What are these grants, anyway?
Money organizations can apply for them to help their community members engage in recreation during COVID-19, in order to stay active, resilient, and connected!
This year in recognition of the extreme diversity between communities and the cost of hosting physically distant recreation events, ARC grant amounts this year will be calculated based on the Northwest Territories Food Price Index. This is done by using basic grants amounts of $850 (or $1150.00 for Elder events), and then grants for communities will be calculated using the same ratio that is reflected in the index (the lowest scoring communities will be given the basic amount).
Physically Active Events
Grants of $850 are available for organizations to host THREE physically distant recreation events in their community. Events must be physically active in nature, be free to attend, and open to the public.
Last year, Old Town Glassworks in Sǫ̀mba K’è / Yellowknife hosted walking tours for their first event, highlighting cornerstone establishments and the neighbourhood history of Old Town. After the tours, the walking groups were invited to a second event: a dance party outside of Old Town Glassworks where they could dance to their heart's desire. For the third and final event, the walking groups were able to create their own glass souvenir in the historic log cabin.
The Physically Active Event grants can be used for purchasing equipment (which can then be kept and used after the events!), rental space or venue fees, instructor fees, event promotion and advertising, healthy snacks, hand sanitizers, and/or other items to help you follow GNWT public health directives at your events.
Some other activities you could use this grant for are: Nordic walking, sliding (buy a bunch of crazy carpets for your friendship centre and hit the local hill!), snowshoeing, a cross-country ski loppet, winter tennis, on the land opportunities (harvesting wood or plan fall berry-picking outings), and more! If you've got an idea, get in touch! ng for a certified fitness instructor to host online fitness classes for your community to attend.
Online Recreation Events/Professional Development
Grants of $425 are available for organizations to host THREE online recreation events OR to engage in educational opportunities that will lead to increased physical activity in their community.
Applicants that apply for the Professional Development grant will have to demonstrate how the course will lead to physical activity opportunities in their community. Online Recreation Events must be physically active in nature, be free to attend, and open to the public.
The grants can be used to pay for online instructor fees, online platform memberships, and/or internet/communications fees that enable you to run online events that are free and open to the public.
Last year, Dene Nahjo, organized their 5th Annual Winter Market – Online Edition. The Market ran from November 21 – 28, 2020. That was a highly anticipated community event that was led by and for Indigenous artists. They had 21 Artists from across the 3 Territories participate in this event through an online capacity. Dene Nahjo handled all promotions, sales, packaging and shipping for the artists. They provided them the opportunity for a professional art review, professional photographs of their submitted art, and to connect with our large online platform. The pandemic has had a great impact on Northern Indigenous artists; they organized the event to support the artists who are missing out on many in-person sales and who would normally have the opportunity to sell at their Market. The event promoted physical activity because it supported Indigenous artistry, most of which involves traditional skills including on-the-land harvesting.
You could use this grant to pay for your professional development training such as the CPRA Professional Development Certificate, to take Recreation North Learning Events, to get your AFLCA or have an instructor teach you or your employees who to run online recreation events like Zumba, STRONG, fitness classes, etc.
The grants could be used for hosting online events likes: Zumba classes, running a physical activity challenge on social media, recording a walking tour of your community for people to listen to while they walk, paying for a certified fitness instructor to host online fitness classes for your community to attend.
Equipment Grants
Grants of $500 are available for organizations to purchase equipment. Recreation equipment must be free for everyone in the community to use following GNWT public health directives at the time of equipment use. Equipment can be used through a free rental program or at free community programming (the key being that the equipment can be accessed for free by anyone in the community). Organizations must describe how the equipment will be used/managed and how many community members will benefit.
In Hay River, an equipment grant was used to purchase Toy Monster Monkey Bars and donated it to the Hay River Recreation Department to be placed by the indoor walking track. So parents with young children could take advantage of the walking track while their children played nearby.
Some other examples could include yoga mats or snowshoes that can be borrowed by anyone for free, and which are sanitized once they are returned. Items, like bush kits, that can be lent out to encourage community members to go out on the land also fit this category!
Elder-Oriented Physically Distant Recreation Events
Grants of $1,150 are available for organizations to host THREE physically distant recreation events for Elders/older adults in their community.
In Akłarvik, three different events were held that got Elders out on the land and also engaging with younger generations. Aklavik Community Corporation held a fishing derby with the Elders Committee. For their second event, they gave out cards for Elders to get out on the land fishing. "It was great to see younger adults taking Elders out," they said in their report. For their third event, they provided funds for families to take an Elder out on the land, where Elders are physically active doing daily chores and activities.
The grants can be used for equipment (which can then be kept and used after the events!), rental space or venue fees, instructor fees, event promotion and advertising, healthy snacks, hand sanitizers, and/or other items to help you follow GNWT public health directives at your events.
Other examples of what you could do for Elders events are host Elders Yoga, a Wii and Tea, an Elders jigging party, walking bingo, Elders in Motion, and more! As long as the events focus on Elders/older adults being physically active in nature, and are free and open to the public.
Apply Now
Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until October 15.
Final reports must be submitted by March 15, 2022. Late reports will NOT be accepted; the remainder of the grant will not be released if the report is submitted late.