COCHRANE— Providing support to the community through its annual grant program, The Bow RiversEdge Campground Society Re-Investment Committee awarded $68,800 to 17 local non-profit organizations.
Board of Directors member Jim Thorne said it was a great experience to support local organizations in what has been a difficult year.
“It’s good to see that we're able to help groups out that perhaps wouldn’t have help or as much help as they require,” Thorne said. “We’re happy to be able to rectify that in some way.”
It has been a challenging year for many as organizations have been forced to adapt and pivot operations during the COVID-19 public health measures, he said. Thorne added some of the applications detailed ways in which operations have changed in light of health measures put in place due to the virus.
“We also had some groups that might normally apply for one of the grants decide they were going to take this year off because they thought ‘we know there are some groups out there that need the funding more than we do,'” Thorne said.
On Friday (Oct. 2) Bow RiversEdge Campground provided grants to Bike Cochrane Society, Cochrane Bethany Family Council, Cochrane BMX Association, Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee, Cochrane Integrated Arts Society, Cochrane Lions Rodeo, Cochrane Minor Baseball, Cochrane Public Library, Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival, Cochrane Victim Service Society, Cochrane Women's Emergency Shelter Society, Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, Helping Hands Society of Cochrane & Area, Hope Mission Calgary, Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta, Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society and Stockmen's Memorial Foundation.
Typically a grants award presentation would be held to celebrate the organizations receiving funds, Thorne said, but due to COVID-19, the annual Bow RiversEdge Awards reception will not take place.
In terms of the amounts of grants given out 2020 is on par with other years, Thorne said. On average, the organization provides between $60,000 and $70,000 in grants. To date, the society has awarded more than $1 million in grants.
“We are very supportive of what they are trying to accomplish and we’re just happy we can help them out financially in order for them to get closer or to achieve the goals that they’re looking for,” Thorne said.
A wide array of groups qualify for grants and all of them support important causes in the community, Thorne said, explaining the society takes pride in offering them monetary support. He added, typically their only regret is they do not have more funds for organizations in need.
“We’re proud and we’re happy to be part of that process that will perhaps allow some groups to get a little further ahead,” Thorne said.
The grants are funded by the profit generated at the Bow RiversEdge Campground. When the campground launched several years ago, it was designed as a community reinvestment program, Thorne said.
The Bow RiversEdge Campground Society was founded and is managed by The Rotary Club of Cochrane and Cochrane Lions Club, as a way to give back to Cochrane and area with proceeds from campground stays. The Bow RiversEdge Campground Society Re-investment Committee reviews funding applications and distributes grants annually to local non-profits and organizations that have a positive impact on youth, sports and recreation, arts and culture, the environment and general community services.
Bow RiversEdge has been well received by the public, he added, largely finding success through word-of-mouth recommendations.
“It’s a beautiful place and word-of-mouth brings us a lot of business,” Thorne said. “We’re able to keep it busy and it allows us to supply these grants to worthy causes.”
Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation executive director Scott Grattidge said the organization is grateful for the $4,000 grant from Bow RiversEdge, as it will help Stockmen’s launch their branding experience tourism program.
“This funding along with some funding we got from Rocky View County is going to help to buy a bunch of equipment that we need for the branding experience,” Grattidge said. “It's actually going to go towards branding irons and heaters so that people can experience how to brand first-hand.”
Grattidge has been planning the branding program for almost a year and the funding will allow them to take tangible steps forward and “get going full steam.”
The branding experience shows people what it would be like to be a European settler coming to Western Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a homesteader, Grattidge said. The program will show the steps involved to secure a piece of land and the importance of brands to identify animals.
“It [brands] became part of a family symbol,” Grattidge said. “Almost like the family tartan of the prairies.”
Grattidge, who is also a Rotarian, sat on the Bow RiversEdge Campground Society board in the past and has seen the good work the grants have been able to help facilitate. He added, it is important to have access to grants like those provided by the Bow RiversEdge Campground Society because it supports local organizations in helping the Cochrane and area community.
