to the region and what people can do to help alleviete these threats.”

Headquartered in Nanaimo, the Alliance has staff located throughout the region in the Gulf Islands, Victoria and Vancouver.

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Their outreach includes speaker presentations, an annual film festival and gatherings out on the water to share lessons about conservation and marine health.

Wilhelmson said area First Nations play a part in informing the group on their traditional teachings.

“We don’t speak for Indigenous communities so we share the knowledge from our perspectives but also bring in the knowledge of those communities and allow them to share their perspectives, how they believe the region should be protected.”

Other major grants awarded were $99,800 to Nanaimo Search and Rescue and $79,850 to Arrowsmith Search and Rescue for their continued operations.

While not the biggest cash injection, the $19,500 awarded to the Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society will help them continue to deliver key extra-curricular programs to young children in the region.

The non-profit society moved into Country Club Centre during the pandemic which added extra costs to their operations. The move was necessary after an agreement with School District 68 ended.

Elaine Parker, society executive director, said they’ve specialized in creating hands on, science-based activities for school aged kids for the last 11 years.

The lessons go well beyond old-school volcanos and science class cliché.

“We are actually doing coding activities, teaching young kids as young as five how to program on computers,” Parker said. “We are going out into nature and also teaching children about the environment around them, how to identify species, figure out our native versus invasive plants and animals.”

Parker said their lessons are influenced by happenings in the world with kids very plugged into major events like space telescope launches and natural disasters.

However some of their direction comes from an unlikely source.

“They’re coming to us with a lot of knowledge on earth sciences they’ve picked up from Minecraft (a popular computer game), so we’re using these touch stones they’re familiar with and we build upon them to grow their understanding and explain things in different context as well.”

A complete list of grant recipients is available here. Mid-Island organizations receiving funds include:

Qualicum Beach
Arrowsmith Search and Rescue Society – $79,850
Broombusters Invasive Plant Society – $21,000

Nanaimo
Decourcy Island Community Association – $69,200
Nanaimo & Area Land Trust Society – $57,400
Nanaimo Marine Rescue Society – $46,700
Nanaimo Region John Howard Society – $32,500
Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society – $19,500
B.C. Marine Trails Network Association – $17,500
Nanaimo Search & Rescue Society – $99,800
Mid-Island Air Search and Rescue Society – $33,000
Georgia Strait Alliance – $100,000

Gabriola Island
Mudge Island Citizens Society – $28,000

Ladysmith
Ecoforestry Institute Society – $15,000

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