2015 Recipients

Nanaimo Community Gardens Society (Nanaimo)

Project:

Greenhouse Capital Campaign

Category:

Urban Agriculture

Amount:

$40,000

Beban Park in the heart of Nanaimo, B.C., is host to a range of recreational facilities and activities. The Nanaimo Community Gardens Society will be adding two greenhouses and raised beds on an acre of the park to produce food and distribute seedlings.

The greenhouses will be open year-round to provide hands-on education, workshops and school field trips on gardening and urban agriculture practices.

“For 17 years we have delivered an educational program based out of demonstration gardening sites that teaches families and individuals the skills to grow, prepare and preserve local produce,” said Lee Sanmiya.

“Our primary strategy is to increase the knowledge and self-reliance of community members regarding their food needs through education and hands-on skill building.”

Formed in 1993, the society has used older facilities belonging to the Regional District of Nanaimo since 2001.The new greenhouse facilities will allow them to be more centrally located and accessible to the public.

North Delta Lions Club (Delta)

Project:

Annieville Lions Park Playground Upgrade

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$60,000

High Park School Parents Advisory League (Stony Plain)

Project:

High Park Playground Redevelopment

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$35,000

Lacombe Fish and Game Association (Lacombe)

Project:

Len Thompson Fish Pond

Category:

Environmental Rehabilitation

Amount:

$90,000

Olds Regional Exhibition (Olds)

Project:

Community Kitchen Project

Category:

Urban Agriculture

Amount:

$90,000

Trout Unlimited (Calgary)

Project:

Shaganappi Creek Enhancement Project

Category:

Environmental Rehabilitation

Amount:

$25,000

Trout Unlimited Canada is enhancing a meandering waterway at the heart of an urban community in southwest Calgary to create an environment more hospitable to native plants and wildlife.

Shaganappi Park is a popular walkway for commuters, but its spring-fed creek has degraded over time.

With the support of Co-op Community Spaces, and in Partnership with the Shaganapppi Community Association, and the City of Calgary, the project aims to restore Shaganappi Creek to a more natural state. By removing invasive plant species along the water and reducing soil erosion by limiting access and increasing education about healthy streamside habitats, Trout Unlimited Canada will improve water quality, and provide a great space for bikers, hikers and neighbours in the city.

The organization’s plan supports ecologically important plant species and promotes biodiversity that benefits the local community, as well as others downstream along the Bow River.

“Meaningful partnerships bring positive changes to habitats,” said biologist and project manager, Elliot Lindsay. “This project shows how a tiny ecosystem like ours can exist alongside busy urban environments.”

Senator Patrick Burns School (Calgary)

Project:

Senator Patrick Burns School Project

Category:

Environmental Rehabilitation

Amount:

$80,000

What started as a student petition to reopen the enclosed courtyard at Calgary’s Senator Patrick Burns School has grown into a larger initiative to turn a paved space into a green space for Grades 6 to 9 classes.

Now an engaging teaching and learning environment is in sight.

As part of the initiative – which consolidated student input over six months into one plan – the school will replace the asphalt in its courtyard with green surfaces that reduce runoff and promote plant growth. When completed, the new courtyard will be transformed into an outdoor classroom, providing hands-on lessons in sustainable practices like gardening, composting and reusing rain and melt-water. Already participating in a recycling program and collecting organics for proper disposal, the new space allows for expansion of the school’s green activities.

By creating a space that has a positive environmental impact, the school will promote social involvement and responsibility.

“This project is an extension of our mission to promote positive relationships and personal excellence,” said principal Marlene Krickhan. “In an inner-city space, we will tackle the environmental challenges that affect us globally and promote environmental stewardship.”

She added they are the only school in Canada where students collect refundables to finance green energy for the school.

Nipawin Business Improvement Project (Nipawin)

Project:

Nipawin Town Square

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$90,000

Caswell Community Association (Saskatoon)

Project:

Caswell Hill Accessible Playground Project

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$90,000

Saskatoon’s Caswell Community Association strives to offer a variety of recreational and sports programs to all residents. One great neighbourhood asset is Ashworth Holmes Park, and the on-site playground is of great importance to the community as well as surrounding neighbourhoods.

Unfortunately, existing playground structures in the park are outdated, inadequate, and not in line with current standards for accessibility. But thanks to Co-op Community Spaces and with additional support from the City of Saskatoon, construction of a new accessible play area will begin in 2016.

“Our goal is to improve opportunities for healthy, creative and accessible play for all children, families and caregivers,” said Caswell Community Association Representative, Raeanne Van Beek. “A safe, engaging playground will help children develop physical and social skills, gain confidence, and provide recreation and enjoyment.”

Accessible playgrounds offer a safe space for children with sensory, physical and developmental disabilities to play with other children. The new playground will serve children and families in the northwest sector of the city. It will also provide needed recreational opportunities for those families whose play space is limited due to multi-unit housing or smaller lots.

