The Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Fall Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation grants. This fall the Fund supported 12 charitable programs for a total of $141,200. The fund is intended to promote social, cultural, religious, educational and other activities deemed beneficial to communities in southern Saskatchewan with priority given to the City of Regina. This also includes providing educational opportunities, and support for the arts within these communities.
Congratulations to the successful applicants!
Project Name: BIG Group Activities – BGA
This project/initiative is to act as an innovative & proven approach to serving our waitlisted youth, Big/Little matches & their families, who are experiencing adversities. Our project targets families by providing social, educational, cultural & creative based activities, while they wait for a 1:1 mentoring relationship. It also connects those youth to our supportive staff, who aim to build positive relationships with them during their journey through our services. These efforts will ensure young people in crisis & who are in need of support will not fall through the cracks as they wait for a mentor. Additionally, this program acts as a casual & safe environment to introduce a potential Big/Little match to each other. Staff can also observe matches in a natural setting
Project Name: Outreach Worker additional training
The funding allocated is meant to employ an Outreach Worker. Concerns have arisen due to a rise in fires, drug use, and illicit activities on-site, causing worry among our staff, volunteers, and community. The staff member will primarily focus on outdoor monitoring and interacting with individuals to tackle these issues. The presence of consistent staff is anticipated to help address the ongoing challenges at the property. Additionally, this team member will be responsible for ensuring the well-being of guests. Upon observing any signs of physical distress, such as limping or signs of injury, they will conduct initial assessments to determine if medical attention is necessary and assist in connecting the individual with appropriate support.
Project Name: Darke Hall Society Inc. Operations Support
To present the work of Saskatchewan, Canadian, and international performing artists in a state-of-the-art venue for the
benefit of audiences in Regina and Southern Saskatchewan.
Our curatorial priorities are showcasing female-led performances and productions, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, particularly Indigenous artists, and providing meaningful opportunities for audiences to access the work of Saskatchewan artists.
To fulfill a deeply felt need in the performing arts community for an affordable, accessible, purpose-built cultural space in Regina that is respectful of diverse practices.
Project Name: The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan – Second Chances Sober Living Program
This project/initiative is to secure program funds to support the addition of five more beds to our existing sober living
program. The funds will pay for 2 laptops for training and employment searches, program costs, and transportation. From August 2023 to August 2024, fourteen women accessed the program, with 13 currently on the waiting list. The program’s success is evident, with graduates reunifying with their children, entering long-term treatment and employment in peer support, and six women achieving long-term recovery stability. The high demand highlights the need for expansion. This grant will allow us to accommodate more participants, supporting their recovery, family reunification, and positive contributions to the community.
Project Name: Luther College High School – Financial Aid
To provide financial assistance through the Community Bursary to students who demonstrate academic achievement and a keen interest in learning but who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend Luther College.
Project Name: Mother Teresa Middle School (MTMS) – Graduate Support Program (GSP)
This project/initiative is to support Indigenous and at-risk youth in achieving high school graduation. The Graduate Support Program (GSP) is considered to be the second phase of MTMS’s innovative education model and incorporates transitional supports for MTMS alumni, hereafter referred to as students, in Grades 9 to 12. The GSP has a dedicated staff (Graduate Support Team) that provides a combination of academic, financial, social, emotional and one-on-one supports that promote positive development. Many students from disadvantaged backgrounds rely on schools and support programs, like the GSP, for basic necessities, mental health supports, transportation to school, food, and security.
Project Name: Preschool Nutrition
As we know hungry children have a difficult time learning and this project is intended to support our ability to provide
nutritious food throughout the preschool year. For some children is the bulk of their daily food available to them. Snacks are considered to be more like a meal consisting of all the food groups and engaging the children in experiencing new and interesting foods. Adequate nutrition is a fundamental component to learning and being able to provide nutrition snacks each day will ensure children get the best start they can.
Project Name: Nourishing Young Minds
This project/initiative is to purchase food to feed hungry, at-risk youth in Regina schools.
Project Name: RSO – Operations – 24/25
This initiative is to support the delivery of twelve large orchestral concerts at the Conexus Arts Centre and Darke Hall, six small ensemble concerts at Government House, and 40+ free concerts and educational programs throughout underserved neighborhoods in Regina and across South Saskatchewan. The RSO will engage over 1,500 grade 3-5 children in up to 20 schools through Link Up – Carnegie Hall’s renowned educational partnership program, and 30k+ young learners virtually. Ultimately, this funding will help us enhance our educational impact, foster a deeper connection with diverse audiences, and provide meaningful and accessible cultural experiences across the region.
Project Name: SRMTA – Student Composer Competition
The purpose of the SRMTA/CFMTA Student Composer Competition is to encourage those students interested in
composing for instruments or voice.
Winners in each of the categories of the Provincial level of competition below will then advance to the National level to
compete against other provincial winners from across Canada.
This project impacts budding composers older than 14 years old as well
Project Name: SOFIA House April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
Sustain and enhance SOFIA House’s operational capacity, ensuring the continued provision of safe housing, wrap-around and culturally sensitive support services for women and children escaping interpersonal violence in Regina including staffing costs, cultural program costs, program supplies and day-to-day shelter upkeep. Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in Saskatchewan. We are seeking $15,000 from the Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation to support our shelter’s operations so that continued, long-term and wrap around supports exist to help the very high number of women in need in Regina.
Project Name: CNIB Employment Boot Camp
Employment Boot Camp will address the gaps that exists for youth who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind when it
comes to having the skills, knowledge and independence to move into employment and/or post-secondary education.
Today, technology is embedded in everything that we do and for those who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind it is
critical that they are not only familiar but efficient with mainstream technology as well as the assistive technology that they will need, like screen readers, magnification software, braille displays and apps that have been developed for people with sight loss. CNIB designed this program to help youth gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to live the life they chose.