How ReDi Grants are Shaping Basin Communities
In the northern mountain town of Valemount, what started as a social snowmobile club has grown into a world-class outdoor recreation hub. Mountain bikers now travel from around the globe to
ride its trails—momentum sparked, in part, by the Trust’s Resident Directed Grant Program (ReDi).
“The impact has been massive,” says Curtis Pawliuk, Executive Director of the Valemount and Area Recreation and Development Association (VARDA). “ReDi-funded developments are enhancing life for locals and putting Valemount on the map.”
Further south in Nakusp, ReDi has helped another community dream take shape. At the volunteer-run Summit Lake Ski & Snowboard Area, a series of small grants have funded equipment upgrades, day lodge improvements and the purchase of a groomer. “The population around here isn’t huge; not big enough to support a commercial hill,” says Butch Warantz, a long-time outdoor recreation champion who has been volunteering at the hill for 40 years.
“What we have is a small community hill and a really good, diverse group of people who make it a fun place to be.” For local students, it’s also a chance to ski free three times a season. “When there’s fresh powder, people are pretty cheery!” Warantz laughs. ReDi grants, he says, have been instrumental in keeping the hill safe and enjoyable for everyone.
These stories are just two of hundreds across the Basin where ReDi grants have sparked real, lasting change. From support for diverse recreation and cultural programming for youth to upgrading farmers’ markets and more.
A Unique Model of Local Empowerment
What sets ReDi apart is its core principle: communities know best. Each year, the Trust allocates funding to First Nations and local governments, who design community processes for deciding how grants are awarded and distribute the funding on the Trust’s behalf.
Some hold public meetings and vote. Others work through volunteer selection committees, carefully weighing applications. The result: a legacy as diverse as the communities themselves. “What I love is that the program gives communities a chance to guide progress toward their own vision,” says Pawliuk. “It means that when projects become reality, people can feel ownership over the success—they know they contributed.”
Formerly known as the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs, ReDi has been one of the Trust’s most enduring funding streams. Since 1998, it has invested over $60.6 million into 6,000 local projects, helping communities take ownership of their development and future.
Deep Roots, Lasting Change
ReDi is built on relationships. The Trust delivers funding to First Nations and local governments, who engage citizens in presenting ideas and making decisions about which projects to support. In Valemount, ReDi helped VARDA purchase equipment, connect key trail links and create momentum for larger investments. “We used to be a place people just drove past,” Pawliuk says. “Now we’re
a destination.” In Nakusp, grants have met the humble but vital needs of a community ski hill that serves as a winter lifeline. “These grants keep us going,” says Warantz. “They help us tackle important maintenance and slowly chip away at improvements.”
More than Money
“These grants are not a handout,” says Pawliuk. “You need a dream, a plan and community support. But if you do the work and get people invested, you can do amazing things.” Ultimately, ReDi offers more than funding— it’s a framework for bringing people together, nurturing local leadership and building confidence in what a community can achieve.
ReDi has been one of the Trust’s most enduring funding streams. Since 1998, it has invested over $60.6 million into 6,000 local projects, helping communities take ownership of their development and future.
See how ReDi is making a difference in your community and how you can get involved at ourtrust.org/redi.
