The community of Minto is still trying to decide how to spend money coming from a recent windfall.

 

Earlier this year residents found out former resident Lloyd Campbell and his wife Elsie bequeathed a sizable amount of money to the Vancouver Foundation and Minto was named as one of the beneficiaries.

 

“We just last week received our first cheque and it was for $27,000. Moving forward the yearly amount will be around $55,000” said Gwen Wooley part of a seven members group tasked with how best to spend the funds.

 

There was a community survey done to get ideas and priorities from local residents. Wooley said a lot of people wanted existing facilities maintained and upgraded. Other ideas included construction of a gymnasium at the school. “Right now out group is drawing up a constitution and by-laws on how to govern the committee and spending the annual grant money.”

 

Wooley says once those things are done the group plans to hold a public meeting and she hopes that can take place in January.

 

Moving forward Wooley says the group may have to move quickly. “The letter we received from the Vancouver Foundation indicated the funds had to be spent within six months. We are going to contact the foundation to see if the money has to be spent or do we just have to have a plan in place for the funds.”

 

The spending criteria is for youth and recreation.

 

“This is a big responsibility for our committee because we want to make sure the money is spent in the best ways that will benefit Minto and its residents.”