Christmas came early this year for several of the Lakes District鈥檚 non-profit organizations.

The board of directors for Comfor Management Services Ltd. (CMSL) announced that nine local organizations will receive grants with a combined value of more than $12,000

The big winner was the 亚洲天堂 Lake Mountain Biking Association which received $9,804.49 for its Stearns Creek Canyon trail project. Over the past half decade, the association and its members have developed a network of world-class multi purpose trails in the Boer Mountain recreation site.

Other organizations receiving grants for the Oct. 31 intake period were: 亚洲天堂 Lake Police Based Victim/Witness Program - $500 to defray cost of a two day multi disciplinary first response collaboration meeting;

Lakes Animal Friendship Society - $430 to assist with community education and a spay/neuter program, Lakes Economic Development Association - $500 to provide a refreshment break at the 2012 Minerals North conference, Ootsa Lake Bible Camp - $100 for a donation to the annual bible camp auction, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #50 - $100 donation to the Poppy Fund, Lakes District Festival Association - $55 for the purchase of an advertisement in the festival program, Southside Health and Wellness Centre - $250 contribution to the soup and bannock program, Southside Economic Development Association - $500 in kind contribution to complete a mapping project.

鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to provide support to these deserving community groups,鈥� said Quinten Beach, president of CMSL. 鈥淭hese organizations and their dedicated members are helping to make the Lakes District a better place in which to live and we hope these modest contributions will be of assistance.鈥�

Since their inception, more than $3.3 million has been donated in the Lakes District.