More than $60,000 will be making its way to a number of Whitehorse organizations as they prepare for a slew of programs and events between now and next June.

At Monday’s city council meeting, members approved $36,100 in fall recreation grants along with $25,200 in cash and $52,222 worth of in-kind services for festivals and special events set for the first half of next year.

The largest of the fall recreation grants will go to the Yukon Art Society for its Arts Underground recreational and educational arts programming. It’s set to receive the full $12,000 it asked for.

At the other end of the scale, receiving the smallest of the grants at $1,920, is the Chickadee’s Playschool Association with its funding set to go toward supplies and field trips.

Other groups that will receive recreation funding are:

• Fiddleheads Performance Group at $2,500 for youth music lessons, workshops and performances;

• Nakai Theatre Ensemble at $4,500 for its 24-hour Playwriting Competition and Cabaret;

• Arctic Edge Skating Club at $5,180 for its Yukon Championships and test day; and

• Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon at $10,000 for its Camp Raven.

Attending Monday’s council meeting via conference call, Coun. Rob Fendrick thanked the task force charged with bringing forward the recommendations for the grants, noting the job “is by no means an easy task.”

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu then confirmed with staff that the next deadline for all types of recreation grants will be March 15, 2016.

While the fall recreation grant provides funding to ongoing programs around town, the festivals and special events grant supplies cash and services to major events that happen in the city.

Nine applications will receive both cash and services, with the largest recipient being the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society for its annual winter festival set for Feb. 19-28.

It will receive $8,700 in financial assistance along with in-kind assistance valued at more than $37,000.

The smallest festival grant – totalling $950 in cash with no in-kind help – will go to the D60 Collective for its Whitehorse Nuit Blanche art event set for June 18-19.

Also receiving festival and special events funding are:

• Chinese Canadian Association of Yukon at $1,000 cash and no in-kind assistance, for its 2016 Chinese New Year Party set for Feb. 6;

• Yukon Literacy Coalition, at $1,000 cash and in-kind support valued at $330, for its Family Literacy Day event set for Jan. 24;

• Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, at $1,600 cash with no in-kind help, for its Whitehorse Connects event set for May 26;

• Yukon Educational Theatre Society, at $1,850 cash and in-kind services valued at $4,490, for the Burning Away the Winter Blues festivities set for March 19;

• Gwaandak Theatre Society, at $2,100 in cash and $3,200 in-kind, for its Magnetic North Theatre Festival from June 10-18;

• Yukon Film Society, at $3,000 cash and no in-kind assistance, for its Available Light Film Festival from Feb. 7 to 14; and

• Yukon Quest International Association Canada, at $5,000 cash and $7,000 in-kind, for the Whitehorse portion of the annual sled dog race running from Fairbanks to Whitehorse. The race will begin Feb. 6 in Fairbanks.

Referring to a question he had asked at last week’s meeting, Coun. Samson Hartland pointed out he has since learned the city has doled out $3.5 million over the last decade in both recreation and event grants.

While noting the importance of being cognizant of the money going to various organization, he also said he’s pleased the city can support the numerous groups that offer recreation activities and host major events in town.

Mayor Dan Curtis also invited city residents to have a look at the city’s 2014 annual report, which details city spending over the course of last year, pointing out it highlights more than $1 million spent on various grants to community organizations.

Along with Fendrick, Coun. Dan Boyd attended Monday night’s meeting via conference call.