The Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Spring and Fall Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Fund grants. This spring the Fund supported 11 charitable organizations for a total of $165,750. This fall the Fund supported 17 charitable organizations for a total of $135,343.26. 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: Keeping Warm One Stitch at a time.
Funding is needed to finance costs incurred in supplying our volunteer membership to enable them to create handcrated items of warmth which include hats, mitts, scarves, afghans quilts, etc.
Project Name: – Screen and Projector Upgrade
This initiative includes purchasing a projector Panasonic WUXGA 8.2Klm LCD Laser PJ-White. We will be also purchasing an upfront screen Da-Lite 70258L: Tensioned Cosmopolitan Series, 100″ x 160″ with Da-Mat – 70258L which will roll down automatically with remote control, making it more user-friendly. This projector and screen package will be used for music shows, theatre events, lectures, literary works, community conversation groups, dance performances, and more.
Project Name: Grief and Trauma Camp for Children and Youth
The Camp provides trauma-informed, culturally safe and informed support to young people ages 5-17. The camp addresses the difficulties young people face after experiencing the death of a loved one(s). Most of these young people require specialized care after traumatic losses such as suicide, homicide, and overdose deaths. Camp is developed in collaboration with our Elders with the integration of l Indigenous healing practices alongside Western therapeutic approaches-“two-eyed seeing” approach.
Project Name: Collaborative Community Programming at the Creative City Centre
In January 2026, we are moving our Regina office into the new collaborative community arts space created and managed by the Creative City Centre. This downtown hub will include co-working office space for several arts organizations, a gallery, artist-in-residence space, recording studios, and performance space. We are proposing a series of community events and workshops to engage the community, foster collaboration, and ignite creativity through partnership on behalf of the incoming tenants.
Project Name: Website & Content Creation
We will redevelop the Darke Hall website using a modern, accessible framework with improved navigation, mobile optimization, and integrated SEO tools. The project includes new hosting, design, and backend development to ensure the site is user-friendly and scalable. This upgrade will enhance our ability to promote events, sell tickets, and engage audiences online. We’ve received a quote from a local web developer and will upload it in the supporting materials section.
Project Name: Operational Support
- 5 theatrical works from modern interpretations to new Indigenous work presented
- 5 unique Land Acknowledgement art installations throughout the year, each partnered with an Indigenous artist
- Age 3-18+ Theatre School classes, day camps, and summer camps
- 60th anniversary engagement events
- Active development of partnerships across downtown and tourism sectors, including engagement events
- Targeted Indigenous engagement events and initiatives, as well as other diverse demographic equity measures
Project Name: Concerts in Care 2026 Season
Our program, Concerts in Care, is designed to deliver professionally performed live music to individuals, predominantly seniors, living in long-term care facilities and other settings where mobility, health, or cognitive challenges prevent access to public arts programming. These performances not only provide meaningful cultural experiences to underserved audiences but also supports the professional livelihood of Saskatchewan-based musicians.
Project Name: Hope’s Home Supportive Living Accessible Patio Door
Hope’s Home Supportive Living is requesting new accessible patio doors that lead to our outdoor patio which is used for summer play and activities. These accessible patio doors enable children with complex medical needs, their siblings, and typically developing children to share companionship, enhance imagination and have fun together.
Hope’s Home Supportive Living long term goal is to secure funding to turn that patio space into a four-season sunroom that could be enjoyed all year round.
Project Name: Regina Branch Homework Club
This grant will address a financial barrier for families by offering free, small group, after school tutoring support to children who have fallen behind. Homework Club has previously been offered by the Regina Branch LDAS, helping many children in Kindergarten to Grade 12 over the years. This well-loved program continues to receive much appreciation by our staff, clients, and families in the Regina community. We hope to extend it to families for another academic year to those who need it most.
Project Name: Community Bursary – Tuition
The Community Bursary is given to students entering grade 9 and is offered to those students through to Grade 12. Students must demonstrate a positive attitude and a keen interest in learning. The student’s family must also demonstrate financial need.
Project Name: Graduate Support Program (GSP)
The complexities of poverty manifested themselves differently for MTMS alumni throughout the pandemic. The outcomes of self-isolation and hybrid school schedules, compounded with disadvantaged living situations & existing mental health conditions negatively impacted many alumni, even to the point of disengaging from school. The GSP seeks to increase mental health supports and outreach resources to support students (re)engagement in school.
