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Ingrid Cazakoff, CEO of Heritage Saskatchewan. Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files REGINA — An increase in heritage funding is a step in the right direction, according to the CEO of Heritage Saskatchewan. Last week, the province announced plans to increase overall funding for heritage-related initiatives within the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. This included a 57-per-cent increase in funding — from $289,000 to $504,000 — to the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. "It was welcome news to hear that (the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation was) receiving some additional funding, because it's so critical to the work that they do," Ingrid Cazakoff said. "They are doing all sorts of projects in the province." She said the foundation has a number of funding programs that people can access for conservation work. It provides funding in five grant programs to support numerous heritage activities in the province. "Their funding was in jeopardy," Cazakoff said about foundation's situation before the funding announcement. "Now, at least, this will assist them. It's a good initial first step for heritage in general." Although Cazakoff is appreciative of the funding, she said there's still much more work to be done. "They have been chronically underfunded for some time," said Cazakoff. "A significant increase was needed, but there's still, again, more that could be done." She said the money alleviates the crisis the foundation faced before the release of the provincial budget. "An increase in base-level funding has not occurred for quite some time," said Cazakoff. "There have been, over the years, modest increases at the end of a budget cycle, but base-level (funding) right at the beginning year — it's been a while." She said funding to the foundation had been steadily decreasing for the past few years to the crisis point. "It's very critical, because it provides funding to the grassroots agencies, to small communities and larger communities," said Cazakoff. "It was great to see funding channelled in that direction — to help the folks in rural Saskatchewan with some of their heritage projects." She added that heritage has a broad definition and is more than merely buildings. "It's everything that you want to leave as a legacy," Cazakoff explained. "We don't always think of languages — and libraries are (also) included under heritage." She said heritage is not simply history. "It's our natural and cultural heritage, such as languages and landscapes," said Cazakoff. In addition to the increased funding, the foundation has begun a strategic review, which will assist it in planning for the future. kbenjoe@leaderpost.com © Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Province+plans+increase+heritage+related+funding+will+help+foundation+crisis/4517847/story.html#ixzz1I0HrioH1