City doles out cash to 15 community centres for upgrades, renos, repairs

Some Winnipeg community centres got an early Christmas gift as the city announced funding to help with various needs, from repairs and retrofits to safety improvements, upgrades and other renovations.

The 15 city-owned, board-run centreswill receive fundingthrough the community centre renovation grant program.

"Community centres play an important role in building healthy communitiesand it's essential to keep them accessible, upgradedand safe," said Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairof the standing policy committee on protection, community services and parks.

"I'm proud to support this initiative that maintains our existing assets and helps strengthen communities."

The community centres receiving grants are:

• Chalmers.
• Norberry-Glenlee.
• North Kildonan.
• Notre Dame.
• Park City West.
• Ralph Brown.
• Red River.
• Riverview.
• South Transcona.
• South Winnipeg.
• Sturgeon Heights.
• Westdale.
• Whyte Ridge.
• Windsor.
• Woodhaven Park.

The grant program received 15 applications for the fall intake, requesting a total of $1,155,999.88, and all were approved, says a news release from the city, whichdidn't specify what the money will pay for.

The program has two intake periods each year: a spring intake in March and a fall intake in October.