Recent news and events concerning the Red Deer & District Community Foundation.

New Heart of the Rockies Community Builders Fund Launched to Strengthen Community Resilience in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta is thrilled to announce the creation of the Heart of the Rockies Community Builders Fund, a permanent, community-based endowment created to support the long-term sustainability of the charitable sector serving Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.

This fund is the result of an 18-month collaborative engagement process involving municipal leadership, the Rocky Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and community stakeholders across the Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County regions. This process revealed systemic challenges facing the region’s more than 100 non-profit organizations, including increasing competition for limited philanthropic support, growing demand on local businesses for charitable contributions, and declining volunteer capacity driven by demographic shifts in the workforce.

The Heart of the Rockies Community Builders Fund is designed to address these challenges, while also creating a lasting legacy of community care and resilience that will endure for generations to come.

This initiative is rooted in the belief that when a community comes together to give, those gifts should flow back into the very neighbourhoods, organizations, and people that inspired them in the first place. Every dollar contributed to the Heart of the Rockies Community Builders Fund is dedicated exclusively to supporting projects, programs, and agencies operating in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.

“It is inspiring to work alongside such a dedicated and forward-thinking group of community members. The people driving this initiative understand that true community strength comes from supporting local charities, and from building infrastructure that will serve future generations long after any one of us is involved. That kind of vision is what philanthropy is all about, and the Community Foundation is honoured to help bring it to life,” says Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director.

Grants disbursed through this Fund stay in the community and are directed by community members who understand local needs, priorities, and people. This is local philanthropy in the truest sense: neighbours investing in neighbours, and in the community they call home. By building a permanent endowment, the Fund ensures that granting dollars will always be available to support Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County, not just today, but long into the future.

The Community Foundation will provide administration, financial stewardship, and reporting infrastructure necessary to ensure full transparency, accountability, and compliance with Canada Revenue Agency requirements—including the issuance of charitable tax receipts.

Philanthropic partners and donors are invited to support the continued growth of the Heart of the Rockies Community Builders Fund. This is a meaningful strategic investment in rural community resilience, social infrastructure, and future generations in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.

Free Play for Kids Receives Grant from the Women & Girls Fund

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta’s Women & Girls Fund is proud to support Free Play for Kids and their Free to Play: Maskwacis Programming at Ermineskin Cree Nation Elementary School.

This grant funds barrier-free, after-school sport and recreation programming for Indigenous children attending Ermineskin Elementary, including programming that reduces access barriers for Indigenous girls and gender-diverse youth during the critical after-school hours. Free Play for Kids has many years of experience as a safe haven for equity-deserving children and youth through unique and adaptable programming.

What most sets this program apart is its responsiveness to the perspectives of the girls and families being served, and the skilled staff team delivering the program. Together, these factors shape how programming is delivered.

Free Play for Kids emphasizes participants’ voices, ensuring that Indigenous girls see themselves reflected in leadership roles and feel empowered to participate, lead, and express their needs. And Free Play’s coaches are people from the Maskwacis and Wetaskawin area who carry deep cultural knowledge and lived experience that mirrors the realities of the children they work alongside. Their insights, combined with ongoing feedback from participants, families, and school partners, ensure that programming remains culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and genuinely responsive to community needs.

By centering local leadership and prioritizing listening, Free Play ensures that beneficiaries are active contributors to a program that reflects their lived experiences, identities, and aspirations.

“Free Play for Kids understands that access means more than an open door — it means removing every barrier between a child and a safe place to play, including getting there. Free Play for Kids has built something rare — a program where the community isn’t just served, but genuinely heard. Their commitment to meeting families where they are, in every sense, made them a clear choice for this fund.”

— Women & Girls Fund Adjudication Committee, Community Foundation of Central Alberta

We are proud to uphold the grant’s broader vision of equity through our investment in Free Play for Kids and the community of Maskwacis, where every child can play freely, grow confidently, and see themselves reflected in the leaders around them.

Community Foundation of Central Alberta Distributes $1.9 Million in Grants in 2025

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) is proud to announce that in 2025, it distributed $1.9 million in grants. Through these distributions, 113 agencies working to strengthen the quality of life across Central Alberta were supported.

