At Monday's City Council Meeting, Lisa Dixon-Wells of the anti-bullying group Dare to Care was back to follow up on a request for funding that would allow her program to come into every K-9 school in Airdrie.

In November, Dare to Care requested $21,000 dollars in order to subsidize their anti-bullying program for Airdrie schools, making it less costly. At that time, Council directed Dixon-Wells to come back with letters of support from both Rocky View Schools and the Calgary Catholic School Division. Dixon-Wells returned with those letters, but was ultimately denied her request after a highly contentious discussion that saw Council divided.

Councillor Candice Kolson and Deputy Mayor Kelly Hegg were among those that voted against the funding. Both were clear that their opposition wasn't a referendum on the effectiveness of Dare to Care or the importance of anti-bullying program. Councillor Kolson said her concern was that providing funding for only one specific group would set a dangerous precedent.

"We cannot pick and choose who we're giving those dollars to just on the drop of a hat. We need more information."

Councillor Kolson recognized that while Dare to Care does good work, other groups also do good work. Funding Dare to Care could be a slippery slope that might force City Council to fund any group that comes knocking.

Deputy Mayor Hegg, who has worked as an educator, said that although Dare to Care is a great program, there are processes in place to provide funding that were not followed in this case.

"In order to make it fair and equitable for all the other programs, should they request funding, it goes through a process that makes sure that it's fair for everybody who's requesting those funds from the city of Airdrie."

Councillor Allan Hunter was the most vocal supporter of the request. Hunter said that while he understood the positions of his colleagues, he felt that kids should be the priority.

"You know, I don't want to take anything away from my colleagues. They're thinking and looking after the fiscal purse, but I'm saying, 'You know what? Kids first, we'll figure out the rest of it later."

 

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Dare to Care Deferred

 

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