Three Federal funding announcements in Kelowna in two days benefit people with special needs

KELOWNA – Ron Cannan was busy smiling and shaking hands while handing out over $115,000 federal tax dollars at three photo opportunities in Kelowna today and yesterday.

The Kelowna-Lake Country MP joined with the Minister of State for Social Development, Candice Bergen, to hand a cheque for $50,000 to the City of Kelowna today, April 11, to renovate the playground in Ben Lee Park to make it accessible to persons with disabilities.

"Accessibility is one of our cornerstones. It's important that people of all abilities can participate in our community and enjoy being outdoors,” mayor Colin Basran said in a media release. “This playground has been designed specifically for those with specials needs in mind."

Yesterday, Cannan and Bergen announced $3,000 for the Starbright Children’s Development Centre in Kelowna. The money will be used to buy electric door mechanisms at the Centre’s main entrances.

“Our agency is a not-for-profit charity which provides programming and therapeutic early intervention services for children with developmental needs,” the Centre’s Rhonda Nelson said in a media release.

A few hours later on Friday, Cannan and Bergen announced funding to the tune of $63,761 for the Kelowna Community Resources Society. The cash will pay for an 18-week project to help 12 people with disabilities improve their “employment readiness” with job hunt skills.

“Not only will the program offer pre-employment services, but it will also be able to work in partnership with employers to ensure opportunities become available for our participants,” Kelowna Community Resources executive director Ellen Boelcke said in the release.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.