Travel Grants help young artists, artisans, athletes, individuals, and teams participate in the arts, culture, amateur recreation, sports and competition at the zone, regional, provincial, Western Canadian, national, and international levels. Grant recipients are recognized as representatives of Prince George and the City offers this assistance to help offset event participation costs.
- Applications accepted throughout the year.
Eligibility
All groups where the majority of members are 18 years old or younger or individuals 18 years old or younger are eligible. Applicants must be sponsored by an organization in a recognized cultural, educational, art, sport and/or recreational activity. Applicants must also satisfy the following requirements:
- Have been selected at a juried show to have his or her work displayed at a regional, provincial, national level, or within a designated geographic area recognized by the sponsoring organization.
- or
- Have awarded a scholarship within a specific field of art to attend a school of national or Western Canadian recognition.
- or
- Have won a local, regional or provincial competition, or have been selected by a sponsoring organization to represent Prince George at a regional, provincial or national competition.
- or
- Have won the right or have been selected to represent the City of Prince George, the Province of British Columbia, and/or Canada at an international competition.
On occasion, those activities that are considered to be in pursuit of excellence are eligible for funding. School-based sports and activities are not eligible.
In addition, applications must:
- Include a completed application form.
- Include a signed letter from a current Executive Board of Directors member, on official letterhead, with details of the event itself and a list of qualifying events. The letter must include a statement that the applicant meets all criteria.
- Indicate that the travel has occurred prior to the application date.
Funding details
The annual funding amount is derived from interest on the BC Winter Games Legacy Trust, and the total available amount for grants can vary annually, based on current interest rates.
The actual amount provided will be a maximum of the amount listed below based on competition location and the number of attendees but is often less due to the number of other applications received.
- International or National/Western Canadian held east of Manitoba:
- Individual: $200
- Up to 14 Members: $500
- More than 15 Members: $1,000
- National/Western Canadian held in Manitoba/Saskatchewan:
- Individual: $150
- Up to 14 Members: $400
- More than 15 Members: $600
- National/Western Canadian in BC/Alberta or Regional/Provincial recognized by sponsoring organization:
- Individual: $100
- Up to 14 Members: $300
- More than 15 Members: $500
All grant applications may be subject to further review as required. Please be prepared to provide detailed information on eligibility requirements and actual expenses incurred.
Application forms
Applicants or organizations must be based in Prince George and able to supply proof of incorporation or registration. A maximum of one grant per calendar year is available per individual/team and the amount of funding available is dependent on the number of applicants.
Grants will be reviewed and paid bi-annually (June and December each year).
The SportPG Grant financially supports local non-profit organizations that host sporting events which attract participants and visitors to Prince George.
The adjudication process may take up to eight (8) weeks for applications that are complete and in order. Approved grants are in line with, "This is SportPG" missions and goals, a strategy developed in partnership between the Tourism Prince George and the City of Prince George. The Adjudication Committee consists of staff members from Tourism Prince George and the City of Prince George.
Eligibility
Applicant eligibility
- Be a registered non-profit organization that is in good standing and located in Prince George. Partnerships with a local non-profit sporting organization may be considered.
- Demonstrate the financial and organizational capacity to host the event being applied for.
- Be in good financial standing with the City of Prince George. Organizations with outstanding receivables with the City are ineligible.
- A financial need must be demonstrated.
- Provide a viable business plan for the event detailing the objectives, action plan, volunteer and organizational structure, and timelines (upon request).
Event eligibility
- Be a sporting event that takes place over more than one day and incorporates at least two days of competitions.
- Attract a significant number of out-of-town participants who generate at least one overnight stay in paid accommodations.
- Occur within the City of Prince George limits. Applicants whose events fall outside of the City limits may be considered if the event clearly demonstrates the majority of services - such as accommodations and food and beverage - are being provided within Prince George.
Ineligible events
The SportPG Hosting Grant does not fund the following events:
- Events operated by a for-profit business.
- Events offering prize money.
- Events that have already occurred.
- Unconfirmed events, including those still in the bid stage.
