Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Community

GSF using federal grant to beautify land in DeBolt

Oct 8, 2025 | 12:00 PM

The federal government recently announced five grants worth a total of $1.3 million for five projects around Alberta.

One of the five grants is going to the Grande Spirit Foundation for just over $168,000.

Foundation administrator Steve Madden says this is for work on some land that at one time had buildings on it but also had some environmental issues.

“Not in the buildings, but in the land itself, so it (was) closed. The buildings needed to be removed to better accommodate the issue.”

“That’s been done, and now, what (the) Grande Spirit Foundation has is funding from the federal government from the Natural Infrastructure Program to beautify that piece of land and turn it into something enjoyable for the seniors.”

Madden says this land is located beside the seniors’ association building in DeBolt.

“It’s just a brown field right now, just grass. (It has) been cleared. It’s a smaller plot (we can) turn it back into something useful park-wise, if you want to think of it that way.”

He adds they may be looking at a park but will get input from the seniors.

“We’re still working on getting someone together to help us with the actual drawings; so that we know placements, and then we would definitely get the folks involved to provide some input and feedback on what can we do with this (land).”

Madden says the work will likely start and finish in 2026.

There is also $26,520 in municipal funding and $25,000 in other funding going into this project.