Over $275,000 in Community Foundations grants awarded to charitable organizations throughout Southwestern Alberta

This fund serves as the primary legacy for generous donors who have given unrestricted gifts to the Community Foundation over the past five decades, beginning in 1966.

A further $25,100 is awarded through eight Field of Interest Funds, established by donors to support projects focused on a particular cause, demographic, or geographical area. Including a generous contribution of $21,000 from the Lethbridge Auto Dealers Association (LADA), applications to the Community Priorities Fund receive a combined $242,130 in funding.

The Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life provides four grants, for a total of $33,480, to projects from areas of rural Southwestern Alberta.

Established by Pincher Creek-area rancher Bill Long and named in honour of his uncle, this fund enhances the quality of life for residents of communities throughout rural Southwestern Alberta.

Grants support many important initiatives in 18 communities throughout Southwestern Alberta.

These initiatives include building renovations, information technology upgrades, and fine arts education. Successful applications include funding for sports equipment for youth new to Canada, furniture and building enhancements for seniors’ clubs, and life-saving safety equipment.

Executive Director Charleen Davidson says their grants celebrations are always exciting events for them to host.

“As always, we’re supporting a wide range of diverse projects from diverse geographical areas. We’re extremely fortunate to have such a large pool of unrestricted funds and grateful to the many donors who trust us to use their gifts to respond to the needs of the day in our community. Several of the organizations receiving grants today did not exist when early donors made their gifts, yet, thanks to their prescience, we are able to support their important work,” Davidson said.

Through the granting programs, the Community Foundation believes donors can be confident that they’re able to identify and support a wide range of community initiatives throughout Southwestern Alberta.

Projects receiving grants from the Community Priorities Fund, Spring 2019

Barnwell 55+ Club, $8,000: To support the purchase of a new furnace in the seniors’ organization’s clubhouse.

Barnwell School, $9,500: To purchase new instruments for the school’s band program.

Bellecrest Community Association, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, $11,500: For construction of a community bandstand at the Bellevue Arena Park.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District, $9,000 (including $1,500 from the LADA): To support a building expansion project that will accommodate increased demand for services.

Canadian Bhutanese Society, $5,000 (including $1,230 from a Field of Interest Fund and $1,000 from the LADA): To purchase sports equipment and provide training for youth new to Canada.

Carmangay & District Municipal Library, $2,500 (including $2,000 from a Field of Interest Fund): To upgrade the library’s computers.

Cardston High School, $7,500: To purchase new instruments for the school’s band program.

Cardston Senior Society, $4,000 (including $500 from the LADA): To replace the facility’s tables and chairs.

Catholic Central High School, Lethbridge, $6,000 (including $1,000 from the LADA): To support the purchase of equipment and safety gear for the school’s new welding and fabrication trades program.

Claresholm Arts Society, $10,000 (including $8,260 from a Field of Interest Fund): To upgrade audiovisual equipment in the Claresholm Community Centre.

Crowsnest Museum & Archives, $1,500: To replace the museum’s flooring.

École Agnes Davidson, Lethbridge, $10,000 (including $5,600 from a Field of Interest Fund and $2,500 from the LADA): To purchase musical instruments, including xylophones, metallophones, and handbells.

Helen Schuler Nature Centre, $15,000 (including $3,500 from the LADA): To support construction of a replacement outdoor classroom amphitheatre space.

Grassy Lake Public Library, $5,000: To purchase equipment and furniture for the newly expanded facility.

Lethbridge Astronomy Society, $15,000 (including $2,000 from the LADA): To build a large-scale representation of the solar system, using monuments representing the eight planets that will be placed throughout Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, $5,000: To purchase exercise equipment for the school’s fitness centre.

Lethbridge Public Library, $3,000: To purchase additional portable equipment for the Lethbridge Roving Gyms program, an initiative that increases physical literacy opportunities for children.

Lethbridge Youth Foundation, 5th on 5th Youth Services, $15,000 (including $2,500 from the LADA): For building renovations at 5th on 5th’s office in downtown Lethbridge.

Lions Club of Warner, $6,370 (including $370 from a Field of Interest Fund): To purchase concrete-covering outdoor tiles for the Lions Sport Court.

Marquis Foundation, Peter Dawson Lodge, Vulcan, $6,700 (including $1,680 from a Field of Interest Fund): To build a garage to store and protect residents’ scooters and motorized wheelchairs.

Mountain View School, $7,500: To purchase volleyball and archery equipment.

Nanton & District Animal Protection Society, $5,000: To build outdoor cat and dog runs for the town’s new animal shelter.

Nord-Bridge Senior Citizens Association, Lethbridge, $5,000: To replace the chairs in Nord-Bridge’s boardroom.

Patton Park Society, Lundbreck, $10,000 (including $1,500 from the LADA): To support upgrades to Patton Park, including landscaping and pathways, develop sports facilities, and install picnic tables and park benches.

Pincher Creek & District Historical Society, $5,000: To construct a historically accurate replica of the original Pincher Creek Echo building.

Pincher Creek Summer Games Society, $3,500: To replace fencing around the town’s tennis courts for this year’s Southern Alberta Summer Games.

Stirling Volunteer Fire Department, $8,000 (including $1,500 from the LADA): To purchase new extrication struts, used in responding to motor vehicle incidents.

Taber Central School, $10,000 (including $5,000 from a Field of Interest Fund): For the development of a multi-sensory room.

Taber Firefighters Association, $5,960 (including $960 from a Field of Interest Fund): To purchase equipment for the Hazard House Project, which teaches members of the community about home safety and emergency planning.

Taber Public Library, $2,600: To upgrade audiovisual equipment in the library’s program room.

Town of Coaldale, $5,000: To construct a commemorative mosaic in the town’s new Civic Square, celebrating Coaldale’s centennial in 2019.

Village of Cowley, $9,000 (including $1,000 from the LADA): For a 15-foot metal Tyrannosaurus skeleton and signage, highlighting the community’s history as the site of discovery of many important fossils, including the Black Beauty T.rex specimen on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Winston Churchill High School, Lethbridge, $10,000 (including $2,500 from the LADA): To purchase exercise equipment for the school’s fitness centre.

Projects receiving grants from the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life, Spring 2019

Camp Carmangay, $10,000: The “Back to our Roots” initiative is a partnership between Camp Carmangay and the Kainai Reserve. It will be offered to youth from across the region who are at risk of addiction. Programming will include development of life skills and western horsemanship. This pilot program will operate from May to September 2019.

Carmangay & District Municipal Library, $3,000: This grant supports the development of summer programming for the library, which will increase learning opportunities for Carmangay residents.

Livingstone Range School Division, $16,000: In partnership with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, the “Learning for Life – Ready for Change” project will gather community stakeholders to identify existing learning experiences available in the Crowsnest Pass, determine overlap, and address gaps.

Milk River Historical Society, $4,480: A partnership between the Milk River Historical Society, the University of Lethbridge’s Centre for Oral History and Tradition, and the Galt Museum & Archives, this project seeks to preserve local history through interviews with seniors in the Milk River area. Once completed, histories and interviews will be available to the public through the University of Lethbridge and the Galt Museum & Archives.

by Aaron Mahoney

Over $275,000 in Community Foundations grants awarded to charitable organizations throughout Southwestern Alberta

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