Hope Bridges Society is a non-profit organization in Strathmore and Wheatland County that facilitates the connection of all community members through inclusive music, movement, and arts programs, with a focus on adults who experience isolation for any number of reasons, which can affect their health and well-being.

Our programs create access to a community with as few barriers as possible. Programs are designed with excellent facilitation, equity, and accessibility top of mind so all individuals have access to the same opportunities and have the fullest possible engagement in their communities and to create meaningful social connections. At the heart of our organization is the knowledge that everyone belongs and is included, supported, and seen in the community.

Hope Bridges Society will continue to advocate for inclusion, and it is our commitment to keep listening, learning, and working together to do our best to build a stronger and more connected community for everyone.

Established in 2022, the Irvine School Agriculture Discovery Centre (ADC) is a micro-farm located right on the playground of Irvine School. It is home to a variety of production livestock, a large garden, a greenhouse, an innovative vermicomposting system as well as small crop plots.

The ADC serves to cultivate agriculture connections that will prepare our students to develop thriving societies, flourishing economies, and healthy environments. The program’s foundation is rooted in applying sustainable innovation to a system that is student-led.

According to a recent report released by RBC, 40% of farm operators will retire by 2033. While at the same time, the agriculture industry will be called upon to grow more food using less land and fewer resources. To reach our potential, as a global leader in the production of low-carbon, sustainable food, Canada must make intentional, innovative, and strategic investments aimed at developing the agriculture leaders of tomorrow, today.

If we receive funding through the Growing Home with BASF project, the ADC will develop an Ag-Pro CAREERS options course for junior high school students to expand our Careers and Technology Foundations (CTF) options. Our students will explore interests, passions and skills while making personal connections to the amazing career possibilities in agriculture. We will establish and build relationships with industry professionals in the areas of agronomy, animal health, crop production and protection, livestock production, agriculture science, research, technology, and specialty crops (greenhouse).

Our Ag-Pro CAREERS CTF option course will be offered to our students during the 2023-2024 school year in 6-week intervals. Throughout the course, students will research careers, travel to partner organizations, and make connections to form an authentic understanding of the fantastic career choices available in agriculture.

Funds will be used to develop course content, purchase materials, pay for busing and to provide an honorarium for our partner organizations. Once developed, we will have a template that can be shared with other schools throughout our school division and beyond. This program will kindle hearts, ignite minds and forge futures while our students make authentic connections to the agriculture industry.

We must prepare our students to pursue careers that don’t yet exist, using technology that hasn’t yet been invented, to solve problems we can’t even imagine. (The Element Ken Robinson)

Marwayne Fire & Rescue is a group of dedicated volunteers that donate their time to provide fire, rescue and first response services to the Village of Marwayne and surrounding area. We would use the $25,000 to purchase a side by side unit with water tank and pump for fighting wildland fires. With the recent fire calls that we have had we feel that this unit would better equip us to get into remote areas. We are continually replacing old equipment and upgrading our training to meet the needs of the community. We are honored to be chosen as one of the finalists in this contest.

The Rosalind Recreation Association is an exceptional organization that provides vital resources for the community by maintaining a wide range of facilities that support youth sports, community events and outdoor recreation activities. They ensure that the community has access to a well-maintained arena, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, concession booth and are also in the process of constructing a new Frisbee golf course.

Moreover, the Rosalind Recreation Association supports the local youth by offering various sports programs such as soccer, minor baseball and school sports along with financial support when needed. These programs provide children with opportunities to learn new skills, build teamwork and stay active. The association also hosts an annual senior slow pitch tournament that brings together community members of all ages and fosters a sense of camaraderie.

We, as an association would use the $25,000 prize money to continue our work of maintaining and improving the sports grounds and campground in the village of Rosalind and further enhance the existing facilities, such as the tennis courts that are being converted to accommodate pickle ball. Additionally, the association would use the funds to beautify the grounds by planting flowers, trees, and shrubs, creating a more inviting atmosphere for visitors and residents.

In conclusion, the Rosalind Recreation Association is an essential organization that provides invaluable resources to the community. They work hard to ensure that the community has access to well-maintained sports facilities, youth sports programs, and community events.

We take great pride in our facilities and following our town’s motto: SMALL…BUT STRONG.

To encourage improvement in agriculture, horticulture, homemaking, and quality of life in the agricultural community be means of providing recreation and agricultural events; facilities for recreation, agricultural and community events for the residents of Tofield and area.

Should the Agricultural Society be successful in their Grant submission, the funds would be used directly to offset the purchase of a chiller unit. Through recent discovery, the chiller unit has been determined to have met its life expectancy, with the inability for repair, meaning, full replacement. The chiller is an essential component of the ice plant, and integral to producing ice for the winter months. Truly, without this vital component, the ice season for 2023-24 is unlikely to proceed. This would result in a detriment to our users such as Minor Hockey, Can Skat, Figure Skating, Adult League Hockey, and public skating to name but a few. The usage of the arena extends from Tofield proper to Beaver County, potentially affecting thousands. Further, the costs for chiller replacement are near to $200,000.

We are the Chaplin Swimming Pool team! Every year we and countless other volunteers work hard to open our outdoor pool for the summer. We are a small community with many neighbouring towns who love our pool as well!

We have had generous support from our local village and rural municipal councils and from businesses in the area. Also families that use our pool help out all the time. We, like many other recreation facilities are continually fundraising, and this grant would help in so many ways to keep our bills paid and do necessary repairs as they arise as well as finish some upgrades in our pool house that have been delayed due to lack of funds. We want to keep our pool open for many more years!

The Davidson Child Care Inc Board was founded a year ago with the mission to provide high-quality, reliable and affordable child care for families in the Town of Davidson and surrounding areas. With limited resources and fewer opportunities, the role of a daycare center is not just to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children but also to support families and the entire community.

The current child care services in Davidson and surrounding areas are very limited and due to the growing population, the current services are unable to support the increasing demand. This is a continued and growing concern for our community and the surrounding area. A child care centre would benefit our community for many years to come. It would provide the consistent and reliable child care that our community is sorely lacking and would provide significant relief for working parents in not only our community, but the surrounding area. Families would have an improved quality of life in many areas if they had access to reliable child care. The lack of adequate child care in the area is also a significant factor in whether or not an individual may decide to move to and raise their family in our community, and whether they decide to take a new job or pursue a career in the area. The development of a child care centre is an absolute necessity to alleviate this persistent problem in our community.

The town of Davidson is an enthusiastic community that is supportive of this venture, and has shown great support for this project, and previous community projects.

Approximately less than a year ago we applied for the government program and we were approved and funded for 60 child spots. The total projected project cost is around 2.1M. We are building a brand new facility of approximately 8,260 sq feet.
We have been actively fundraising and with the government grant we are almost halfway from our fundraising goal. If we would be selected as the winner of the $25,000 of the Growing Home program with BASF we would use the funds to purchase learning materials and play structure for the 60 children that we are planning to provide the service to. We truly believe in this project and the benefit that it will bring to Davidson and surrounding communities.

The Fillmore Recreation Centre is a hub for the community, hosting numerous events throughout the year, including sporting events and cabarets. The skating arena recently saw upgrades to the lighting and boards, which has drawn many teams out of the city into our small town. This influx of rentals and traffic in our rink has been very exciting and rewarding for our community. Unfortunately, our facility is aging quickly and we often find ourselves just trying to stay afloat.

The kitchen in the Rec Centre has needed upgrades for many years but we have managed to get by, until now. Our kitchen is no longer compliant with building standards and requires major upgrades in order to operate next season. We have been quoted upwards of $60,000 to replace our equipment, which is money that our board just doesn’t have.

The Fillmore Recreation Centre needs this money so that we can continue to provide a space for our community and other communities to gather, practice, play, and have fun now and for the generations to come.

Indian Head Elementary School is seeking grants and sponsorships to provide opportunities for our students to engage in outdoor learning and have access to playground equipment. As educators, we know outdoor learning increases students physical, mental and social health. Our landscape design encourages students to utilise common spaces and to engage in their learning. Vegetable and flower gardens allow students a chance to develop their skills and knowledge while providing an opportunity for hands-on learning. An update to our aging play structure will allow all our students to learn and explore with their peers in a more modern setting. There is great need for additional playground equipment for our early years students as well as for students with limited mobility. With the Town of Indian Head not having an accessible play structure, this would not only benefit our student population but the community for many years to come.

Need for the project:

According to the Prekindergarten Essentials Manual from the Saskatchewan Government, “Children benefit from rich and stimulating play choices outdoors, as well as indoors. Finding the balance between the indoor activities and outdoor explorations is part of a purposeful planning process.” With the help of Growing Home with BASF, we will use the $25,000 to create an Early Learning space. We envision an area where students will develop a healthy foundation for their learning by having the opportunity to investigate and learn from their natural surroundings!

The Macklin Kinette Club would love your vote because we are G.R.E.A.T – and want to continue to be GREAT!!!!

With this grant, we can focus on five main goals to meet one of our community’s greatest needs – the development of an outdoor market/green space in our downtown.

Growth: Through the construction and development of an outdoor market area, we can expand the growth of services and opportunities in our community. Food insecurity driven by rising costs of food, can be addressed through the growth and development of an outdoor market that can serve as an alternative food source or revenue stream.

Revitalization: The revitalization of the downtown core is a struggle faced by so many small towns on the Prairies. Through the provision of a welcoming, accessible and year-round green space, we can help create opportunities for community organizations, home-based businesses and youth in providing a space that can support economic and organizational project growth.

Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it be the lemonade stand for the kids down the street or sweet taste of homemade pies, there will be a space for them. Our club receives fantastic support from all types of businesses and individuals. This is one way we can give back to them in a way that benefits the whole community!

Agriculture: Our homes and communities, especially on the Prairies, are rooted in agriculture. Through the development of an outdoor market area that celebrates the fruits of our labour and provides additional green space for the community, we continue to promote responsible stewardship of our land and resources.

Teamwork: Teamwork empowers communities to thrive. Our volunteer organization is devoted to working as a team within our group and with community partners, businesses and individuals to accomplish a goal. We have a strong record of fundraising and successful projects over the last 50 years that have shown our dedication to our community. Our sole purpose is to give back to the community, not only locally but also provincially and nationally as well. We hope you can help us do that!!!

Thank you to BASF for this opportunity and we hope to have your vote!

The community of Forrest, Manitoba is located within the Rural Municipality (RM) of Elton, with the RM consisting of approximately 1300 residents. The RM is an established rural farming community.

The Forrest Special Projects Group current initiative is the development of a community park. Within this project, we envision a centrally located outdoor playground, picnic area and multisport court that promotes physical activity and community-based belonging to foster the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our community members.

Currently, the only park available for children in Forrest is located on the west side of the #10 highway that runs north-south, dividing the town. Most children in Forrest live on the east side, making the park largely inaccessible due to the legitimate safety concerns around crossing the highway.

Also, the languishing that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the need for safe outdoor community spaces for children, youth, and adults. Children need natural settings to play and interact, and adults benefit from outdoor community spaces to gather for fellowship.

Winning the Growing Home with BASF contest would be very meaningful for our small prairie community. The funds would help us reach our fundraising goal and allow us to install playground equipment this fall. Our goal to create a safe community park that appeals to all ages and strengthens community connections, aligns very well with BASF’s values, and we are very honoured to be considered.

The Municipality of Louise needs to replace the existing swimming pool. Our current pool is in excess of 50 years old and is very near the end of its lifespan. Public Health inspectors have stated they will soon no longer be able to issue a permit for the pool to be opened for use. There is no other pool in the Municipality of Louise.

Therefore, a new facility will be built with a projected cost of $3 million. The new facility will have greater accessibility with a zero-depth beach entry making it accessible to everyone. It will provide opportunities for all individuals and families to go swimming and participate in offered programs, such as swimming lessons that teach water safety and ultimately save lives. A pool provides a safe space for people to gather, learn, relax, exercise, and to socialize, which ultimately improves both mental and physical health.

This project is deserving of the $25,000 prize as a new facility will help continue to serve people of all ages for many years to come. It will allow the Municipality of Louise to continue to grow and to thrive into the future.

Should the Louise Aquatic Centre win the $25,000 prize the funds will go to the Pool Construction Fund for building this new, very much needed, facility.

A group of community members and volunteers had a dream in 1975-76 and built an amazing complex, the Notre Dame Arena. This arena has become the heart of our community. Over the years many upgrades have been completed: In 2009-2010 the artificial ice plant was installed along with new boards, glass, concrete and piping. They also extended the viewing area and updated the seats, added seamless glass, renovated the restrooms and lighting with a total cost of $800,000. In 2018 the dressing room showers and bathrooms were upgraded with a total cost of $105,000. Many other upgrades have been completed including a new sound system, kitchen upgrades, time clock and defibrillator installed. All these projects have been possible through grants, donations, and community events. We have been working hard to preserve our complex for many generations to enjoy.

The complex is used year-round for many functions: such as 10 minor hockey teams, 1 high school hockey team, 2 senior hockey teams, public skating, can skate, star skate, synchro figure skating, family curling, spring curling bonspiel, family hockey tournament, ball hockey, breakfast club, hockey school, Howdy Neighbour, Santa day, funerals and many more community events. This is a place to gather for our community, a packed parking lot if a very common thing to see. This arena is filled with laughter and joy week after week, from young to old as they gather to watch a U7 game, curl with old friends, skate with their synchro team, cheer on their local hawks or enjoy a Notre Dame famous Poutine. And now once again we find us at a time where our local arena needs more upgrades. The next project is to replace the original arena roof and insulation, change the exterior tin, install heaters for the viewing stands, repair any damage from leaks, and refresh the viewing area and bleachers. Total cost of the project is estimated at $1.2 Million.

Our arena operates with the dedication of volunteers. The arena board, kitchen committee and community members all contribute to the rink operations and financials. They all devote countless hours so our community can enjoy the arena and all the activities it provides. We have formed an 8-member sub committee “Rajeunissement Arena Rejuvenation” working to complete this project. Our goal is to raise money through local fundraisers and grants. We are lucky to live in such a supportive community where they all see the value in upgrading our facility as needed. We want to see many more generations enjoy our arena for years to come!

In St. Lazare, like many little towns, our recreational facilities play a huge roll in our community.

St. Lazare Athletics is a volunteer organization, we work relentlessly to fundraise to pay our day to day expenses at our rink and ball diamonds, as well as plan for future projects and events to provide our youth and all residence with a safe space to live an active, health lifestyle.

St. Lazare Athletics is committed to investing in the future of our town, we are a small community with a big heart and are so honored to be selected as one of the Top 5 community organizations in the Growing Home with BASF contest. Should we be successful in winning, we plan to upgrade our baseball diamonds with inground sprinklers and our Zamboni room at our rink. Both items are pivotal improvements required to maintain our facilities for the future.

We ask all to support St. Lazare Athletics please vote and share!

Woodlands Childcare Inc. (est. 2015) is the only public not for profit childcare centre in the RM of Woodlands, MB, providing care for 90 children. Families in agriculture, health, education, finance, justice, transportation and infrastructure are enrolled in our facility. Our current centre in Woodlands has a waitlist of 196 children. Just like families across Manitoba, we are experiencing a childcare crisis. To address the urgent need and keep families working, our project is to expand with the construction of a new 5,000 sq ft facility in Warren, MB that will accommodate an additional 40 children and employ 14-16 people. To access provincial grants, our fundraising goal is $600,000 and we have raised $272,000 to date through community fundraisers and local donors. The Growing home with BASF prize would contribute 7.5% to our remaining fundraising goal! Our organization and project contributes to safe, healthy and prosperous communities surrounding Woodlands, Warren, Grosse Isle, Marquette, St. Laurent and Rosser, MB by providing reliable and enriching childcare to rural families. With your support, we can reach our goal of a new childcare facility in 2024!