Anyone in Northern B.C., regardless of their community's size, can apply for the Vancouver Foundation's Small Neighbourhood Grants.
"These grants are supposed to encourage connections between neighbours and the community," said Yunuen Perez Vertti, grant coordinator for the Northern B.C. region.
She finds the grant incredibly unique because, unlike most grants eligible to organizations, any individual can apply for it. There is no age, education, background, or immigration status restriction for applying.
"You just have to have a desire to connect with your community and engage with the place that you live in," she said.
Four people in Prince Rupert were granted the money to complete their submissions this year. Yunuen has noticed that lots of applications are from LGBTQIA+ or seniors groups. She says this might be due to their isolation, especially in smaller communities.
There was a victorious Pride Party, senior yoga classes, and a neighbourhood block party in Prince Rupert. Another person will paint a mural on an alleyway wall in downtown. They will invite the public to contribute to the mural at a painting party.
"Having these kinds of events in small communities is really, really important to bring some understanding of inclusivity and what is needed for everybody to feel that they belong in a community."
"Because sometimes, it's harder for smaller communities to be open to people that are maybe different from them, maybe not only the LGBTQ community, but even the immigrant community, and I think that is a little bit harder for small rural communities to come around these kinds of things and understanding them," said Yunuen.
According to Yunuen, the most hilarious idea they funded was in a rural location where someone needed $50 to buy a lease for their rooster. Their plan was to take the rooster on walks in their neighbourhood, which was bound to spark conversations with people, and that would be a way they engaged with each other.
"There is no wrong idea," she said. They are entirely open to spontaneous and quirky proposals.
In Quesnel, an individual invited college students to impart digital literacy to seniors overwhelmed by technology. They taught them how to use their cell phones, take photos, upload them, and manage their WhatsApp. In the end, she even gave all the participants a certificate.
Yunuean encourages people to apply for the Fall application intake as it will allow them to execute their plans during the winter months, which she finds can feel more isolating than the summer.
