BCHL Teams receive provincial support funding

Seventy-two amateur sport leagues and teams will receive support from the Province so B.C. athletes can continue to train, practise and play. The grant recipients include individual BCHL teams, like the Merritt Centennials and the BCHL as a whole.

Individual dollar figures being awarded to each recipient were not disclosed. The funds will help them with operational costs, such as salaries, administrative costs and personal protective equipment.

“These top-level athletes have dedicated their entire lives to become the best of the best, and like all British Columbians, they’ve sacrificed so much during the pandemic,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These grants will provide vital support to B.C.-based sport organizations so these athletes can continue to reach for the stars.”

The Amateur Sport League Fund will provide a total of $11 million in one-time grants to help B.C.-based and/or B.C.-owned non-profit and for-profit amateur leagues recover from the financial losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants will support amateur athletes and ensure the jobs of people who work for the leagues and teams are protected.