Project Name: Ehrlo Counselling Services – Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Group
We will offer a ten-week Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) group, conducted by 2 Master’s prepared clinicians to the vulnerable population in our community. Hosted at 1951 Francis Street, we will provide a safe, supportive space for participants to build essential DBT skills including mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. We will supply workbooks, handouts, and healthy snacks, fostering a sense of community.
Project Name: Preshool Nutrition
Providing healthy, nutritious food is a critical component of the RELC preschool program. Children are provided a good sized portion of a healthy balance of food groups. For some children, the food they receive at preschool is the bulk of their daily intake.
Parents are also engaged in families meals throughout the school year. Transportation and childcare is provided to allow parents to engage in the act of sharing a healthy meal together as a family with their school aged children.
Project Name: Regina Little Theatre 100th Anniversary Gala
Regina Little Theatre was founded in 1926. In May of 2026 it will officially be 100 years old! For a century, we have been building a creative community and offering the residents of Regina and area fine, affordable theatre. On May 9, 2026, we are paying tribute to RLT and it’s accomplishments. We are planning a gala celebration featuring performances, tributes from alumni, archival events and more. We will be showcasing the winning play from our Centennial Play-writing Competition as well.
Project Name: Regina Transition House Operational Support
RTH provides 24/7 safe shelter and trauma-informed supports for women and children fleeing violence. Services include crisis intervention, safety planning, counselling, referrals to housing, mental health, legal, and income supports, transportation, advocacy, and follow-up care. Culturally safe, trauma informed practices are integrated throughout. Operational funding will sustain these essential services, ensuring continued access to safety, healing, and long-term stability.
Project Name: 6 seater wagon to be used for the RDC (regulation developmental classroom)
This 6 seater wagon would be used for the regulation developmental classroom. RDC classroom is an intensive supports program for neurodiverse, non-verbal students. The students in this classroom learn through in-school activities, but also through outings around the city. There are 6 students ranging from grades 1 to 4. This wagon stroller would be very beneficial in supporting our outings. This wagon has 6 seats with 5 point harnesses to keep the students securely in their seat.
Project Name: Outreach Services
Outreach Services assists women and families to attain housing using a hybrid Rapid Rehousing/Housing First approach, provides needs assessment, long-term case management, attends to immediate basic needs (e.g. food/clothing security), provides advocacy, systems navigation and support services, assistance to find and apply for sources of income, access to Indigenous art/culture for healing, and follow up support to maintain housing and wellbeing.
Project Name: Sponsorship Program
This project is dedicated to providing children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with the
opportunity to attend summer camp. We believe that every child deserves the chance to experience the joy
and growth that camp offers. Through our programs, campers develop new skills, build self-confidence, and
strengthen their resilience—empowering them for a brighter future. Our goal is to have at least 10% of our
campers sponsored, and we are proud to have consistently met or exceeded this target. Thanks to the
generosity of our patrons, no child is ever turned away from experiencing the magic of camp. Campers in our
sponsorship program are identified through parishes, schools, and family applications. Children between the
ages of 6 and 15 can choose from a variety of enriching programs, including overnight camps, day camps, and
wilderness adventures.
Project Name: – Food Delivery Program
This project is to help cover the costs to deliver the hot, nutritious food to the little children attending three
elementary schools in the inner city (north central) area of Regina, Saskatchewan. It will also help with the
picking up of food donations from supermarkets, and picking up of groceries for the hot lunch program. Chili
for Children has been providing a nutritious lunch to the children; however, it relies solely on donations,
grants and fundraising by the staff. The delivery of the nutritious meals to the three schools is a cost that is
rarely covered by the donations, etc. There are two Indigenous staff members, costs for a vehicle, gas, doing
the delivery of the food at lunch times during the school year.