This support for the community includes $118,000 through the Community Microgrants program, $41,000 distributed to rural communities during the 2025 Community Tour, and $204,000 in scholarships, demonstrating the Foundation’s diverse approaches to supporting community needs.

“These grants provide more than financial support. They also provide encouragement, sustainability, and evidence of our community’s commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant Central Alberta,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director. “Each dollar distributed reflects the generosity of our donors and the hard work of the organizations making a real difference in people’s lives.”

The agencies that received grants in 2025 work across a wide range of sectors, including health and wellness, education, arts and culture, social services, and environmental initiatives. Their collective efforts touch countless lives throughout Central Alberta, addressing critical community needs and creating opportunities for residents to thrive.

“When $1.9 million dollars flows directly into our community, it is tangible proof of what’s possible when we invest in our collective future,” said Stacey Poier, CFCAB Board Chair. “This has been an exciting year of both impact and reflection. As we look ahead, we’re energized by the momentum we’re building and the even greater possibilities on the horizon for Central Alberta.”

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta currently holds over $23 million in assets. The income generated from these assets is distributed annually to local agencies in the form of grants, creating a sustainable source of funding that will continue to benefit Central Alberta communities for generations to come.

CFCAB continues to grow its asset base through the establishment of endowment funds by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who want to make a lasting impact in their community. These permanent funds are professionally managed, with the income generated each year supporting vital community initiatives.

Community Foundation Awards Winter 2025 Microgrants to Seven Local Organizations

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) is pleased to announce the recipients of its Winter 2025 Microgrants Program, awarding a total of $25,460 to seven organizations working to strengthen communities across the region.

The Winter 2025 Microgrant recipients and their funded projects include:

Bethany Care Foundation – $1,500 Funding will support ABC Pro training for staff and volunteers working in dementia care at Bethany Didsbury and three Mountain View Seniors Housing sites. This evidence-based, trauma-informed training program focuses on understanding the emotions and behaviours of persons living with dementia, equipping caregivers with communication techniques and strategies to enhance quality of life for residents and their families.

Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre – $5,000 The grant will cover speaker fees for Dr. Lori Haskell, a renowned clinical psychologist and trauma-informed care expert, to present specialized breakout sessions at the annual Transforming Practices Conference in May 2026. The conference brings together frontline professionals from across Alberta to advance effective practices in supporting abused and traumatized children.

Ellis Bird Farm – $2,000 This project will modernize the historical displays at Ellis Nature Centre, creating updated interpretive posters that tell the full story of Charlie and Winnie Ellis, the origins of the Bird Farm, and its connection to the Community Foundation. The new displays will enhance educational programs and strengthen visitors’ connection to the site’s heritage and mission.

Lending Cupboard – $3,000 Funding will purchase additional cryo cuff cold therapy systems to address high demand and reduce wait times for this highly sought after medical equipment. These specialized devices provide continuous cold therapy for patients recovering from hip or knee surgery, supporting pain management and smoother recovery at home.

Red Deer Food Bank Society – $5,000 The grant supports the development of a multi-stakeholder urban agriculture collaboration plan with ReThink Red Deer, Urban Indigenous Voices Society, and Ubuntu – Mobilizing Central Alberta. With outdoor growing spaces expected to double in 2026, this planning work will create a sustainable seasonal staffing model and expand paid learning opportunities for new and equity-seeking farmers.

Variety – the Children’s Charity of Alberta – $5,000 This funding will help launch Volt Hockey in Central Alberta, an accessible hockey program for children and youth with complex mobility limitations. Using joystick-operated sport chairs, the program enables participants with severe disabilities to play independently and as part of a team. The grant will cover facility rental and storage costs at Penhold Waskasoo Middle School.

Writers Guild of Alberta – $3,960 The grant will enable three in-person events with established author Kimmy Beach as part of the Rural Writer-in-Residence Program 2025-2026. Writers and readers in Red Deer and surrounding areas will have opportunities to attend free author talks, workshops, and Q&A sessions, fostering engagement with Alberta’s literary community.

These microgrants support diverse initiatives spanning healthcare, child welfare, environmental education, accessibility, food security, and arts and culture, reflecting CFCAB’s commitment to building vibrant, resilient communities throughout central Alberta.

