December
3

Celebrating Our Third Year of Hometown Turnaround

As we reflect on the incredible impact of our third year running the Hometown Turnaround campaign, we are reminded of the true spirit of giving. On this Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to generosity and community, we are thrilled to celebrate the 12 amazing projects we were able to give a financial boost to across western Canada. From new playgrounds to enhanced community spaces, these projects have made a tangible difference in the lives of people in all the areas where we do business: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. Thanks to our dedicated Broker partners, we’ve been able to collaborate on these efforts to ensure that local needs are met with support, all year long.

• “Building Resilience” is a community-based program in Kamloops, BC to improve indoor air quality during fire season by providing workshops to families of children with asthma, expecting mothers, low-income seniors and people with lung diseases. The workshops educate these community members about fire smoke and extreme heat exposure, and teaches them how to make their own air purifiers. Our partners at Interior Savings Insurance brought us this project in hopes that we could help fund the procurement of materials for attendees to make their own units and bring them home. With our help, Building Resilience should be able to get enough supplies for about 115 units.

• Ecole Van Belleghem Gymnasium Climbing Wall – The Parent Council of this school in Winnipeg, MB had been fundraising for over a year to purchase an 8’x36’ climbing wall for their gym. Our partners at JEM Insurance have been collecting and matching all contributions towards this project, and it was their passion and commitment to its completion that convinced us to help. We hope once built that the climbing wall will provide exciting enrichment for many generations of students!

• Harry Balfour School Playground – This school moved locations in September to just outside the city limits of Grande Prairie, AB. As the site was considered a “replacement” and not a brand-new school, access to government funding becomes drastically different. After 7 years of fundraising in anticipation of the move, they had enough to complete phase 1 but still needed another $35,000 for phase 2. Thanks to our partners at Broker Age General Insurance (BrokerLink), we got wind of this project and was able to make a significant dent in their phase 2 fundraising gap.

• JA Cuddy School Playground – Located in Sanford, MB, the JA Cuddy School Play Structure Project aims to create a new, safe, and engaging outdoor space for its students. It will feature an inclusive and accessible play area, fostering physical activity and social interaction for approximately 200 children as well as the broader community after hours. When La Salle Insurance brought this project to us, they were about one-third of the way towards the $300,000 they needed, and we were pleased to help them get a bit closer to their goal in hopes of starting construction in summer 2025.

• John Doherty Memorial Arena Score Clock Replacement – The folks over at Lakeview Insurance Brokers alerted us that the current score clock at the JDMA has been giving their community grief for the last several seasons. Peace Hills has a soft spot for hockey, so when we heard more about how much the arena is used by U7 to U15 hockey leagues, as well as a senior hockey team from a neighbouring community, we knew it was a perfect fit for our Hometown Turnaround campaign and footed the bill to replace the clock.

• La Salle School Playground – La Salle Insurance had another playground project for us to consider, this time to help fix the existing structure at La Salle School to make it safer and more approachable to young students. The current structure is over 20 years old, and teachers had been reporting that many younger students feared the height of the structure. With thorough plans in place to completely reimagine the space while also making it accessible to students with mobility difficulties, how could we say no?

• Line Drive Youth Outreach Van – The Home Base Program in downtown Yellowknife provides crucial spaces and support for youths aged 12-24 experiencing homelessness. Their dream of an outreach van would aim to provide recognizable transportation in the city for youth that are under the influence and bring them to safe sobering places or home. Our partners at Avid North not only brought this project to us, but they also matched our donation! Our collaboration with Avid along with additional support from the Ekati Northern Social Justice Fund meant that Home Base received all the funding they need to make this dream a reality.

• Nanton School Enhancement – In the spring of 2025, construction will begin on the new A.B. Daley School. Currently, the Learning Commons (library) and Amphitheatre are considered the heart of the school, occupying 450 square meters of space that serves as an essential hub for student learning and school culture. The school is facing the loss of their amphitheatre space and a reduction of their Learning Commons to just 100 square metres. Our partners at Western Financial Group shared the school’s desire to raise enough funds in order to retain this space that serves a unique and special role in the community and we jumped on board.

• Northern Edge Sport and Recreation Centre Expansion – Smithers, BC and the surrounding Bulkley Valley area is an active community with multi-sport demand for athlete development at all levels and many residents seeking year-round indoor recreational space. Our friends at Bulkley Valley Insurance let us know that the Centre is looking to expand so that they can increase their ability to host events and learning opportunities while remaining committed to offering inclusive and affordable programming. With an aim of providing positive change in health and wellness for the future of Bulkley Valley residents, it was an easy ‘yes’ for us to help bring their 5,000 square foot expansion to life.

• “Rails to Trails” Revitalization – A legacy project that will transform the Drumheller Valley, AB, this proposed trail will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel from downtown Drumheller, through the neighbourhood of Rosedale, cross the Rosedale Bridge, connect to the iconic suspension bridge and carry on to the Willow Creek Hoodoos. It will connect many of the area’s tourism destinations, including the world class Royal Tyrrell Museum. The trail is sure to become a cornerstone of the community, allowing both locals and visitors to enjoy the incredible views of the badlands and river valley safely. We were so excited that our partners at Western Financial Group brought this to our attention! You will be able to see a permanent plaque acknowledging our contribution at the suspension bridge.

• Scallion Creek Trail Development – Our friends at Guild Insurance Group told us about the Scallion Creek Trail Committee’s work towards rebuilding a walking trail throughout the town of Virden, MB. Part of this involved installing a new bridge to allow safe access to a community park that boasts vast gardens, a trout pond, a soccer field and a dog park. Previously, residents were forced to cross a highway to gain access to these spaces, but not anymore! We were able to provide enough funds to help complete this integral gateway so that the community can now safely enjoy these local amenities.

• Whitecourt Baseball Diamond Enhancement – With a mission of being a fully accessible facility for spectators of all kinds, the much-loved baseball diamond in the town of Whitecourt needed help to ensure they could follow the Town’s Guidelines for wheelchair specifications to the letter. The folks at BrokerLink let us know about the work they were trying to complete, including a longer cement sidewalk to connect the parking lot to the diamond, and we were more than happy to help.

Sharing the stories of these 12 projects highlights what we can achieve when we come together in the spirit of Wahkôtowin, a Cree word that represents the concept of kinship and the importance of interconnectedness, community, and relationships. These 12 projects are more than just initiatives – they are symbols of hope, growth, and the power of community. As we wrap up the third year of our Hometown Turnaround campaign on Giving Tuesday, we want to acknowledge and celebrate all the individuals that came together to bring these projects to life. From our dedicated Broker partners who identified and brought these projects to us, to the community members on the ground making them happen and allowing us to be a part of the journey. Guided by Wahkôtowin, we hope that we’ve helped make a difference.

Here's to another year of strengthening communities, one project at a time.