A record 40 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) 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
-
Happy Trails in High River (photo by Tracey Walshaw, Gateway Gazette) Barrhead – Barrhead Curling Rink Update
- Beaverlodge – McNaught Homestead
- 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
- Lethbridge – 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