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Community Foundation CEO reflects on growth ahead of AGM

May 17, 2018 | 5:30 AM

Three new board members will be added to the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta (CFNWA) next week during the organization’s annual general meeting.

Ahead of the Wednesday meeting, CEO Tracey Vavrek is reflecting on another year with the organization. With almost 17 years with CFNWA, she says the past year was a success.

“Our foundation is becoming more well-known, understood in the community, and our trust and respect continue to grow. We are a strong organization doing immense work and we are developing more partnerships that are key.”

The 2017 Vital Signs report was released in the fall with all aspects of the community highlighted. Vavrek says last year’s report was able to be expanded.

“Including the MD of Greenview, City of Grande Prairie, and the County of Grande Prairie, we were able to collect data on all three of the municipalities and report on those areas. What has been exciting to see because of a result of this report is the amount of action taking place within the community,” said the CEO.

Topics from learning to transportation were covered in the report. Housing needs were highlighted including statistics on homelessness. Between 2016 and 2017, Rotary House noticed a 40.1 per cent increase in seniors using the beds. There were also 28,412 beds occupied that same year.

Point In Time survey results were also included in the report with 33 per cent of homeless residents saying they became homeless due to substance abuse or addiction.

That information will be presented at the AGM along with the Annual Report and the Financial Statements.

Vavrek says they are also seeing an increase in grant funding.

“We saw a tremendous increase in our grants in 2017 which is significant. Those grants are providing resources and support for so many organizations. So many organizations in our community are part of the Community Foundation.”

The meeting goes at 4 p.m. on May 23 at the Golden Age Centre.

Vavrek also invites people out to the monthly Open-Door Cafe events. The next one will be held on June 7 and they will be talking about risk management and conflict of interest.