Horse pull at Queens County Fair. File photo: Doreen Holdright

Eleven community groups have been granted more than $62,000 from the Region of Queens community investment fund.

Non-profit groups from Queens County can apply to the $175,000 fund each year to help offset operational, capital, event, training or travel expenses.

The groups approved for $62,216 in operational funding this week represent only the first stage of grants from the fund. Steve Burns, the region’s community economic development officer, told council that they were time-sensitive.

Any requests from the community investment fund higher than $1,000 have to be approved by council.

Burns said council will be asked to vote on more funding requests now that their 2025-26 budget is approved.

Groups can apply to three different streams for operational funding: up to $10,000 annually if they own their own facility or are in a long-term lease and their programs or services are well-established and open to the general public; up to $5,000 to help community organizations that offer year-round programs or services to Queens County residents and up to $1,000 for groups that offer new, expanded or seasonal programs.

Community groups must submit financial statements, including their current bank balance, what the money will be used for and any other funding sources.

Here is a rundown of what each group received:

• CJQC Radio Society, which operates QCCR, for eligible operating expenses up to $5,000
• South Shore Flying Club up to $6,047
• Friends of Hank Snow Society up to $10,000
• Medway & Area Heritage Society up to $2,267.50
• South Queens Chamber of Commerce up to $3,750
• Mersey Band Society up to $3,121
• Milton Canoe & Camera Club up to $2,030.50
• Carroll Baker Society up to $5,000
• Queens County Fair Association up to $10,000
• Seaside Recreation & Community Centre up to $5,000
• North Queens Board of Trade up to $10,000

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Alex J Walling, founder of QCCR and long-time broadcaster has passed away.

The mainstay of the Maritime airwaves began his career in Quebec City in 1965 before moving to Halifax in 1972 to work at CHNS radio.

One of the early highlights of his career was covering the 1972 Summit Series.

Walling worked on the mic, in front of the camera and behind the scenes in radio and television over the next four decades covering sports at every level.

In 1988 he founded the Atlantic Media Institute in Halifax to train the next generation of broadcasters. He sold the company in 2000 to retire.

By 2008 Walling had had enough of retirement and founded this station, Queens County Community Radio (QCCR). He sold the station to the CJQC Radio Society in 2012 and they continue to operate is to this day.

QCCR General Manager Brian Godfrey says Walling left a legacy in Liverpool.

“He made quite a big legacy here with getting people connected. You know, people listening, to have something here in Liverpool, to the community radio station,” said Godfrey. “He was doing just the monthly ones, but at least people had a chance to listen to something local, a local radio station and he brought that here.”

Godfrey said even after Walling sold the station he would still drop in or call from time to time to see how it was going.

Walling was married to Kathleen Davis of Brooklyn who died in 2014.

Walling passed away in Halifax over the weekend. He was 77.

To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com