Fort St. John council awards $480,000 in fee-for-service grants to library and historical society

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — City council awarded $480,000 in grants to the Fort St. John Public Library and North Peace Historical Society during their March 25th meeting. 

The library and the society received the funds by applying for the 2024 fee-for-service grant, which assists local non-profit organizations in delivering services to the community. 

The Fort St John Library will receive $450,000 after requesting $470,000, a 4.5 per cent increase to the amount asked for in 2023. The funding will support library operations, including wages, collection purchasing, rent, and other core functions.

The library is a registered non-profit organization serving the city and Areas B and C of the Peace River Regional District (PRRD). In addition to providing books, the library also hosts creative and community-oriented programs. 

The historical society will receive $30,000 after requesting $45,000, a 56 per cent increase from the amount requested in 2023. The funding will be used for staffing, program and archival supplies, utilities, and exhibits.

The North Peace Historical Society is a non-profit group that operates the Fort St. John North Peace Museum with the primary goal of preserving the local history.

Council passed a new community grants policy in January 2024 that no longer requires the groups requesting the funding to give a presentation at a council meeting. 

Groups were previously required to apply for funding on a one-year term, but now, with the new policy, the grant can be provided for up to three years. However, council approved a one-year term for both recipients to assess the new process. 

The full report can be viewed below: