Through all the work that we do throughout our region including building community, connecting people, it has become clear that belonging is a factor essential to building smart & caring communities.
We know that a strong sense of belonging has the extraordinary capacity to transform our lives and our communities. It translates into safer, more resilient and inclusive communities; it’s integral to our mental health and overall well-being; it creates a flourishing culture; it enhances our ability to cultivate relationships; and it inspires greater community participation.
Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® showed that although our sense of belonging is higher than the national average, our region still has room for improvement. Through the development of this year’s report, we learned that 1 in 5 respondents living in the City of Grande Prairie feel hardly or not at all connected to their community.
Belong is vital to community, but where do we go after this critical learning? How do we measure our collective sense of belonging, how do we integrate belonging into vital conversations, how do we inspire citizens to connect with their communities and each other and how do we utilize belonging to build smart & caring communities?
Projects and programs like Nourish the North Wine & Auction, Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® and Random Act of Kindness Day® are just some of the ways that your Community Foundation is working to build vibrant and inclusive communities where people feel a strong sense of belonging.
Please feel free to contact me at (780) 538-2820 to discuss how you can partner with the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta in building community, connecting people and increasing our collective sense of belonging throughout the region.
Connect people. Build community. For good, and forever.
Warmest Wishes,
Tracey Vavrek, CEO
Kindness Inspires Kindness
We know that demonstrated that a sense of belonging has the extraordinary capacity to transform our lives and our communities. Vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities are strong communities and belonging is an important part of community.
The 2017 Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® Report showed that although our sense of belonging is higher than the national average, our region still has room for improvement. 1 in 5 people living in the City of Grande Prairie reported feeling hardly or not at all connected to their community.
Random Act of Kindness Day is an opportunity to do something kind for someone else, to connect with fellow citizens and to develop a collective sense of belonging in our community. Showing kindness inspires kindness from others. Join us in spreading kindness for Random Act of Kindness Day on Friday, November 3rd.
Want to get involved? The Community Foundation office is your destination for all things kindness! We have tons of goodies to kick off Random Act of Kindness Day including posters, bracelets, cards, water-less tattoos & fortune cookies. Get in touch with out office to make arrangements 780-538-2820. You can also share your kindness story on social media using #RAKDay & #KindnessNWAB.
NORTHWESTERN ALBERTA’S VITAL SIGNS®
Bright and early on October 3rd, community members from around the region came together for the launch of the 2017 Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® report.
Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® provides an overview of quality of life in the City of Grande Prairie, the County of Grande Prairie, the MD of Greenview and local communities. The report serves as a tool to guide citizens to understand our greatest successes and most pressing issues in order to effectively mobilize change and action. In-depth data collection and a citizen perception survey help us dive deep into our communities and priorities.
The theme of this year’s report is belonging because a vital community is one where everyone has opportunities to feel like they belong.
Read the 2017 Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs® report and take a deeper look at belonging in our region.
The Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta was one of more than 85 communities in Canada and around the world that launched their Vital Signs report during the first week of October. Read the Community Foundations of Canada’s 2017 National Vital Signs Report: Community systems and belonging.
A Successful Evening of Fellowship & Philanthropy
Nourish the North Wine & Auction was a fantastic evening of food, fellowship, and philanthropy in support of community. Through the tremendous support of our friends, volunteers, community partners, ambassadors and everyone who attended, we continue to increase community capacity, connect people to the causes that matter to them and build smart and caring communities throughout our region.
Our Nourish the North event is just one of the ways that we build community, but it is an essential way to connect people to the Community Foundation and to their community. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Nourish the North Wine & Auction a success!
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
We do what we do because community matters.
Each year through the support of our amazing donors, fundholders and friends the Community Foundation invests in building community throughout our region through Community Impact Grants and Student Awards.
Wednesday, December 6th we will come together to celebrate the creative, innovative projects and amazing local students we support throughout the region.
Year End Giving
It’s that time of year! Although there are more leaves on the ground than snow, it’s the time of year to start considering year-end giving. Consider the gift of philanthropy this season by donating to a legacy fund, in memoriam or to a Smart & Caring Fund to make a lasting impact on community throughout our region. Donations can be made online or by contacting our office at 780-538-2820.
WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Through the generosity of our fundholders, the support of community partners, and the continued success of events like Nourish the North Wine & Auction, Northwestern Alberta’s Vital Signs and Random Act of Kindness Day, your Community Foundation supports meaningful projects and programs to build smart and caring communities. Your Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta invests in our region because community matters. Join us in being part of the Community Foundation movement.