sept 27 2006 media release

Application deadline October 3, 2006

Vancouver, BC - September 27, 2006 - Vancity, in partnership with the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, has up to $150,000 in total grant funds available for BC non-profits and cooperative organizations with compelling environmental building projects.

Since it was launched two years ago, the annual Green Building grant program has distributed $275,000 to community groups involved in renovations, retrofits or regulatory changes that contribute to the slowing of climate change. Past recipients have included everything from the retrofit of a church to the installation of a bio-diesel water heating and radiant floor heating system in a cob and straw bale building.

Applications for the 2006 grants are due by October 3. Grants of up to $50,000 each are available.

For details and an application, click here.

The Real Estate Foundation supports sustainable real estate and land use practices. This grant is part of the Foundation's ongoing work of enabling communities to make responsible decisions about the way they use land.

The Real Estate Foundation represents the corporate goodwill of the real estate industry in BC, using income from unassigned trust deposits held by real estate brokerages to support sustainable real estate and land use practices throughout BC. The Foundation makes grants for real estate related public and professional education, research, law reform, and other projects intended for the public or professional good in relation to real estate. Since 1988 the Foundation has approved $33.7 million in grants.

Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $11.8 billion in assets, more than 340,000 members, and 46 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria, as well as two Squamish Savings branches. This year, Vancity was named the Best Place to Work in Canada by Canadian Business Magazine and is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. For further information, visit: www.vancity.com