Houston Link to Learning received some exciting news the other day when they were told that two of their programs qualified for IMAGINE grants from Northern Health.
Throughout the region it covers, Northern Health awarded grants to 23 community partners in 2011, supporting initiatives that help improve the health and wellbeing of those within its boundaries.
"The combined investments of community energy, commitments and resources, along with Northern Health's financial and in-kind partnership supports, can realize lasting improvements to the health and well-being of those living, working, learning and playing in northern B.C.," NH Director of Population Health Julie Kerr said in a press release. "Together, we can make a difference."
Houston received two of these grants, one of which will provide the funds required to bring Tai Chi to the Houston Community Garden. It's an activity that will start this summer and they've already got a woman in mind
"The whole idea is to train the people in the garden with the ten movements, and then we can have ongoing Tai Chi in the garden," Belinda Lacombe with Houston Link to Learning said.
It's a physical activity that's not only good at improving one's balance, but is also good for your heart and promoting inner balance as well, Lacombe said, who was excited to bring this to the community garden members.
The second grant was for the Houston Early Childhood Development Commitee, although the grant application was submitted by Houston Link to Learning. The funds will be utilized to bring a trainer from BCAA to drive up to Houston to train several people as an official car seat checker. Marian Ells, with the ECD committee, explains:
"It's to train people to be a car seat safety educator," she said. "The reason we wanted to do that is there's currently nobody in our area to check to see car seats are installed correctly."
They've been meaning to bring a trainer up here, but there was the obvious need for funds, so thanks to Northern Health they now have those available and hope to train a couple of people, so that if someone should move away they're not in the same predicament.
They're looking to begin training in May, Ells said.