Building Community, One Meal at a Time

When a group of mothers recently gathered in the kitchen at Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter, located in Rocky Mountain House, they came to learn about meal planning and budgeting. What they found was something more, including life skills, growing confidence, and a community of support and understanding.

The Collective Kitchen – Healing Through Food program, funded by the Community Foundation’s Women and Girls Fund, was built on the idea that there is a profound connection between nourishment and well-being. Over 14 weeks, women from the second-stage shelter and their children rotated through menu planning, shopping, and cooking.

Beyond the Recipe

The program alternated between planning weeks, which included meal planning, cost calculation, nutrition reviews, and cooking weeks, when the group shopped and prepared meals together. A dietician and financial literacy worker played a vital role in the program by providing guidance on nutrition and budgeting.

One participant’s reaction to learning how to interpret nutrition labels was impactful. “Who knew that you can actually use this information,” she said. Small revelations like this, paired with a collective experience, can often create meaningful change.

Beyond the hands-on tasks, the kitchen became a place where women could share their stories while their hands stayed busy chopping vegetables and stirring pots. The practical skills of reading nutrition labels, stretching grocery budgets, and handling food safely created the structure for genuine connection. The group was able to share with one another, and participants were able to bring some of their own expertise to share with the group. One of the participants even offered to share her Moroccan recipes, so food was purchased and the group was able come together to share a Moroccan meal.

“Working together as moms… as women… as survivors, provided opportunities to learn from each other, support each other, and share in each others challenges and accomplishments,” says Cindy Easton, Executive Director of Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter.

Strategic Investment

The Community Foundation’s decision to fund this program through the Women and Girls Fund demonstrates an understanding that effective support addresses multiple needs simultaneously. The Collective Kitchen combined basic skill-building with economic education and health literacy, meeting families where they were and providing stepping stones into a bright future.

“The Collective Kitchen is providing families the opportunity to build a social network while learning about nutrition, budgeting, and food safety,” says Easton.  “This program is not only building skills for both mom and children; it is also developing friendships that could last a lifetime.”

The program’s impact extends beyond its 14-week timeline. The mothers now meet monthly on their own, bringing ingredients from their pantries to cook and share meals together. This project has created connections that are growing into a self-sustaining community, which may be the clearest measure of true impact.

A Local Lens on Generosity

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Community Foundation of Central Alberta Awards $10,500 to Three Sylvan Lake Organizations

 

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) has awarded $10,500 through the Sylvan Lake Community Grant program to support three vital community initiatives serving residents in the Sylvan Lake area. These community-minded programs were chosen by an adjudication committee made up of Sylvan Lake residents who best know their community’s needs.

About the Sylvan Lake Community Fund

The Sylvan Lake Community Fund is a permanent endowment fund held by the Community Foundation of Central Alberta that provides ongoing support to local charitable organizations and community projects. Through annual granting, the fund addresses important needs in Sylvan Lake and surrounding areas, helping to build a stronger, more vibrant community for all residents.

Grant Recipients for 2025

Sylvan Lake Community Partners Association – $3,500

Now in its 25th year, the organization received funding to sustain essential programming for vulnerable residents. The grant supports hygiene products, school supplies, taxi services for medical appointments, emergency dental and vision care, family swim programs, and after-school activity fees for low-income families. Programs serve residents in Sylvan Lake and surrounding communities including Bentley, Benalto, Eckville, Rimbey, and Red Deer County.

Bethany Sylvan Lake – $4,000

This level 4 long-term care facility serving 61 residents received funding to replace shower commode chairs that have exceeded their lifecycle. The specialized equipment provides safer bathing and toileting experiences while preserving dignity and reducing fall risks for residents with mobility challenges. The facility aims to replace all eight outdated chairs by the end of 2026.

Sylvan Lake Lodge Foundation – $3,000

The Lodge Foundation received funding for their Seniors’ Quality of Life Enhancement Project, which addresses the needs of Sylvan Lake’s growing senior population (14-15% of residents). The project will expand recreational programming, create a Zen garden, upgrade common area furniture, and provide a commercial ice maker—all designed to reduce social isolation and support seniors aging in place.

These grants reflect CFCAB’s commitment to supporting programs that enhance quality of life, preserve dignity, and address critical needs across the Sylvan Lake community.

