Back for a second year, the Create Places Grant aims to bring neighbours together, get creative and transform spaces while fostering a renewed sense of community pride. Projects require a matching contribution from the community through volunteer labour, donated services, donated materials and supplies, and/or other funds raised.
We are very excited to share this year's Create Places Colwood Grant recipients, these community members had great ideas to bring new energy to spaces in Colwood!
Applications were accepted until mid-April and the City is pleased to announce that five projects will receive funding.
Outdoor Communication Board
This project started at School District 62 with the creation of Outdoor Communication Boards for all elementary schools' playgrounds. Communication boards are designed with inclusion in mind. They are boards with symbols or pictures that are used to facilitate communication, through pointing, gazing or touching. They help children access some of the most common words that we use when communicating, also called 'core' words. This communication board will be installed at West Shore Parks & Recreation Rotary Playground.
Royal Roads University Kitchen Garden Revitalization
Royal Roads is aiming to model food-forward leadership by creating an edible landscape and small-scale food production system within the century old Walled Garden. Publicly accessible, the revitalized Kitchen Garden will consist of row gardens, polyculture orchard, apiary (a place where bees are kept), Indigenous Food Garden and Gathering Space, Giving Garden Farm Stand, and an outdoor classroom.
Let the Fun Begin! A Book Box and So Much More
A new Little Free Library featuring puzzles, games, and books! The structure will be designed by local artisans who are donating their time and talents to create a beautful and functional addition to the community.There will be something for everyone across the life spectrum. Installations like this help foster fun, community connectedness, decrease social isolation, promote literacy, and make our community an even better place to live! Once completed, find this Book Box and So Much More on the Boulevard along Royal Bay Drive.
Free Little Pantry
With a "take what you need, give what you can model" this Free Little Pantry will carry non-perishable pantry items year-round. Providing a resource for residents to access food on a small scale, and when they can, support other community members by giving back. Watch for the location of the Free Little Pantry to be announced soon.
Pit House Poetry Display Station
Arts & Culture Colwood brought forward the lovely idea for an outdoor poetry display station to be located at Pit House Park. The poetry display station will feature rotating work from Royal Bay High School and Dunsmuir Middle School students. The vision is to create an opportunity to focus on the literary arts in a natural, social setting that is suitable for all ages. The poetry display station will be installed near the circle of boulders near the entry point from Goldfinch Road.
Create Places Colwood
Look for more information about the individual projects to be released soon. To learn more about the Create Places Colwood grant, please visit www.Colwood.ca/CreatePlaces