Burnaby non-profits and community organizations are receiving $869,000 in gaming grants dispensed by the provincial government.

The announcement comes after months of conflict regarding changes to the gaming grant program.

The 19 groups receiving funding include the Burnaby Volunteer Centre Society ($65,000), the Burnaby Hospice Society ($60,000), the Fire Fighters Charitable Society ($50,000), South Burnaby Neighbourhood House Society ($37,000), VIP - Volunteers for Intergenerational Programs Society ($34,000), and the Burnaby Mental Wealth Society ($29,000).

The Rotary Club of Burnaby received $33,000 and the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown received $10,000.

The province is granting $25 million to organizations throughout the province, according to a press release.

On April 1, the province combined the bingo affiliation and direct access gaming grant programs into the community gaming grant program.

However, the changes to the program also cut grants to arts, environmental and adult sports programs.

Heads of arts organizations, particularly the B.C. Alliance for Arts, have spoken out critically about the cuts. B.C. Arts Council chair Jane Danzo stepped down from her post, mentioning funding cuts in her resignation letter to tourism, arts and culture minister Kevin Krueger last month.

Burnaby environmental organizations have complained about the cuts as well.

Paul Cipywnyk, president of the Stream of Dreams Murals Society, brought the issue to city council in June, after Comox Valley's board of directors voted to approach the province about the cuts.

The changes cut Stream of Dreams' budget by 25 per cent, Cipywnyk told the NOW in June.

"It really helped in getting the program out to rural areas," he said. "That's where the B.C. gaming money was really important."

The province has budgeted $120 million for gaming grants for 2010 to 2011.

Approximately $54 million of that has already been allocated.

The grants are intended to fund approximately 6,000 organizations supporting people in need, public safety, youth arts and sports, education, and parent and district advisory councils, the press release said.