donated to improve local communities
charities supported
bursaries awarded to high school graduates
To have a positive impact on the people and pride within the communities where Western Financial Group employees live and work.
We consider it our responsibility to make a positive impact in the communities we serve.
Each year the Western Communities Foundation awards a series of $5,000 Infrastructure Grants to support projects identified locally in each town.
Western Communities Foundation Director, Laurette Laplante, said she has the best job in the world: “I love what I do, it is so rewarding, the ability to touch so many communities across Canada and give back is truly amazing. Our funds are not isolated to big cities but given to smaller communities that often struggle to fundraise. I know firsthand from living in a small town how hard it is to fundraise. The fact that the Foundation focuses on these smaller communities just warms my heart.”
Overall in 2019, $348,000 was given to 1,062 projects across 5 provinces, which includes Infrastructure Grants. Laurette expressed that one Infrastructure Grant aligns with her passion of the great outdoors: “An infrastructure grant was awarded to Peace River to build a wetland interpretive boardwalk in Northern Alberta. The donation supported ducks.ca and their efforts to build a boardwalk and create new programs for children in the area. This was especially important to me to get kids outside in the environment and to touch and feel water instead of just seeing it come out of the tap.”
Since 2002, the Foundation has supported over 600 causes across Canada, with 256 awarded to infrastructure projects. To date, the Foundation has awarded $3.6M to improve local communities.
Each year, our locations and their teams participate in numerous fundraising initiatives.
Western Communities Foundation is dedicated to helping those who strive to make our society better.
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