A special feature of the playground will be the use of repurposed equipment as well as recycled material for the playground surface. This will avoid waste and reduce the project’s environmental impact.

Tisdale Elementary School Community Council (Tisdale)

Project:

Tisdale Elementary School Playground Fund

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$90,000

The Tisdale Elementary School and their School Community Council was facing a grim verdict in 2013. A safety audit revealed 80 per cent of the school’s playground equipment was unsafe and needed modification or replacement.

“We know a physically active community is a thriving and happy community,” said school Principal, Sandra Norum. “This playground is the main area that all the children of our community will utilize on a regular basis throughout all seasons. Families of all generations take children to this playground so we would like to provide a multitude of opportunities for all ages and needs.”

The project will improve water drainage and existing base materials to ensure the space is accessible year round. The school is replacing the old wooden play structures with equipment that can be accessed by community members with disabilities. Benches and tables can be used by the school as outdoor classrooms and enjoyed by the general public.

The Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5 school has over 380 students from the town and surrounding area and with enrollment increasing can really use effective and safe spaces for children to utilize.

YMCA of Moose Jaw (Moose Jaw)

Project:

Co-op Early Years Play Space

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$57,000

A colourful new indoor play space will allow the YMCA of Moose Jaw to make physical activity accessible to more Moose Jaw families.

The Co-op Early Years Play Space is a free facility that provides year-round recreational programs to families with children under five — crucial years for a child’s development. A donation from Co-op Community Spaces is helping the organization grow, so that it can accommodate more than 200 families each month.

A new space in the community’s Strong Start Family Centre will provide toys and equipment that stimulate physical activity and establish healthy behaviours.

“Rates of obesity and chronic disease are a concern in our community. By building an accessible, family-friendly atmosphere that promotes physical activity and programming for the little ones, we are creating opportunities that can make a positive and preventative impact,” said CEO Jeff Fox.

Manitoba Eco-Network (Winnipeg)

Project:

Community Rain Garden Project

Category:

Environmental Rehabilitation

Amount:

$35,000

The Manitoba Eco-Network is creating a natural solution for ensuring clean water enters the water system in Winnipeg.

“The rain garden will receive, temporarily hold and clean the runoff from the adjacent parking lot before it enters the nearby Seine River,” said Megan Krohn, Water Program Manager. “Deep-rooted native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers will trap and remove sediment and other pollutants.”

Winnipeg experiences combined sewer overflow from rain storms 22 times a year, which results in millions of litres of stormwater and untreated human waste in waterways. Rain gardens, in addition to filtering runoff, divert runoff from the storm drains and release the water slowly after the peak runoff time. This can be a useful tool in communities with combined sewer systems to reduce overflows.

The rain garden project raises awareness of easy and tangible approaches to stormwater management for the city, local business and private landowners. Not only will it educate and engage landowners, the project will have a positive effect directly on river water quality.

This project will serve as a pilot for future rain gardens in the urban watershed.

Roblin Agricultural Society (Roblin)

Project:

Roblin Ag Society Fairground Rehabilitation

Category:

Urban Agriculture

Amount:

$70,000

Community Centre Inc. (Miniota)

Project:

Miniota Community Centre Renovations

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$53,000

La Riviere & Community Recreation Centre (La Riviere)

Project:

Drainage, Landscaping and Building Enhancements

Category:

Recreation

Amount:

$25,000

An enhanced and well-maintained community recreation centre will promote healthy lifestyles in La Rivière, Man.

The La Rivière and Community Recreation Association is recreating a welcoming park and meeting space outside of its old recreation centre where community members can gather or get active, whether it’s a summer ball game or a winter skate.

A donation from Co-op Community Spaces is enabling the organization to not only beautify its facility, but preserve it as well. Upgrades, including improved drainage, will ensure the centre remains a destination for community events — like weddings and farmers’ markets — long into the future.

The finished project will create a safe and accessible space where all community members are encouraged to participate in recreational activities.

“A vibrant facility can renew feelings of community,” said Evelyn Janzen. “Whether you’re young or old, a new resident or a long-time member of our community, this is a place where we can come together, celebrate and keep our young families in town.”

Winnipeg Harvest (Winnipeg)

Project:

Community Garden

Category:

Urban Agriculture

Amount:

$25,000

The Winnipeg Harvest Community Garden is multi-purpose, helping to feed over 63,000 people every month and providing field-to-table education.

The organization is planning on increasing its impact by adding 2,000 square feet to its 7,000-square-foot garden in the city’s north-central area.

“It has always been our goal to not only alleviate hunger, but also to facilitate learning opportunities for our clients, so that they may take steps toward self-sustainability,” said Caroline Hunter. “This project will also help educate the general public about proper techniques in gardening, recycling, composting and waste management.”

The community garden promotes composting practices, recycling and up-cycling, using plastic containers, pallets, tires and other items for garden beds. Rainwater collection means no city water is needed to grow the plants. Now there’s a green thumb.

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