United Way Central Alberta delivers over $1 million to 22 community service organizations through the government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund

News release from the United Way of Central Alberta

United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) is pleased to announce over $1 million in funding to support 22 projects in Central Alberta through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund.

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment of $400 million to help community service organizations (charities, non-profits, Indigenous governing bodies) adapt, modernize, and be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services that they provide though the pandemic recovery and beyond.

The following projects are being supported within Central Alberta:

• $63,000 was invested to fund Bashaw and District Support Services Association towards a regional wellness initiative;

• $59,609 was invested to fund Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area towards a Youth and Parental Supports Pilot Project;

• $75,704 was invested to fund Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer towards program service innovation;

• $52,000 was invested to fund Camrose Adult Learning Council towards Immersive Technologies;

• $62,552 was invested to fund Camrose Association for Community Living towards Next Level Wellness;

• $36,286 was invested to fund Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta East Central Region 2000 towards Recovery College technology;

• $9,621 was invested to fund Carstairs Public Library towards permanent adaptions;

• $89,638 was invested to fund Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association to transform program delivery;

• $41,320 was invested to fund Drumheller Community Learning Society towards Empowering Youth;

• $47,000 was invested to fund Family Violence Action Society: Camrose and District towards infrastructure design;

• $14,000 was invested to fund Friends to the Drayton Valley Library Society towards a children, family, and youth space;

• $9,036 was invested to fund Mary C Moore Public Library towards Kinsmen Program Room Makerspace;

• $76,230 was invested to fund Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association towards West Central Community Connections;

• $16,135 was invested to fund Ponoka Youth Centre towards mental health support;

• $9,714 was invested to fund Red Deer Public Library towards their Youth and Literacy Program;

• $98,112 was invested to fund Rocky Primary Counselling Centre of Alberta towards mental health;

• $98,083 was invested to fund Shalom Counselling Centre of Alberta towards healthy families;

• $21,296 was invested to fund Stettler Community Support Centre towards community outreach;

• $81,600 was invested to fund Stettler Information and Referral Centre towards Stettler Circle of Services innovation and expansion;

• $10,757 was invested to fund The Lord’s Food Bank towards hot meal program revitalization;

• $40,337 was invested to fund Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta towards Collective Alberta-Project; and

• $85,970 Was invested to fund Wetaskiwin & District Association for Community Services towards re-building community and personal engagement.

Community service organizations are at the forefront of addressing communities’ needs. Since the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have struggled with increased demand for their services, reduced revenues, declines in charitable giving due to the rising cost of living, and a greater need to make use of digital tools. Many organizations are struggling to recover and adapt their services to the changing needs of Central Alberta.

For more information, visit the Community Services Recovery Fund website. For more information on United Way Central Alberta, you can visit our website or contact us at [email protected] or 403.343.3900.

Quotes:

“The value United Way Central Alberta adds as a locally governed and operated funder is that we have the trusted systems in place to identify local needs and ensure dollars are invested where they are needed most”- United Way Central Alberta CEO, Chelsea O’Donoghue.

“United Way Central Alberta is proud to have worked with the Government of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada as part of the Community Services Recovery Fund” – United Way Central Alberta CEO, Chelsea O’Donoghue.

Quick Facts:

• The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support community service organizations, including charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies, as they adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery.

• Now more than ever, community service organizations play a key role in addressing complex social problems faced by many communities across Canada.

• From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, community service organizations across Canada have shown impressive stamina and creativity in their response to the diverse and increasingly challenging needs of their
communities.

• The Community Services Recovery Fund responds to what community service organizations need right now and supports them as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

• As community service organizations across Canada work to support recovery in their communities, the CSRF will help them adapt and modernize their operations to grow their impact.

• The Government of Canada is delivering the CSRF through three National Funders (Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada). The National Funders are distributing funding to
eligible community service organizations, including charities, non-profits, and Indigenous governing bodies, providing services in communities across Canada.

• The Government of Canada supports a more inclusive model of economic growth, one that creates opportunities for everyone in Canada, as the long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continue.

Related Topics:#CommunityServicesRecoveryFund #UnitedWayCentralAlberta #UWCA feature

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Alberta

Province boosts development strategies at Regional Airports

Published on April 7, 2024

Government of Alberta

Proposed area for development at Red Deer Regional Airport highlighted by bright colours

Building Alberta’s regional airport network

Alberta’s government is investing $1.13 million to support the development of regional airports across the province.

Alberta’s regional airports connect people, create jobs and help local businesses reach new markets. This investment will facilitate the growth of the province’s regional airport network, enabling the seamless movement of people and goods, and creating more opportunities for municipalities and local industry to thrive.

“Alberta’s aviation industry plays an important role in strengthening and diversifying our economy by expanding access to markets and creating jobs in the province. Regional airports are key assets in supporting the air sector and the movement of people. This investment will support the growth of Alberta’s regional airports and help restore and develop connections between our regional and international airports.”

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

The grant funding will support 10 regional airports in developing business cases and feasibility studies for improved airport infrastructure and air transportation. The projects will allow the airports to identify, explore and prioritize improvements and opportunities to increase their economic competitiveness, such as increasing the number of air carriers or the efficiency of aircraft movement to bolster the economic output of regional airports.

“Regional airports play a critical role in keeping Alberta connected and our economy growing. We are working with our partners to ensure all corners of the province are in the best position to attract job-creating investment and opportunities from around the world for all Albertans.”

Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

The grants include $120,000 to the Red Deer Regional Airport for a land development strategy, which will inform the airport about how it can leverage infrastructure and facility improvements, such as terminal expansion and airside land development, that will better position the airport as a hub for economic activity.

“The continued support from the province positions the Red Deer Regional Airport as a compelling and competitive location to do business. Now more than ever, we are primed to attract new investment opportunities, create jobs and strengthen central Alberta’s economic landscape.”

Jim Wood, mayor, Red Deer County

The funded projects vary in scope and size depending on the specific needs of each airport. They include exploring airport certification to support scheduled air services, airport commercial development, commercial air services, hangar development and development of strategic business cases to restore regional airports’ positions as primary transportation hubs.

“CAEP is proud to showcase the importance of the Red Deer Regional Airport as a true ’hub‘ in the Central Alberta Region. Transportation is critical to a thriving region that leads to sophisticated manufacturing, technological innovation and investment attraction to enhance and support our economic corridors. Continued growth at the RDRA is proof that the region is thriving and a ’destination of choice‘ for investment.”

Tracy Gardner, executive director, Central Alberta Economic Partnership

The projects will also support the creation of an air service business case to attract new airlines, analyzing highest-need routes, determining baseline capacities of airport infrastructure, and identifying capital asset rehabilitation and replacement requirements.

“Regional airports support economic development and serve as a hub for emergency services for rural Alberta. The funding provided today will benefit many rural communities and represents a strong step in maintaining Alberta’s rural transportation network.”

Kara Westerlund, vice president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta

This investment demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to growing the aviation sector and diversifying the economy. Alberta’s government will continue working closely with regional airports to ensure they are drivers of economic growth in the province.

Quick facts

A total of $1,129,424 is being provided to support 10 regional airports:

Cold Lake Regional Airport

Feasibility Study for Airport Certification to Support Scheduled Air Services – $144,000

Whitecourt Airport

Commercial Development Feasibility Study – $78,684

Lloydminster Municipal Airport

Commercial Air Services Feasibility Study – $113,988

Peace River Regional Airport

Peace River Airport Master Plan – $57,552

Lethbridge Airport

Hangar Development Feasibility Study and Business Case – $150,000

High Level Airport

High Level Airport Master Plan – $56,000

Red Deer Regional Airport

Land Development Strategy and Implementation Plan – $120,000

Medicine Hat Regional Airport

Feasibility and Business Case for Airport Growth and Development – $150,000

Grande Prairie Airport

Canadian Border Services Agency Facilities Study – $140,000

Fort McMurray International Airport

Business Case to Recapture Lost Passenger Traffic – $119,200

Alberta

Doubling surgical capacity in Rocky Mountain House

Published on April 7, 2024

Government of Alberta

Rural Albertans will be able to access surgeries quicker and closer to home now that the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is complete.

The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre has been providing residents with health care since 1971, including surgical services. Alberta Infrastructure has completed an addition to the facility, which includes a new operating room. This will enable approximately 120 Albertans per month to receive surgery, doubling the number of monthly surgeries. This additional, brand-new operating room is also expected to decrease the wait lists for surgeries.

The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre provides an additional 440 square metres (4,736 square feet) and includes:

a new operating room,
6 additional recovery beds,
a patient support area, and
an updated medical device reprocessing department.

The new spaces can be accessed from the existing site thanks to the addition of an upgraded hallway that connects the two buildings.

“Completing the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is a significant step forward in delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects province wide. This investment into health care infrastructure will increase surgical capacity, helping Albertans get treatment when and where they need it.”

Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure

The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre upgrade is part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI), which aims to enhance surgical capacity across the province by expanding and maximizing existing health care space. Over the next three years, the 2024 Capital Plan is providing $313 million for ASI projects throughout the province.

Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health Services share the responsibility for delivering ASI projects. Alberta Health Services leads the delivery of smaller projects, while Alberta Infrastructure delivers capital projects over $5 million.

“Albertans deserve timely access to surgeries, and they should be able to get them close to home. The expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will increase its capacity so more Albertans can get the surgeries they need when they need them. Through the Alberta Surgical Initiative, we are improving access to surgical care and funding projects across the province, including in rural communities like Rocky Mountain House.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

Alberta Infrastructure is working on 20 ASI projects in communities across Alberta, including Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Olds, Ponoka, St. Albert and Stettler. Lethbridge will be the next community to benefit from a completed ASI project. The expansion of two operating rooms and more surgical inpatient rooms at the Chinook Regional Hospital is anticipated to be completed later this fall.

“The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will help ensure more residents can access surgeries and receive the care they need in a timely manner. Investments like these in rural Alberta matter and I’d like to thank Minister Guthrie and Minister LaGrange for delivering on this project that will double our surgical capacity in Rocky Mountain House.”

Jason Nixon, MLA, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre

Quick facts

The total budget for the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre ASI project was $15 million.
This Alberta Infrastructure project was completed on time and on budget. Approximately 85 construction-related jobs were created during the project.
In addition to the new building, other renovations include new mechanical and electrical building systems.
Alberta Infrastructure is managing other ASI projects at the following locations: