Red Deer and District Community Foundation (RDDCF) has given away $167,000 in grants to local organizations working to create equality, inclusion, and justice in the community. Seven local organizations were awarded for projects that address racism, wage inequality, and gender-based violence.

Organizations were able to apply for up to $40,000 but RDDCF formed a collective for each organization to get together virtually in order to discuss their projects and determine the best method of splitting up the funding.

“What really stood out to me was that this group came together to recognize the hard work that everybody else is doing, and then determined how they can work together and how they can spread the funding out. There was not a competitive process. It was a collaborative process. It just really stuck out that tomorrow is going to be brighter because of those that have experienced having a voice today,” said Erin Peden Executive Director of the Red Deer and District Community Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Erin Peden.

The recipients are as follows:

  • $20,250 for the Broom Tree Foundation for their Bridges program
  • $10,445 for the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre for their Survivor Support Groups
  • $16,343 for the Olds College for their One Size Does Not Fit All program
  • $40,000 for the Red Deer Native Friendship Society for their Awakening the Gift of Two Spirits program
  • $20,250 for the Skipping Stone Scholarship Foundation for their Community Connections program
  • $20,250 for Soroptimists International for their Period Promise program $40,000 for UBUNTU for their Central Alberta Collective

Peden said the Community Foundations of Canada had a special focus on supporting women and gender diverse people based on how they’ve been affected during the pandemic.

“When the original lockdown hit us, there was a wave of recognition around how women were being disproportionately affected because women were the first to lose their jobs. They were the first to have to be home with their children. They were the first to have to balance all of the hardship that happened.  At the same time domestic violence was on the rise, sexual assault was on the rise, and of course mental health across the board and with all genders was a significant issue,” said Peden.

In addition to gender-based inequities, systemic racism was another issue the collective was passionate about supporting. Peden says it was inspiring to hear from those who have not had a voice in our community. 

“I'm actually emotional about this because it was so incredibly inspiring to be able to sit with a collective group and recognize that we have a huge marginalized sector within Central Alberta who have been silenced for a long time,” explained Peden.

For Peden, the entire collaborative process demonstrated only a bright future for the Central Alberta area.

“I think that we are on the cusp of creating some significant, very important social change within Central Alberta. I think the Red Deer District and Community Foundation is embracing that and moving forward with open ears and open eyes. We don't want to be anywhere other than this community to make those changes. It feels very, very good,” said Peden.