Two North Vancouver-based organizations are in the running for a share of a $1 million fund supporting efforts to make the community a better place.

In its second year, the Aviva Community Fund awards people and organizations working to make a difference across Canada. An initiative of national home and auto insurer Aviva Canada, the decision of who or what makes it into the finals is put in the hands of the general public. Once nominated, the ideas move through rounds of online voting.

On Dec. 15, the 30 ideas with the most votes will enter a judging phase and winners will be announced Jan. 25, 2011. The ideas are categorized by small, medium and large, based on financial need. Judges will fund one idea from each category, and will continue to fund ideas until the entire $1 million has been allocated.

Over the last two months, more than 2,200 ideas were submitted and a million votes were cast. Two North Shore-based organizations are among those that have made it into the semi-finals -- Housing for Young Adults with Disabilities (HYAD) Society and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association. Representatives of both hope community members will show them support by casting votes online (people can vote once a day, to a maximum of 10 votes), until the semi-final round closes Dec. 15.

"We're very excited. . . .," says Barb Schoeller, a director of HYAD Society. "Having people rallying for you, it's a really neat feeling." HYAD is a non-profit dedicated to creating a housing model providing supported independent living to adults with developmental disabilities. It was established in 2005 by a group of parents of children with developmental disabilities who felt their offspring's options for housing were insufficient, and didn't adequately address their desire for independence.

"We grouped together and said, 'There has to be something better out there,'" says Schoeller. Her son Stephen, 28, an employee of the District of North Vancouver's parks department, is one of the intended residents of HYAD House.

"He's very keen to get out on his own and have his own space, have his own key to the apartment and be responsible for cooking for himself. He wants to live independently as much as possible," she says.

The HYAD parents have lobbied different levels of government, expressing their desire to build a prototype where individuals have their own apartments yet have someone to assist them in the way of a 24-hour onsite manager.

With the support of the B.C. government, the City of North Vancouver and the North Vancouver School District, HYAD Society has secured a building site at 22nd Street and Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver -- the Lonsdale school site, which is also planned to house the new North Vancouver School District administrative building, Artists for Kids Gallery, as well as a Polygon Homes apartment complex.

A design has been completed for a 14-unit residence with two manager suites and a common area. It will be home to males and females, ages 20-40, with developmental disabilities who are active in the community either through employment, volunteerism, education, training or community programs. All those slated to move into HYAD House are currently living with their parents.

"These young individuals really want a home. . . .," says Schoeller. "They want to be just like any other young person that is moving on and finds their spot in life." The project's seed money, more than half a million dollars, has come from the parents. Support has also been received from Polygon, B.C. Housing, the city and school district. In addition, the future residents, referred to as HYADians, have raised money through a number of fundraisers.

"We have about $600,000 available and are looking for additional funding now," says Schoeller, of their desire to get going with construction once all the required funding has been attained.

Funds from Aviva, if awarded, will cover the costs associated with outfitting and furnishing the common area for life skills training and leisure activities, including a community kitchen and lounge.

For more information on the HYAD Society, visit www.hyadians.com.

The second North Shore-based organization vying for support from the Aviva Community Fund is the non-profit and volunteer-run North Shore Mountain Bike Association. Their idea title, "Trails for all, trails forever," is their mission statement.

According to association director Mark Wood, this illustrates their focus on building and maintaining an inclusive trail network for use by all different user groups that stands the test of time.

The North Shore's climate, seeing a large degree of precipitation, as well as high number of local users (due to the number of Lower Mainland residents) takes its toll on local trails.

"I want to stress that it's all users -- so whether it's hikers, bikers, people even walking their dogs -- that contribute to the erosion. We are a community-based organization that wants to step up and assume responsibility for maintaining the trails and that's what we do and that's what we want to continue to do," says Wood.

The association's ongoing operation, tool purchases, and trail adoption plan are funded through donations, membership dues and contributions from community partners.

If awarded, funds from Aviva will be directed to the revitalization of the Mount Seymour and Mount Fromme multi-use trail network.

"If we do get this grant it will put us in a much more formidable position to really increase our efforts," says Wood.

The association is grateful to Aviva for the opportunity provided by the competition.

"We think it's a very positive (initiative) no matter who wins and specifically for us, we think it's a tremendous opportunity for our primary directive of maintaining the trails," says Wood.

For more information on the North Shore Mountain Bike Association, visit nsmba.ca.

To cast a vote or for more information on the Aviva Community Fund, visit www.avivacommunityfund.org.