Carla Qualtrough bowled a perfect shot Thursday afternoon – a funding shot that is – at the Tsawwassen Lawn Bowling Club.
The Delta MP and Minister of Public Services, Procurement and Accessibility was on hand to announce a funding grant for $23,525 to the club under the Federal Government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
“We know that supporting seniors is vitally important, for me one of the priorities is maintaining a really good quality of life for everyone and keeping everyone socially engaged, active and connected to community, which is among, what I would say is among the most pressing issues that Canadian families are facing today,” said Qualtrough. “This is why we have made it our mission and one of my personal missions to really promote social inclusion, so the New Horizons for Seniors Program is one way we are doing just that.”
She said program has a community-based stream, which supports initiatives that encourages seniors to remain involved in community and address seniors’ issues, projects that are led by organizations such as the Tsawwassen Lawn Bowling Club that really want to make a difference to the lives of seniors.
Since 2004, funding from the program has supported more than 23,000 projects across the country with a total investment of $487 million.
“We have had a lot of success with projects here in Delta and I want to congratulate your club in getting this funding, which will improve shade, drainage and other things that will improve the health of your members,” she said. “I’m very proud of you all. You are making Delta look really good.”
Club president David Fredricksen thanked Qualtrough for her efforts after the club’s initial application was turned down.
“Carla, as our MP, went to bat for us to get this grant. I don’t think I’m speaking out of school when I say she had heard we had initially been turned down and not because of any particular ties, she thought as our MP, she wanted to indicate what a good group the lawn bowling club was and we really appreciate her effort as we do any MP or MLA that assists its constituents,” he said.
