By David Holmes/Contributor
With a focus on celebrating the different aspects of the Saanich Peninsula, the Sidney Museum is hosting the Snapshots of the Peninsula Photography Exhibition, thanks in part to funding support from the Saanich Peninsula Community Foundation (SPCF).
“Every year we have a granting period, and we invite applications from local organizations that meet our granting criteria,” said SPCF board director Deborah Rogers. “Applicants must be non-profit organizations, and we don’t provide funding to cover operating costs, but rather support specific projects or events with an immediate need. The Sidney Museum’s photography exhibition is one such project.”
At a special June 6 event, Community Foundation president Tim Maloney and new director Ian Brown will be presenting a $2,000 grant to the museum’s executive director, Michael Goodchild.
Launched more than 20 years ago, the foundation is a volunteer-run organization created to improve the quality of life for Saanich Peninsula residents by, as it states on its website, “promoting and increasing responsible, effective and accessible philanthropy.”
During this year’s granting period, the foundation received more than 30 applications, with 15 grants worth a total of $37,000 being awarded.
“One of the main factors in deciding which groups receive the funding is how the funding will benefit the Saanich Peninsula, with some of the requests falling outside of that scope,” Rogers said.
The museum’s photography exhibition was among the winning applicants as the one-of-a-kind display – which runs from April to July – is being presented to illustrate the various elements that make up the character of the Saanich Peninsula.
“The exhibit features the work of various individuals and groups from across the region, with an overarching theme of new beginnings, to reflect the exhibit being the first of its kind held at the museum,” Rogers said.
The imagery selected for display is intended to showcase everything from natural wonders and recreational pursuits from across the region to scenes of the area’s active business community.
“The grants we gave out this year cover a very wide range of projects, and I think that’s what keeps the board of directors enthusiastic about doing this volunteer work. We get to see projects that support everything from youth activity, First Nations activity, educational opportunities, seniors support – it’s diverse and that makes us feel we’re having an impact right across the community,” Rogers said.
In addition to its annual Lobsterfest fundraising event, a key component of its annual efforts, the foundation has also initiated a major ongoing drive that will help it have an even great impact on the Saanich region.
“This year we’ve organized a significant fundraising campaign called the Clive Tanner Campaign, in honour of one of the foundation’s original members, with the goal of raising $250,000. With this money we hope to establish a new endowment in Clive’s memory to continue and to expand on the work the foundation already does to support the efforts of non-profit groups from throughout the Saanich Peninsula,” Rogers explained.
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