On June 23, 2010 the Community Foundation announced the Flood Relief 2010 Fund, in support of those affected by the devastating flooding in Medicine Hat, Irvine and Cypress County. Since then the outpouring of community support from individuals, families and businesses has been tremendous.

Most recently the local accounting firm of Johnston Morrison Hunter & Co LLP presented a cheque in the amount of $10,000 to directly support those affected by the flood. This brings the total amount of the fund to nearly $45,000. “JMH is and always has been very involved in our community in our 94 years in Medicine Hat and area. Like many other Hatters, our staff and partners were looking for a way to create an impact that would benefit the most people and we know that the Community Foundation has the capability to ensure this will happen,” says partner Kelly Byers.

Community Foundation executive director Mike Christie highlighted: “We are not a charity that makes knee jerk decisions, we carefully assess what the needs are and how we can best meet those needs with the funds we have available. The municipalities, the Canadian Red Cross and numerous other agencies dealt with the immediate needs, the Disaster Recovery Program is the entity that should provide the bulk of the recovery program and the purpose of the Community Foundation’s funds is to support the medium and long term effects, which can be overlooked. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

The fourth annual Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs will be made public on October 5, but the Community Foundation needs to hear what Hatters think of their city first.

The report is well known for its sunshine symbols of how residents feel about each indicator. Residents are asked to go online to www.surveymonkey.com/s/vitalsigns2010 and give grades to each statement. These responses will be collected anonymously and collated to give the Foundation a final sunshine grade, which will be published in the October publication. Residents have until Wednesday, August 18 to complete the survey.

For the first time the Community Foundation will have a section dedicated to youth issues. Because of this, youth are particularly encouraged to complete the survey. For more information, please contact the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta at (403) 527-9038 or jennifer@mhcf.ca.

‘Hatters now have a chance to be featured in our annual community report card, the 2010 Vital Signs.

The report, which will be released on October 5, 2010, features graded indicators to give the community an indication on quality of life in Medicine Hat. The full colour feature will have several categories, which may include: youth; gap between rich and poor; safety; health; learning, housing; getting started; arts, culture and recreation; environment; work; belonging and leadership; getting around; and economy.

Local photographers are asked to submit any photographs that may fit in to such categories. Photographers chosen will be recognized in the publication’s credits. Subjects of the photos are asked to sign a waiver form prior to publication.

Photographs should be less than seven megabytes and can be emailed to vitalsigns@mhcf.ca or dropped off at the Community Foundation office: room 104, 430-6th Ave. SE. Deadline is July 31, 2010.

Please be aware that only a limited number of photographs will be chosen, but we thank you for all submissions.

Last year’s report can be viewed through the Foundation’s website at www.mhcf.ca. For more information, please call (403) 527-9038, email info@mhcf.ca or join the Community Foundation’s Facebook group.

Sixteen years ago, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta proudly made its inaugural grant, one of assistance to the City of Medicine Hat after 1995’s devastating flooding.

Today, the Community Foundation reminds those in our region that the foundation is available to assist charitable organizations through the Immediate Assistance Fund.

“The Immediate Assistance Fund began a year ago to collect donations for those affected by the economic downturn,” said executive director Mike Christie. “And although we made disbursements this spring, we have left the fund open for emergencies such as this.”

THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

In continuing its rich history of supporting charitable organizations in the region, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today announced a grants distribution totaling $65,355.

Over half of the grant funds will go toward 11 community projects. Groups applied for these funds in March and the Foundation’s grants committee undertook the process of choosing the grant recipients. These community groups will receive $40,814 of the funds while the other $24,541 is allocated to pre-determined designated grants for charitable organizations in the region.

The Community Foundation has now awarded 619 grants in its 18-year history, worth over $2.7 million. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

Community Consultations Set for 2010 Vital Signs: Community Foundation asks for public input.

‘Hatters will have two chances next week to add their input to the 2010 Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs report. The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta is hosting two separate public consultations in order for citizens to express what they would like to see in this year’s report.

The first consultation, aimed at the business community, will take place in the Chamber of Commerce’s board room on Tuesday, May 25 from 12 – 1 PM. The second consultation is of a general nature and will take place on Thursday, May 27 from 12 – 1 PM in REDI Enterprises’s board room.