Project Name: Expansion of Kitchen Facilities for Community Lunch Program
This project is to expand our kitchen facilities to include a commercial kitchen to accommodate the ever increasing community demand. Hunger continues to be the most pressing need for the most vulnerable members of our community. From April 2023 to March 2024, we provided a total of 23,620 bagged lunches. This was an increase of 39% from the previous year. With this kitchen redesign we will also be able to provide access to the space for our other programs, such as our Cultural Connections for Kids Parent Nights for example. This will be vital to ensuring that we are not only able to providing lunches, but to also expand our programs as we continue to work to connect with some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community in meaningful ways, building trust and relationships. This is a vital step forward in our ongoing efforts to support the community.
Project Name: ArtsReach Regina: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities
Every child deserves the chance to explore their creativity, but for many in Regina, financial barriers make
arts participation impossible. ArtsReach Regina is removing these obstacles so that cost is never a reason a
child is denied access to dance, music, theatre, or visual arts. This grant will provide 30 underserved children
with full funding to enroll in high-quality arts programs led by experienced instructors. Beyond learning an
instrument or perfecting a dance move, arts participation builds confidence, improves mental well-being, and
strengthens social connections. Studies show that children involved in the arts are more likely to succeed
academically and develop leadership skills that last a lifetime. This project directly reflects the Johnsons’
commitment to enriching Regina’s cultural landscape. Their legacy was about making the arts accessible to
all, and this initiative ensures that no child is left behind due to financial hardship.
Project Name: Campbell Street Phase 2 Build
This grant will be used to help families break the cycle of poverty through affordable homeownership. Unlike
traditional mortgages, families who partner with Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan are given an opportunity they would not otherwise have—foregoing a down payment and instead investing 500 volunteer hours as part of their commitment to homeownership. Habitat homes are described as “a hand up, not a handout” because they are purchased at fair market value, but with a unique, income-based mortgage structure. Mortgage payments are set at 25% of the family’s total household income, making homeownership attainable for families who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage.
Project Name: Child, Youth and Family Empowerment Program
Help NCFC continue to deliver their children and youth program and increase our staff capacity to provide more outreach services and supports to the parents/guardians of the children and youth who attend our after school and evening program. Many of the children who come to the Centre are vulnerable as they come from homes with multiple stressors. The children in North Central experience a range of challenges; some resulting from poverty, environmental deprivation, neglect and/or abuse, colonial impacts rippling through the families. It takes a village to raise a child and NCFC is part of that village for many households in the neighborhood. NCFC struggles to have the capacity to not only deliver the after school and evening program for youth but also provide supports at the family level so that we can set up the whole family for success and build stronger environments for the children and youth at home. This would include but not limited to providing tangible items and teachings.
Project Name: mîcisotān program
This project is to celebrate Indigenous food traditions, provide healthy meals to seniors and share traditional knowledge with younger generations through programming at the mâmawêyatitân centre, as well as support Indigenous involvement in the Good Food Box program and build partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities.
Project Name: Nourishing Young Minds
This project is to oversee the development and implementation of child food service programs in Regina schools. To provide nutritious food to at-risk youth in Regina schools.
Project Name: Pet Connection Food Bank
This project is to ensure that pets in our community do not go hungry and that families facing financial hardship can continue to care for their animals. Through donations and purchased pet food from generous community members and businesses, the RHS Pet Connection Food Bank Program provides critical support to those struggling to afford necessities for their pets. By distributing these supplies to 10 local, non-profit organizations across Regina, the program helps keep families together, reinforcing the powerful bond between people and their animals. This support is vital for marginalized individuals, for whom pets often provide unconditional love, support, and stability in difficult times. Many will prioritize feeding their pets over themselves, making access to pet food and supplies crucial in preserving both their well-being and cherished bond with their animals. This initiative serves as a lifeline, ensuring that our community remains compassionate, connected, and resilient.
Project Name: Operations
This project is to assist the Regina Symphony Orchestra with operational costs.
Project Name: SCEP CENTRE Summer Friends Program 2025
This initiative will provide children with complex needs the opportunity to participate in safe summer programming. The children enrolled at SCEP have severe communication and behaviour challenges which prevent them from participating in public summer camps or other summer programs. We provide specially-trained one-on-one partners for the enrolled children in order to ensure physical and emotional safety as they venture into the community to enjoy all that the City of Regina has to offer. The program also helps to maintain the progress the children have made throughout the year at SCEP as they prepare to move on to school. Families report that the respite they receive during the program is extremely unique and valuable.