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Photo by Curtis Galbraith.
By Curtis Galbraith
City Hall

City Council to discuss emergency funding for Cool Aid Society on Monday

Feb 7, 2025 | 6:00 AM

A city hall committee is recommending council approve $60,000 in emergency funding for Grande Prairie’s Cool Aid Society, a local youth centre.

Council will discuss this at its meeting on Monday, February 10.

Officials with the organization told a city standing committee that they would have to shut down by the end of March without more money.

Society Operations Manager Barbara Feltham-Brentnall says this would be enough to cover operating costs until the end of June.

“Our hope is (that) if we get that funding that between now and June, we are able to apply for other funding measures. There are some more grants becoming available in April, just when that fiscal year starts for most businesses, right?”

“So, just kind of something to tide us over until June, and then we can apply for other stuff (in the) future.”

Feltham-Brentnall says the society is pleased with the response from the city.

She adds one of the major funders the Cool Aid Society had said it would not renew a funding contract as of the end of March, because its organizational structure changed

“Their focus is now on intervention (as) opposed to prevention and because of the age of the children and youth that we support, we fall in under that prevention bracket.”

“It is completely within the organization’s right to change their funding model and their focus.”

Feltham-Brentnall says the society has also put a former location along 96 Street up for sale. It was closed previously due to funding issues.

She adds the community has come forward to help.

“Some people have sent in emails and letters to the city about their distress (over) our (possible) closure.”

“We’ve had other businesses reach out to us and offer to support us in doing a fundraiser.”

The centre currently serves 100-300 kids, with 20 to 60-70 going there every day. The kids are anywhere from 5 to 18 years old.

Feltham-Brentnall says the centre offers several programs and classes, including ones where youth drop in to learn to sew, go on field trips, or play Nintendo or Dungeons and Dragons. There is also a class where a 14-year-old teaches a STEM science club for younger children every Monday, one that always has a wait list. All programming has a mental health theme.

The Cool Aid Society youth centre is located in the Patterson area close to the Dave Barr Community Centre.

by Curtis Galbraith