A record 40 Infrastructure Grants awarded by Western Financial Group
Funds support local projects aimed at strengthening communities in Western Canada
Western Financial Group (Western) is donating a record 40 infrastructure grants totaling $200,000 to support public health, public housing, education and recreation causes in the communities where it operates.
The Western Communities Foundation, Western’s charitable arm receives nominations from employees for these $5,000 infrastructure grants. The infrastructure grants contribute funds to build projects such as hockey rinks, libraries, SPCA’s, and schools in the communities where Western is located. Funds for these grants are raised through the Western Communities Foundation by Western employees through the annual Support the Cause Day Walk each May, to give back where they live and work.
“Western Financial Group is proud to give back to our local communities through our Western Communities Foundation,” said Scott Tannas, Founder, Vice-Chairman, Interim President and CEO of Western Financial Group. “It is wonderful that much of the funds are raised by employees for their communities. At Western we are proud of the 119 communities and we want to support them by making contributions to encourage learning, recreation, and healthy communities.”
Some of the 40 infrastructure grants included a donation for a new kitchen exhaust fan at an assisted living facility in LeRoy, SK, a contribution to the construction of a walking trail in Fernie, BC, and updates to a school’s library in Winnipeg, MB.
2015 Grants include:
British Columbia
Cloverdale – Surrey Association for Community Living
Dawson Creek – Dawson Creek Rotary Manor Gazebo
Duncan – New recreational community park
Fernie – Construction of walking trail
Golden – Golden Early Learning and Care Centre
Kaslo – Improvements to Kaslo Public Library
Lake Country – Okanagan College Room Sponsor
Mill Bay – Renovation of access to Kerry Park arena
Nanaimo – Renovation to warehouse for Loaves & Fishes
Richmond - Reno to Japanese Fisherman’s Village
Richmond - Expansion of playground at Tomekichi Homma School
Richmond - Brentwood Park School water refill stations
Salmo – Upgrades to Salmo Public Swimming Pool
Sparwood – Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society
Surrey – New playground at Pacific Heights Elementary School
Surrey – Peace Arch Hospital emergency room renovation
Sidney – Upgrade to Saanich Peninsula Hospital
Williams Lake – First Nations Museum
Victoria – Playground at Mount Pleasant Elementary
Victoria – Renovations at Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
Alberta
Barrhead – Barrhead Curling Rink Update
Beaverlodge – McNaught Homstead
Cold Lake – Summer camps for children with FASD
Cochrane – Affordable Housing Project
Hanna – New playground equipment for J.C. Charyk School
High River (Head Office) – Repair of Happy Trails
Letnbridge – Parking lot upgrade at Lethbridge Family Services
Medicine Hat – New Dr. Roy Wilson School Playground
Morrin – Morrin Library Upgrade
Strathmore – Youth Club of Strathmore renovation
Vermillion – Museum roof replacement
Wainwright – Equipment for outdoor fitness park
Saskatchewan
Assiniboia – Payground upgrade at Limerick Daycare
LeRoy – LeRoy Assisted Living Facility upgrade
Nipawin – Upgrade fire suppression systems in Whitefox Community Rink
North Battleford – Upgrades to dressing room in Civic Arena
Wolseley – Repairs to community cenotaph
Manitoba
Brandon – Kristopher Campbell Memorial Skateboard Park development
Souris – Score clock for Souris School athletic park
Winnipeg (WP2) – Library renovation at Harold Hatcher School
In its 13-year history, the Western Communities Foundation has distributed more than 100 infrastructure grants to communities across western Canada for numerous projects.
Founded in 2002, the Western Communities Foundation serves to give back to the communities where Western employees live and work, and foster employee pride and engagement. The Foundation’s core donation programs include community infrastructure grants, Exceptional Achievement Citation & Bursary Awards for graduating high school students and a Matching Grants program. Since its inception, the Western Communities Foundation has raised more than $1 million to support local communities.
“It is wonderful to see a record number of infrastructure grants going to these great causes,” said John Jenner, Executive Director of the Western Communities Foundation. “The projects are selected by the employees as they know the specific needs of their communities. At Western we are proud to give back where we live and work and it’s great that we are able to contribute to so many local initiatives in the areas of public health, public housing, education and recreation.”
About Western Financial Group
Western Financial Group is a diversified insurance company that serves more than 800,000 customers across western Canada. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in High River, Alberta, Western provides personal and business insurance services through more than 162 office locations and affiliates and online. With a skilled team of approximately 1,900 employees, Western is committed to building the strongest insurance brokerage network in Western Canada.
Western Financial Group is a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada.
The Western Communities Foundation was founded by Western Financial Group in 2001 as a non-profit organization under the Income Tax Act of Canada (Registration #87030 2619 RR0001).
