Revelstoke school district's share of the provincial one-time Student and Family Affordability Fund is $250,000. The funding, announced on Aug. 29, is to help families in need of financial support. In total, the province is spending $60 million on this fund, and every school district in B.C. gets a share.

"This is pretty amazing," said Roberta Kubik, the district's new superintendent on Sept. 14 during the first school board meeting of the new school year.

Now school board trustees have to figure out how to spend the money. Kubik said the funding is a way to help families who are especially struggling with the high cost of living right now. The money isn't meant to be spent "across the board," she said, it has to specifically target underfunded students.

It has to enhance programs already in place, like food programs, sports, field trips or fees for classes.

The province is allowing us to be creative, Kubik said, although she said the guidelines are constantly changing and they're trying to clarify how the money can be spent.

"This is really good news," said trustee Alan Chell.

He thinks the school board should form a committee with representatives from schools and community groups to target specific people and needs.

Kubik has already met with a representative from the Indigenous Friendship Society, she said, and will "seek advice" from the District Parent Advisory Panel and other groups.

Chell thinks they should also reach out to other districts to get ideas about how they're spending their share of the money.

Trustee Elmer Rorstad said with the cost of food, breakfast programs in schools could "absolutely be expanded," maybe into lunch programs.

The food programs are "uber important," Rorstad said.

Food drive success

Community Connections Revelstoke said in an email that this year's drive for its food bank was a success.

Around 250 volunteers on Sept. 13 went door-to-door in Revelstoke to gather donations of non-perishable food and cash. The community gave enough food to stock the food bank for four months, and $5000 was also raised.

This will be used to buy "supplementary items," said Community Connections.

Trans-Canada closure

Highway One east of Golden will be closed this fall between Sept. 26 at noon to Dec. 1 at 6 a.m.

Traffic between Golden and Castle Junction will be re-routed to Highways 93S and 95.

"The closure will allow crews to proceed with work that cannot be carried out safely during shorter interruptions," said a statement from the provincial department of transportation and infrastructure.

The highway will re-open for Thanksgiving from noon on Oct. 7 to noon on Oct. 11.

Field and Lake Louise, which are between Castle Junction and the construction zone, will be accessible from the east through the closure.

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