The South Saskatchewan Community Foundation (SSCF) is excited to provide grants for more than 50 Vital Community Conversations anticipated in 19 communities as part of its 50th anniversary year.
Conversations of health and wellness, education, sustainability, accessibility, and many more issues will take place in an area that extends from Davidson west to the Albertan border, east to the Manitoban border and south to the United States border encompassing all seven cities in southern Saskatchewan.
SSCF Executive Director Donna Ziegler says the response to the opportunity to host a Vital Conversation has been meaningful and encouraging.
“We are excited by the response as we celebrate this important milestone for SSCF,” says Ziegler. “Our preliminary estimate is that there will be more than 2,000 individuals involved. This anniversary initiative is about listening and getting to the heart of what matters most and finding solutions together to make our communities the best places to live, work, play, and belong.”
The successful recipients include:
| Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan | Regina Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Inc. |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yorkton and Area Inc. | Regina Transition House |
| Canadian Mental Health Association – Regina Branch | SaskAbilities – Swift Current Branch |
| Carmichael Outreach | Saskatchewan 4-H Council |
| City of Melville | Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation and Righting Relations Regina |
| City of Moose Jaw | Saskatchewan Hospice Palliative Care Association |
| Civic Museum of Regina | SaskOutdoors |
CNIB Saskatchewan | Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan |
| Estevan Humane Society | STARS – Shock Trauma Air Rescue Services |
| Hazlet Community Development Committee | Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbors |
| Heritage Community Association | South Central Regional Immigration Partnership |
| Ignite Adult Learning Corporation | Southeast Advocates for Employment, Inc. |
| Knox-Metropolitan United Church | Spinal Cord Injury Saskatchewan Inc. |
| MADD Canada Estevan Chapter | Strasbourg Recreation Board |
| Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan | The Big Sky Centre for Learning and Being Astonished! Inc. |
| Munch Cafe & Catering Inc. | The Caring Place Regina Inc. |
| Nature Saskatchewan | The Nature Conservancy of Saskatchewan |
| New Canadian Integration Society | Town of Assiniboia |
| Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) | Town of Gravelbourg |
| Oxford House Society of Regina Inc. | Town of Mossbank |
| Rainbow Youth Centre | Village of Frontier |
| REALM Foundation | YMCA of Moose Jaw |
| Regina & District Food Bank, Inc. | YMCA of Regina |
| Regina Early Learning Centre Inc. | Yorkton Women in Need Inc. |
| Regina Early Years Family Centre | Young Women’s Christian Association of Regina |
| Regina Open Door Society |
Each of the $300 microgrant recipients are registered charities and will conduct their Vital Community Conversation between February 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019. All input from the Vital Community Conversations will be professionally evaluated by a research team with a report of findings to be released in October 2019.
Grant recipients are looking forward to the next steps:
- Amanda Lewis, Executive Director of REALM Foundation Inc., says their conversation will give a voice to people with disabilities. “Overall, people with disabilities are more apt to live in poverty, are less educated, experience more isolation, are not included in decisions that affect them directly and indirectly, and experience high frustration in identifying and obtaining appropriate services.” says Lewis. “Being able to share our ideas about the type of community we wish to see and what is standing in our way supports full integration of individuals with disabilities into society. The opportunity to receive a microgrant to support REALM participation in a Vital Community Conversation is important because it will help us offset some of the costs of bringing people with disabilities together. Many people living with severe physical disabilities do not have a voice.”
- Stephanie Kane Davis, Settlement Advisor for Southeast Advocates for Employment, says they will be hosting Vital Community Conversations in three Saskatchewan communities – Oxbow, Carlyle, and Carnduff. “Every month we notice more newcomers move to southeast Saskatchewan. We feel it is important to inform, prepare, and help newcomers who move to our area to feel accepted and integrated into their new communities. The opportunity to talk with these new Canadians through Vital Community Conversations will allow us to be the voice they need when working with businesses, city officials, and government.”
Congratulations to all of the recipients! Stay tuned for the release of our 50 VCC Report in October.