WEYBURN – Weyburn Credit Union is awarding over $70,000 to 14 local community groups who share WCU’s belief in making the community better, brighter, and stronger.
One of the ways WCU helps build a stronger community is through their Community Fund. Typically, the Credit Union Board of Directors allocate one per cent of the Credit Union’s profits to the WCU Community Fund each year. Community groups and organizations can then apply for funding for projects and initiatives that have a long-lasting, positive impact within our local communities.
This year’s WCU Community Fund Recipients are:
• Weyburn Cooperative Playschool will receive $1,730, accepted by board member Janessa Walliser and her daughter Collins Moffat.To say recent years have been tough for the playschool would be an understatement. Lower enrollment, a pandemic followed by a flood to their building (which forced a move) has been a lot for their school to endure. The Credit Union is helping them replace some of the items damaged or destroyed by flood not covered by insurance, namely a new sand/water table; printer/photocopier; seating/play area carpet; and a bookcase.
• Yellow Grass Communiplex receives $8,000, accepted by board member Justin Richter.
It was recently found out that the ice surface is in dire need of new boards and this grant is going to help with that project.
• Weyburn Minor Ball will receive $2,500, accepted by Don Bourassa.
Recently, Weyburn Minor Ball was given the opportunity to purchase a new-to-them diamond groomer and this grant is going to cover half of the cost.
• Weyburn Legion Branch #47 received $5,000, and was accepted by Brian Glass, President of the Legion, and Owen White, their sergeant-at-arms.
The Legion Hall is in need of a new of an upgrade to the auditorium’s sound system. New audio equipment would ensure a great listening experience for all in attendance regardless of age or hearing ability.
• Legacy Park Elementary School received $10,000, and was accepted by Tanice Abramson, Learning Support Teacher.
The goal of their project is twofold, first to replace an inclusive swing that was broken, and secondly to add a wheelchair swing to their playground.
Students in wheelchairs, with intensive needs or with cognitive of physical disabilities will benefit immensely as they will be able to do an activity that their typical-functioning friends do at recess all the time. The wheelchair swing would be the first of its kind in Weyburn.
• Weyburn Fire Brigade received $10,000.
The Weyburn Fire Brigade is working on centralizing their training and equipment in one location for safe and efficient training. The grant of $10,000 will be directly applied to the purchase and repurposing of a sea can to meet their equipment and training needs.
• Inclusion Weyburn received $2,000, accepted by Jackie Wilson.
Through partnerships with the Weyburn Leisure Centre, the Weyburn Credit Union Spark Centre, and the Weyburn Family Place, Inclusion Weyburn has created opportunities for youth who have intellectual disabilities to attend summer day camps with their neurotypical peers. In order for them to attend, participate in and enjoy their time at camps, necessary supports have to be in place.
One of those supports is a sensory room. Many people who have intellectual disabilities experience high anxiety. To deal with this, they use various forms of self-regulation that helps them lessen this stress. The equipment in sensory rooms provide various effective tools for self regulation. WCU provided funding to purchase some of the special equipment needed in the Sensory Room at the Credit Union Spark Centre.
• Weyburn Soccer Association received $2,500, accepted by president Jason Roy and technical director David Henderson.
With this growth, they realize the need to continuously upgrade and acquire equipment to meet the needs for community, competitive, and adaptive soccer teams. This equipment includes strength and agility training, soccer balls, and goalkeeper training equipment.
The grant funding of $2,500 is to purchase all required soccer balls.
• Weyburn Youth Centre received $2,500, accepted by board chair Cameron Weber.
The skate park is in needs of repair and renewal to ensure its safety and longevity. WCU provided $2,500 towards the required cement work.
• Weyburn Wildlife Federation received $3,000, accepted by treasurer Terra Hartley Ortman and president Shaun Ortman.
WWF uses their clubhouse for all of their meetings and activities. They rent the space out as a community gathering space as well. They are looking to add emergency and first aid supplies and equipment to their clubhouse in case of an emergency as they are located out of the city. WCU provided funding for their AED unit and first aid kits.
• Weyburn Group Home received $10,000, presented to executive director Colin Folk and participants.
As part of the care, they are in need of a wheelchair accessible van to safely transport their clients locally as well as to medical appointments in Regina and Estevan. The grant provides $10,000 towards the purchase of the new van.
• Weyburn Lacrosse Association received $1,200. One of the biggest barriers for players registering as a goalie is the cost of the equipment. Weyburn Lacrosse provides goalie gear to eliminate this barrier. Some of the equipment is in need of replacement and the grant provides $1,200 in funding to help them out.
• Weyburn Junior Hockey Association Inc. received $9,000, with Red Wings players Ty Mason and Wyatt LaCoste accepting.
Player safety is a key focus of the team and the Credit Union is providing $9,000 towards the $14,000 budget to upgrade all players helmets.
• Southeast SK Search and Rescue received $4,500, and was accepted by Mickey Quigley.
The grant provides funding for a Mule II Rescue basket litter and scoop stretcher equipment. This equipment will help the search teams aid the community in cases where they are called out to locate an individual or patient that may be quite some distance from an area where motorized vehicles can’t get to. The equipment is very helpful in places that motorized vehicles can’t get to such as the treed areas of a provincial or regional parks. The combination of the equipment allows a very small search team to move a patient/individual great distances through sometimes rough terrain with great ease.
“For our members who’ve entrusted their financial relationship to us, we are so grateful. It’s only because of our members that we are able to make this community investment,” said Tana Torkelson, VP of Marketing.