- Large-scale sporting events where considerable Hosting Right Fees, Multi-Sport Games (i.e. Canada Games), or Financial Assurances will be required.
- The typical level of staffing and financial resource commitments needed by such events exceed the scope of the SportPG Hosting Grant and requires City approval. For more questions and more information on Major Sport Event Hosting, contact Event Services at 250-561-7788.
Funding details
The SportPG Hosting Grant funding is based on participant numbers and whether the event’s scope is Regional, Provincial, Western Canadian, National or International. For the funding outline below, “participants” will include athletes, coaches and field of play officials:
- Regional (50 per cent or more of participants located outside of city limits) -- $7/participant
- Provincial (65 per cent or more participants located over 235 km from City) -- $9/participant
- Western Canada (participants from BC, AB, SK and MB) -- $10/participant
- National (75 per cent or more participants from out of province) -- $11/participant
- International (75 per cent or more participants from outside of Canada) -- $13/participant
Expenses
- Funding may be applied to programming, operating, marketing, and promotional expenses.
- Funding cannot be used for expenses related to the following unless otherwise agreed upon:
- Capital projects and expenditures - Any construction, upgrading, or maintenance costs for facilities to stage sporting events.
- Endowments, charitable donations, fundraising campaigns, developing a business case or proposal for funding, donor recognition/walls, gifts (volunteer recognition).
- Prize monies.
- Alcohol.
Conditions of approval and payment terms
Upon grant approval, successful recipients will receive 50 per cent of the approved funds prior to the sporting event based on the estimated number of eligible participants outlined in the application. The exact amount of the remaining funding will be determined after the event is completed, the number of participants is confirmed, and the final report is approved by the City. Lower numbers of actual participants than anticipated will result in a lower grant allocation. Events resulting in a profitable gain will need to show where excess funds were allocated in the final report.
- In case of an event cancellation, repayment of the entire amount of funding issued by the City of Prince George will be required within thirty (30) days of the announced cancellation.
- Complete a final report within sixty (60) days of the event's completion. The report must include:
- The number of volunteers and approximate number of hours contributed to the event.
- The number of local athletes, coaches, and officials.
- The number of out-of-town athletes, coaches, and officials.
- The number of local spectators (estimates if the event is not ticketed).
- Number of out-of-town spectators (estimates if the event is not ticketed).
- Final financial statement (on the SportPG Budget Template).
- Any legacy achieved (financial, sport, and community).
- Include the SportPG logo on any printed materials, the event website, and social media (where applicable). Exposure must be at the same level or greater than other funders of equal value. Copies of these materials must be included in the final report. Please contact the City for suitable logos, including the respective logo branding standards.
- Supply a minimum of three (3) three high-resolution photographs which are of sufficient quality to be used for promotional materials. The City of Prince George and Tourism Prince George must be given copyright permissions to use these photos for promotional or educational purposes. Photo submissions will indicate copyright permissions given. If photo credits are required, these must be provided.
- Prior to the event, provide event website address and social media information including hashtags being used for the event.
- Display the SportPG banner on-site during the event in a visible location. Tourism Prince George can provide this banner.
- Within sixty (60) days, email a post-event survey to registered participants. A copy of the survey will be supplied by Tourism Prince George.
- Grant funding not used or accounted for in accordance with the approved eligible expenses shall be repayable by the grant recipient to the City of Prince George. The City of Prince George liaison should be contacted for instructions.
More information
- Contact Event Services at 250-561-7723
Application forms
The City of Prince George reserves the right to request additional financial information at any point during the granting process.
The City recognizes some events may present unique opportunities and challenges that are not addressed in this program. In certain unique and exceptional circumstances, the City - in partnership with Tourism Prince George - may adjust the program.
Large-scale sporting events where considerable Hosting Right Fees, Multi-Sport Games (I.E. Canada Games), or Financial Guarantees are required are considered outside this grant program. The typical level of staffing and financial resource commitments needed by such events exceed the scope of the SportPG Hosting Grant and require City Council approval.
For these types of event requests and for additional information or questions about the SportPG Hosting Grant or the Major Sport Event Hosting program, contact Event Services at 250-561-7788.
