City rejects bucks for ’Bellies book

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The New Westminster Salmonbellies was the only organization to be denied any heritage grant funds for 2013 by city council.

The Salmonbellies had requested $44,000 to publish an illustrated history of the team to celebrate its 125th year in 2013.

Five other grants totaling $25,000 recommended by the city’s heritage grant committee were approved.

“This was a commercial enterprise primarily. New Westminster residents will be able to support it by buying the book,” committee member Vladimir Krasnogor said when asked by council members why the Salmonbellies were denied.

He said other organizations publish without the help of the city, and the committee wanted to keep them all on a level playing field.

He added the city would have only been able to provide about five per cent of the requested contribution, which would have had a negligible impact on the project.

However, Krasnagor said if the Salmonbellies had asked for something specific, such as a display celebrating the anniversary, it would have likely been approved.

The New Westminster-based Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame requested $10,000 for digitizing and producing electronic files of its collection, and received $5,000.

The Royal Westminster Regiment Volunteer Band sought $8,000 to repair and replace its historic dress uniforms, and $5,000 was approved.

The city will grant $4,500 to New West TV to produce New Westminster: This is My Home—which was $500 less than it asked for.

The New Westminster Heritage Foundation’s request for $10,000 for preservation and restoration of designated heritage houses was granted. Also approved was $500 toward the annual firing of the anvil battery.