The 2011 VitalSigns® report provided a snapshot of where the city was and highlighted areas of very real need.  Its development was led by the Community Foundation along with a committee that had representation from:

• Alberta Health Services (AHS) 
• Aquatera
• Centre for Research and Innovation 
• City of Grande Prairie
• Grande Prairie Regional College 

At a recent VitalSigns® follow up meeting, Alberta Health Services and the City's Community Social Development department reported on two initiatives developed as a direct result of the report.  In this issue of Community Landscape, we will provide more information about these programs as well as report on the activities of two other community partners who were also mentioned as important contributors to our community.

It has often been said that laughter is the best way to learn.  If this is the case then the grade three students who visit SafetyCity learn a lot.

With plenty of opportunity to practice their safety skills, students take part in fun activities designed to heighten their awareness of the many hazards in their environment and equip them with the information they need to stay safe. 

The Community Foundation recently awarded the Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities a $5,000 Community Impact Grant.  These funds are in support of the Community Injury Prevention Mobilization program, an injury prevention education and awareness.  This charity also oversees the SafetyCity program.

"We use the findings of the 2011 VitalSigns® report to guide our granting activities," said Tracey Vavrek, Executive Director.   "The importance of Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities to our residents became apparent during the report's development." 

Tracey was referring to a number of stats outlined in the 2011 VitalSigns report which included the high number Criminal Code Traffic Violations which were found to be almost 116% higher than the national average and 64% higher than the provincial average.  Collisions involving cyclists, three quarters of which were the result of the driver making an improper driving action, were also outlined. 

Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities offers programs throughout the Peace Region to address these stats including Traffic Safety Campaigns and Car Seat Clinics.  As part of its SafetyCity program, students have opportunities learn safety tips in a number of areas including pedestrian, fire, bicycle, water, farm, electrical, and first aid.

"Injuries are the leading cause of death for Alberta children and youth aged 19 and younger" said Carla Shkwarok, Executive Director for Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities. "We are very grateful to the Foundation for their generosity so we can begin our work to mobilize the community to help turn our injury rates around."

"We also work in partnership with our donors to grow the Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities Endowment Fund," says Tracey.  "Individuals and organizations donating to this fund are providingsupport to the long-term safety of our family, friends and neighbours."

The 2011 VitalSigns® report produced by the Community Foundation reported that "obesity has overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of premature preventable death."  In the former Peace Country Health Region, obesity rates for people aged 18 and over were reported as being just over 48% above the provincial average.  As well, our 2010 obesity rates ranked highest of all 22 Vital Signs communities.

In response, a Workplace Wellness Program pilot project was launched by Alberta Health Services (AHS) with six Grande Prairie businesses on May 15.

"It's wonderful to see AHS take this next step for VitalSigns," says Tracey Vavrek, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie.  "The response of the six companies who wish to make a difference in their place of business is very encouraging and highlights the importance of the VitalSigns project.

"The exciting feature of this pilot program is that it reaches hard-to-access Albertans who are identified as 50% to 60% of the province's working populations," said Garett Richardson of Alberta Health Services

Utilizing staff from the Public Health area of AHS, they work closely with workplace champions to determine the company's needs and develop programs to address these needs.

As reported in the 2011 VitalSigns® document, the child poverty rate in Grande Prairie Census Area, based on the Low Income Measure, was 17.3%.  The majority of these children live in single-parent families where recreational activities may take a back seat in favour of addressing the basics of food, utilities and housing - things many of us may take for granted.

The knowledge and understanding of life faced by Grande Prairie's low-income population combined with the Peace Country's high obesity rate as reported in VitalSigns®, solidified the importance of implementing the Low Income Recreation Access program. 

"We commend the City of Grande Prairie for understanding the importance of sustaining citizens in addressing the social needs of the community," said Tracey Vavrek, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. 

The Community Social Development Department, which is responsible for overseeing the program, provides services and partners with the community to take action on issues such as poverty reduction and homelessness. 

"The program was launched on January 1st, 2012 and it has been very well-received," says manager, Donelda Laing.  "To date our office has approved approximately 300 applications."

The program provides a $100 credit per person per family for access to any city-operated recreational facility and is available to any City of Grande Prairie resident who meets the low income criteria.  As an example, a family with six children and two adults would qualify to receive a credit worth $800 explained Donelda.

"The credit can take the form of a punch card and provides families with opportunities to use city facilities and programs," she said.

Community Social Development continues to accept new applications to the Low Income Recreation Access program and applications can be found on the city web site at www.cityofgp.com. 

The 2011 VitalSigns® reported that since the opening of the new, larger Grande Prairie Public Library facility in 2009, visits have more than doubled to almost 272,000 in 2010.  And that is just the number of physical visits; the number of cardholders has increased by half and the number of virtual visits was tracked at over 100,000 between 2008 and 2010. 

"Over the years the Library has undergone transformations to keep relevant, offer up-to-date technology and make sure we are giving the community what they ask for," said Dawn Silver, Library Director. "We currently have space for a lot of programs however we require the right space for several types of programs the community has asked us to provide."

