Record 50 Infrastructure Grants awarded by Western Financial Group
Funds support local projects aimed at strengthening communities in Western Canada
High River, AB – Western Financial Group (Western), through its charitable arm, the Western Communities Foundation, has awarded a record 50 infrastructure grants totaling $250,000 for 2016. The number of grants awarded this year increased from 40 awarded in 2015. Each $5,000 grant will go toward various projects supporting public health, public housing, education, and recreation in the communities where Western operates. In accordance with the program guidelines, grants must be awarded to municipalities or registered charities.
Funds for the infrastructure grants are raised by employees of Western through an annual Support the Cause Day Walk and other charitable ventures. Winners are then chosen from a pool of deserving nominees put forth by each office.
“We are beyond excited that our budget allowed us to add an additional 10 grants this year. These communities support us, and we love that we are able to support them in return,” said James Bond, Executive Chairman of the Western Communities Foundation.
2016 Grants include:
Alberta
- Barrhead: Community pool
- Bashaw: Volunteer fire department – new rescue unit
- Bassano: Curling rink – repairs
- Bow Island: Senator Gershaw School – greenhouse project
- Brooks: New library – shelving and furnishings
- Clive: Clive School – greenhouse project
- Cold Lake: Lakeland Humane Society
- Coleman: New mobile stage for community use
- Hanna: City of Hanna – upgrade to Arena
- High River: Notre Dame School – outdoor seating
- Mayerthorpe: New splash park
- Red Deer: City of Red Deer – new downtown arena
- Turner Valley: Boys & Girls Club – new bike track
- Vermilion: Community hall – sound system
- Wainwright: Wainwright Elementary School – new playground
British Columbia
- Coquitlam: Tri-cities – dialysis unit upgrade
- Coronation: City of Coronation – new seating area for the swimming pool
- Cranbrook: East Kootenay Regional Hospital – MRI machine
- Cranbrook: Idlewild Park – dam replacement & park upgrades
- Duncan: Chemainus Elementary School – playground equipment
- Fernie: Tom Uphill Manor – facility upgrades
- Fruitvale: Fruitvale Elementary School – new playground
- Golden: Community park – upgrade washroom structure
- Houston: Child care facility – rebuild & expansion
- Lake Country: Okanagan Rail Trail
- Nanaimo: Uplands Park Elementary School – playground
- Nanaimo: Eden Gardens – new facility for dementia patients
- Richmond: Homma Elementary School – courtyard upgrade
- Salmo: Salmo Community Golf Course – facility and ground upgrades
- Sidney: Tulista Skatepark
- Smithers: Field house replacement and playground equipment
- Sooke: Fred Miln Field – grass replacement
- Sparwood: New community skatepark
- Surrey: Peace Arch Hospital – emergency room expansion
- Surrey: Pacific Heights Elementary School – playground replacement & equipment
- Vanderhoof: New swimming pool
- Victoria: View Royal Elementary School – playground replacement of
- Victoria: Colwood Creek Water / Spray Park
- Victoria: Little Waves Daycare – upgrade for deck & handicap access
- Victoria: Glanford School – playground replacement
- Victoria: Westshore Family Centre – playground upgrade
- Victoria: Victoria Native Friendship Centre – new playground at community centre
Manitoba
- Brandon: New women’s home for those struggling with addictions
- Gilbert Plains: Electronic sign for community events
- Roblin: Roblin Swimming Pool – stair replacement
- Winnipeg: Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre – Hospital & Education Centre
Saskatchewan
- Estevan: Habitat for Humanity
- LeRoy: Humboldt District Hospital – horizon clip applicator for operating room
- Weyburn: Weyburn Humane Society – shelter upgrade
- Wolseley/Glenavon: Glenavon Curling Rink – upgrade / ceiling repair
About Western Financial Group and the Western Communities Foundation
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. 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 2002 as a non-profit organization under the Income Tax Act of Canada (Registration #87030 2619 RR0001). The Foundation’s core donation programs include community infrastructure grants, exceptional achievement bursaries for graduating high school students, and matching grants. Since its inception, the Western Communities Foundation has raised more than $2 million to support the communities in which Western Financial Group operates.
