Port's Community Investment fund gives financial lift to Local gymnasts

New equipment for the Prince Rupert Gymnastics Association as
the local group is the latest community organization to benefit from the
Prince Rupert Port Authority Community Investment Fund
(photo from Prince Rupert Port Authority)

A donation from the Prince Rupert Port Authority Community Fund is going to put a spring into the steps of the local gymnasts, as the Prince Rupert Gymnastics Association looks to put a 60,000 contribution from the Port to work.

The 60,000 dollars in matching funds will be directed towards the purchase of new equipment and enhanced programming for youth in Prince Rupert, among some of the new features for local gymnasts will be a 40 foot square sprung floor, landing mats and uneven bars, all valuable additions to the Gymnastic Association's home in the Ceremonial Room of the Museum of Northern B.C.

Jackie Touchet, the President of the Prince Rupert Gymnastics Association observed how the donation will benefit the local membership.

“Having safe, reliable and competition-level equipment has enabled our club to grow its membership and offer new indoor recreation opportunities to the community,” ... “The Community Investment Fund was the perfect fit to help us move forward and achieve our dream of becoming a hub for children to develop not just physical skills, but social skills and self-confidence.”

The Association brought Gymnastics back to the North Coast back in 2014, making use of donated equipment and after a few challenges in finding a suitable location and willing host for their program in the community.

Since that time, local service clubs and residents have stepped up to help funding for some of their programs, while the Museum provided one of the most impressive venues for a gymnast to work a routine at.

The Museum of Northern BC is the venue where local gymnasts develop
there skills, the local association recently acquired some new equipment
(from the Prince Rupert Port Authority)

The hard work of local volunteers with the Gymnastics Association has helped to boost the profile of the sport on the North Coast and been vital to the expansion of the program in the three short years it has been in action.

Such has been their success in that period of time that the Prince Rupert Gymnastics Association was recently nominated for an award as part of the recent Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, with the Association listed among the nominees in the Not for Profit category.

You can review more about the Port's contribution and the history of the Gymnastics Association from this information release from the Prince Rupert Port authority.

More background on the Prince Rupert Port Authority Community Investment Fund can be found here.

Next up for the Association will be the unveiling of a new name and logo for the local gymnasts, they recently were taking in submissions and have plans to reveal their short list shortly, after that local members will be asked to cast their vote for the one that they believe best represents the local group.

To learn more about how you can become involved with the program see the Prince Rupert Gymnastic Association Facebook page.

More notes on Gymnastics in the Northwest can be found on our archive page.