For instance, after partnering for several years with Alberta Health Services, the Library would like to offer hands-on learning opportunities for better nutritional health and overall wellness of the community.   This would require an uncarpeted space.

"For our youth, we would like to be able to offer physical activity along with a love of reading," said Dawn.  "This may encompass the book battle type of programs which link physical activity with answering in-depth questions about some of the teen's best-loved books."

Often generating noise along with great enthusiasm, the current program spaces cannot handle this type of activity without seriously impacting other Library services which other Library patrons require. 

"The great news is the space exists," said Dawn.  "It just needs to be finished." 

"The Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie is pleased to support the Library's role in making our community stronger and more vibrant," said Tracey Vavrek, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie. "People may not be aware that the Library is a charity and that the Foundation is also home of the Grande Prairie Public Library Endowment Fund."

Anyone wishing to support the Library in a way that will make a difference for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are welcome to do so through this endowment fund.  Gifts are carefully invested for the long term with a portion of the investment income supporting the operations of the Library for generations to come.

Over the past five  years, the Community Foundation has been working with TELUS to identify charitable agencies interested in having TELUS employees come to their location for one weekend to volunteer their time to complete chores staff  may not have the time or person-power to accomplish. 

This year TELUS employees selected Odyssey House.  Following is a story contributed to us by the Executive Director of Odyssey House.

Carol Pettit wrote, "Volunteers don't just do the work ~ they make it work."  This was proven once again at Odyssey House on May 26th when TELUS chose us to benefit from their TELUS Days of Giving event. 

Even though our facility is fairly new, with the large number of clients utilizing the house, natural wear and tear is real for the Women's Shelter which provides emergency housing for women and children in need.

In a single day, 20 TELUS employees were able to complete renovations to make Odyssey House a safer and more comforting environment for both our residents and staff.  

Initiatives like TELUS's Days of Giving provides the incentive and ability to tackle projects that are needed but just not attainable for a non-profit organization that operates 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, and on limited resources. 

We are so grateful to the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie for connecting TELUS with our organization and linking the will of volunteers with a way to improve and strengthen our community each and every day.

Because of additional community support from businesses like Home Depot, Clover Dale Paint, FCSS Grande Prairie, Ramona's Pizza, Mary Kay, Crush Hairstyling and of course, the volunteers involved in our volunteer program, we were able to make it work without interrupting services to our clients. 

From our residents and staff to each of you, thank you for caring.

Jasmin Greavett

Executive Director

It's that time of year again.  Time to start thinking about the annual Community Foundation Gala, to be held September 15 at the Grande Prairie Inn.  

This year's theme, Inspire Invest Forever, signifies that the Foundation works year-round to inspire individuals, organizations and companies to invest in our our community to benefit future generations. 

We have a full evening planned for you.  We have designed an amazing culinary experience featuring wine pairings showcasing California specialties.  You will discover for yourself how wine enhances food and how food brings out the complexity and flavor in wine.  Along with many opportunities to socialize with your friends and colleagues, our silent and live auction packages promise to be full of unique and appealing items selected to stimulate your interest. 

We thank our many supporters and sponsors for this wonderful event and are proud of our partnerships.  There are more opportunities available and we would be honoured to have your business join us as for this exciting evening. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss your interest in any of these tremendous opportunities. Click here to learn more about about sponsorship opportunities.

As we move into summer, now is the time to contact us to purchase seats as tickets are going fast to Grande Prairie's most elegant evening.  This is a great opportunity to show your support for the work we do with Peace Country charities, it is also a wonderful way to make the transition from summer to fall.  

You can reach us by telephone (780) 538-2820 or email.  

Leonard Scharbach, believes very strongly in the Community Foundation movement and especially the idea that work done by a foundation today benefits the community, forever.

In his duties as Chair, he often refers to the Winnipeg Community Foundation which is Canada's first community foundation.  Started in 1921 with a gift of $100,000 from banker William Alloway, their endowments have grown immensely over the past nine decades so that today it has an asset base of over $439 million.

"That first gift still continues to give back; and it will forever - that's amazing," says Leonard.  "Just think of what we can accomplish in the Peace Country over the next 90 years."

Leonard sees certain parallels between the Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie and his work as a financial advisor.

"Similar to my work, the Community Foundation brings people who want to give together with causes and charities," he said.

As both a businessman and an avid athlete, (he is a dedicated runner, hiker, biker and skating coach), Leonard has developed a deep understanding and familiarity of Peace Country communities. 

Leonard's business and coaching duties take him to communities throughout the Peace Country region, from Manning to Grand Cache, where he has had many opportunities to meet our residents and become knowledgeable about their communities.

Leonard has some very definite ideas about what he wants to accomplish in his position as volunteer Chair of the Foundation's board of directors. 

"Although the Foundation and the board are both very solid, when my time on the Foundation board is done I want to leave the organization even stronger," he said.  "Just like our endowment funds, we plan to be around forever so we are always looking at ways to improve ourselves."