Get to Know the Broom Tree Foundation

It’s been an incredible year for our friends at the Broom Tree Foundation. After years of dedicated work supporting women across in Lacombe and surrounding area, Broom Tree received their charitable status in July 2025. In November, they moved into a beautiful new space donated by the Lacombe Pentecostal Church, transforming their capacity to fulfill their mission of providing refuge, restoration and rebuilding to women and their families.

Who is the Broom Tree Foundation, and what do they do?

Here’s what you need to know about this vital community organization.

Their Mission

The Broom Tree Foundation provides safe, supportive housing and comprehensive programming for women in crisis. Their approach goes beyond shelter to create pathways to independence through transitional housing, life skills training, direct personal connections, and wraparound support services.

The Broom Tree Foundation also operates the Broom Tree Café, a social enterprise that empowers people who have been excluded from work opportunities.

Their Impact

The numbers tell a powerful story:

  • 60 women and children have been housed in Broom Tree’s three transitional units and community housing
  • 27 women and children have been provided emergency stays in local hotels
  • over 500 women have been supported, not including their children, by providing food security, ongoing groups that build community, opportunities to form connections through the Broom Tree Sister Program, resource navigation, therapy support, and assistance with immediate needs related to addiction or domestic violence
  • 50 volunteers have been trained to walk alongside others in need of support, encouragement, and friendship in the Broom Tree sisters Program

Recent Growth

The incredible gift of a building and land by the Lacombe Pentecostal Church will allow the Broom Tree to both maintain and increase their capacity. This new space will house the foundation’s offices, expand their programming space, and add two additional transitional suites. This expansion comes at a critical time, as housing insecurity and women’s safety remain pressing concerns across Alberta.

The Broom Tree Foundation also recently received a $100,000 donation of securities, facilitated by the Community Foundation, which will further help to provide financial stability for their expanded operations.

“Donations of securities allow donors to make substantial impact while receiving tax advantages. This is a win-win that enables organizations like Broom Tree to plan for sustainable, long-term programming and operations.” – Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director

Why It Matters

Behind every statistic are individual stories of transformation. Women who needed Broom Tree for safety, housing, and support are now building healthy relationships, returning to school, securing employment, attaining stable housing, and breaking cycles of trauma.

The Broom Tree Foundation’s success is really Lacombe’s success story. The work they are doing is a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together to support its most vulnerable members. As they settle into their new home, they’re expanding both their physical footprint, as well as their ability to serve each woman who needs a helping hand in seeking a new beginning.

“The Broom Tree’s work is rooted in understanding and resilience. They know that when a woman has compassionate support and a stable place to call home, everything else becomes possible. Every day, the Broom Tree is fostering healing, growth, independence.” – Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director

With their work, the Broom Tree Foundation is planting seeds of transformation in Central Alberta. The harvest they’re cultivating is measured in rebuilt lives, restored dignity, and renewed hope. These stories of hope will continue to nourish the community for generations to come.

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Community Foundation of Central Alberta Awards $30,000 for Fall 2025 Microgrants Program

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) is proud to announce $30,000 in funding through its Fall 2025 Microgrants Program, supporting six innovative community initiatives across Central Alberta. These projects reflect a diverse range of approaches to strengthening our community through youth development, cultural engagement, reconciliation, and social innovation. Recipients for this round of grants include:

Best Buddies Canada – The Youth Leadership Program

Best Buddies Canada will launch its Youth Leadership Program in Red Deer, serving 30 youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities between January 2026 and January 2027. The program empowers participants through public speaking, community engagement, and leadership training, with youth leadership teams meeting at least twice monthly for workshops focused on self-advocacy and empowerment. Funding will cover inclusive events and activities, comprehensive training in disability advocacy and storytelling, and distribution of program materials throughout Red Deer.

Red Deer & District Museum Society – Central Alberta Arts Audience Development Research

The Red Deer & District Museum Society will conduct comprehensive arts audience development research to establish benchmarks of awareness and familiarity, understand local audience expectations, and identify programming opportunities for future growth. The research outcomes will be publicly released and workshopped with the local creative community, providing valuable data that other arts organizations in Central Alberta can use to inform their own approaches and support discussions about developing Red Deer’s creative economy.

Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society & Collaborators – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Gathering

This grant supported an inclusive community gathering on September 30, for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The event was intended for meaningful connection, story sharing, and community healing. Opening with a Pipe Ceremony, the gathering featured tipi storytelling with Elders, a shared story wall creating a living archive, Indigenous film screening, interactive activities including traditional games and rock painting, and a culminated with a Round Dance. The event included a community meal bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to celebrate, heal, and thrive.

Red Deer Food Bank Society & ReThink Red Deer’s Common Ground Garden Project – Social Enterprise Capacity Development in Red Deer

The Red Deer Food Bank Society, in partnership with ReThink Red Deer via the Common Ground Garden Project, is working on developing a social enterprise with a potential kitchen and indoor growing system infrastructure. This grant enabled attendance at the SVI Alberta Retreat at Metis Crossing with non-profit and funder representatives, and will also include community engagement sessions in Red Deer to foster social enterprise collaborations and establish case studies and lessons learned for future endeavours.

The Broom Tree Foundation – The Broom Tree Sisters Program

The BT Sisters Mentorship Program supports vulnerable individuals in Central Alberta through sustainable relationships that empower participants to overcome barriers and develop skills for healthy relationships. With 50 volunteers currently matched with women in the community, this grant will strengthen the program through trauma-informed training and supervision, structured guidelines and mentor screening, team-based peer-support models, and referral and emergency planning training to build a stronger, more sustainable mentorship ecosystem.

YMCA of Northern Alberta – Launching Fall Break SKY High Camps for Youth Navigating Complex Social Landscapes

The YMCA of Northern Alberta will launch a SKY High camp during the November 2025 fall school break, providing free structured experiences for high-barrier youth. The camp supports youth as they build resilience, enhance self-esteem, develop leadership, and create positive social connections through workshops and recreational activities including healthy relationships education, goal development, outdoor skills, financial literacy, and mental health support.

Through these diverse initiatives, CFCAB’s Fall Microgrants Program continues to support community-driven solutions that strengthen Central Alberta’s social fabric, promote inclusion and reconciliation, and build capacity for long-term community wellbeing

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Nature for New Canadians Brings Youth Camping Experience to Alberta Wilderness

Seventeen young newcomers to Canada experienced their first camping trip this summer through the Nature for New Canadians 2025 Youth Camping Trip. This initiative was delivered in partnership by Care for Newcomers (Care), the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society (WEES), with partial funding from the Community Foundation of Central Alberta.

This year’s campers, from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Jordan, Kenya, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Vietnam, spent multiple days at Aspen Beach Lakeview Campground, where many saw mountains up close and shooting stars for the first time.

Building Skills and Shifting Perspectives

The multi-day immersion gave participants hands-on experience with hiking, campfire cooking, camp chores, and wildlife education. Campers learned practical outdoor skills and gained a new sense of both independence and interdependence while experiencing many of the well-documented benefits of connecting with nature.

“Programs like this highlight the importance of making nature accessible and welcoming for everyone. By introducing new Canadians to Alberta’s parks and protected areas, we are able to foster a stronger connection to the land and create opportunities for people to build meaningful relationships with the environment—and with each other,” said Alberta Parks Staff involved with the program.

“Interpretive activities play a key role in building comfort and confidence in outdoor settings, helping newcomers feel informed, empowered, and inspired to return to these landscapes and explore further developing a lasting appreciation for Alberta’s natural spaces.”

Creating Common Ground

Beyond practical outdoor skills, the program addressed a less obvious but potentially more significant outcome: cultural integration.

Camping is a widespread childhood experience for many Albertans, creating a shared cultural reference point. By participating in this tradition, newcomer youth now have common ground with their Canadian-born peers—a foundation for connection, belonging, and mutual understanding.

“These kids grow up seeing each other as equals, with shared interests and diverse experiences,” program organizers noted.

The transformation was documented through staff observations and post-trip survey responses, which showed growth in both independence and group cohesion among participants.

The Nature for New Canadians program is planning another trip for Summer 2026, where it will provide more newcomer youths with access to experiences that foster both practical skills and social belonging in their new home. This powerful experience will continue to open doors to new relationships with nature—ones built on respect, curiosity, and a growing sense of comfort in a new country.