Community consultations play an important role in the kick-off to the Vital Signs process.

“These consultations allow us to hear what citizens believe are the strengths and weaknesses of Medicine Hat,” said Mike Christie, executive director of the Community Foundation. “It also helps us create a better report because we hear what issues are important to ‘Hatters.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

“Healthy Decisions in a Fast-Paced World”
Lunch Session to Help Steer ‘Hatters to Healthier Lifestyles

In continuing to bring issues from Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs to the forefront, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta unveiled today the second session in a series of Vital Munches.

“Healthy Decisions in a Fast Paced World” will be the topic of discussion at the free lunchtime seminar, set to take place February 8, 2010 from 12 – 1:30 PM in the Honor Currie Room in the Medicine Hat Public Library. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch, and the foundation will provide beverages.

Panel members will include dietitian, food columnist and best-selling cookbook author (“The Big Cook”) Joanne Smith, and Ed Stiles, Certified Exercise Physiologist and owner/operator of Peak Performance Fitness Services.

“We are thrilled that Ed and Joanne will be joining us for this important discussion,” said Jennifer Thompson, Community Impact Coordinator. “Ed is very well known in the community for his insight into personal fitness and is dedicated to helping people improve their lives through exercise. Joanne’s experience teaching families to eat healthier through her work, column and cookbook will benefit all those in attendance as well. Ed and Joanne are both well respected and we are grateful that they are taking time from their busy schedules to help create a healthier community.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today announced the opening of the application process for spring 2010 grants.

Applications will be accepted from today until the close of business on March 15, 2009. Qualified donees or organizations must hold a charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency. The Community Foundation awards grants for charitable activities in the arts, education, social services, the environment, health, culture and recreation, or any project that will maintain or improve the quality of life in Southeastern Alberta.

In December the Community Foundation unveiled over $36,000 in community grants, and the organization hopes to provide much of the same benefit to area non-profits this spring.

“We are thrilled to once again give grants to worthy organizations in Southeastern Alberta,” said executive director Mike Christie. “While we have several priorities at the Community Foundation, giving grants to kick-start community projects is one of the most rewarding.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

After one year in which no community grants were dispersed, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today rewarded nine local charitable organizations with a total of $36,536 in funds.

Because of a harsh financial climate and decreased investment portfolio performance, the Community Foundation was unable to continue its normal grant cycles after the spring of 2008. With a slowly improving portfolio, however, the foundation was able to recommence its grant program again this September.

“It was very exciting to once again start the application process this fall,” said Community Foundation executive director Mike Christie. “Although we had been working as hard as ever in the office, we missed our twice-yearly community grants cycles. Giving out community grants is one of the best parts of our job, and the board and staff didn’t feel as fulfilled without it.”

Dozens of applications were received by the foundation in mid-September; a volunteer-based grants committee then met several times to decide which groups would receive the funds.

“It was hard this year in particular because we all knew what a tough time these charities are facing,” said Christie. “There were many worthwhile applications. Our volunteers worked diligently to find the right groups to award with funds, and we hope that Southeast Alberta will be an even better place with the funds going to these groups.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »

The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta is proud to announce the first in a series of 2009-2010 Vital Activities, a spin-off of its Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs publication.

“Waste Not, Want Not: Recycling in Medicine Hat — the who, how, when and what’s next!” will take place on Thursday, November 19 from 12 – 1:30 PM in the Honor Currie Room in the Medicine Hat Public Library. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch.

Panel members include Ed Jollymore, manager of solid waste utilities for the City of Medicine Hat, Randy Bray, operations supervisor at REDI Enterprises, and Raeann Torrance, owner of local curbside recycling company Down To Earth Recycling.

“Our moderator will ask our panel members questions related to the present and future of recycling in Medicine Hat,” said Jennifer Thompson, community impact coordinator for the Community Foundation. “We hope to give the public a better idea of how we can improve recycling in our area and perhaps glean an idea of what local recycling might look like in the future.”

This “Vital Munch” will also include a new component: interactive questions from the online community. Using the library’s new wireless internet service, Thompson will be online to write live “tweets” from the event on the foundation’s Twitter account (@cfmh). Followers can be part of the discussion by responding to tweets or even tweeting their own questions to ask the panel. Questions can also be directed to jennifer@mhcf.ca. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »