Aviva announces Community Fund winners

You are here:
Home
News

Aviva announces Community Fund winners

$1 million will be awarded to help local causes.

January 25, 2012

Aviva Canada Inc. has announced the recipients of the third Aviva Community Fund competition, and this year Canadians helped select 12 worthy ideas representing communities nationwide. A total $1 million will be awarded to diverse local projects, including schoolyards in Ontario and Alberta, an animal rescue facility in British Columbia and a youth camp in Quebec, among others.

“We;d like to thank our broker partners who stepped up and got involved in the competition this year, along with our vendors and all Canadians that supported the Aviva Community Fund,” said Maurice Tulloch, president and CEO of Aviva Canada.

Launched in September 2009, the Aviva Community Fund encourages Canadians to share ideas and vote for causes that are meaningful to their communities. After several rounds of voting, a panel of independent judges is tasked with reviewing the causes and selecting the winners.

Aviva Community Fund will support the following recipients this year:

Kitchen Equipment to Help Feed Bodies and Soul: Kamloops, BC – The PIT (People In Transition) Stop team serves meals to over 150 less fortunate members of the community every week at the Kamloops United Church. Support from the Aviva Community Fund will enable the PIT Stop team to add much needed equipment to their kitchen, which is also used by community organizations and after school programs.

Northern Lights Wildlife Society, Bear Rescue Facility: Smithers, BC – NLWS is a volunteer based charity dedicated to rehabilitating injured and/or orphaned juvenile wildlife back into the wild. To aid in the growing demand on the bear rescue facility, the Aviva Community Fund will provide the resources to add fencing for a 10,000 square foot area, a shelter space and activity opportunities for the bears.

Holyrood School Courtyard Classroom: Edmonton, AB – Holyrood Elementary School will create a vibrant outdoor courtyard classroom. The classroom will be used by the students, a local senior’s centre, an extended care facility and group home. The classroom will include vegetable gardens, native shrubs, small trees, log seating and pathways.

G.S. Lakie Convertible Theatre/Summer Arts Institute: Lethbridge, AB – G.S. Lakie Middle School will add lighting and other technical requirements to transform their multi-use foyer into a theatre to house summer arts programs, workshops and festivals for youth across Western Canada. The space can accommodate up to 700 spectators and is used by the school, various arts groups and the community at large.

Yorkton Skateboard, Bike and Walking Park: Yorkton, SK – Yorkton was hit hard by flood waters in 2010, causing severe damage to many homes and businesses. As part of the Brodie Avenue Redevelopment Project, funding from the Aviva Community Fund will be matched by the City of Yorkton for the construction of a skateboard, bike and walking park.

Kate’s Kause Accessible and Inclusive Playground: Elmira, ON – Elmira does not currently have a playground that is accessible for those with disabilities. Through funding from Aviva Canada, Kate’s Kause will build a playground structure with access for those with physical limitations, while addressing the needs of children with cognitive, visual, sensory and auditory disabilities.

St. John School’s Field of Dreams: Guelph, ON – St. John School has a vision to see their entire playground and surrounding green space transformed into a shady, more naturalized and stimulating outdoor environment for students and the community. The school will add a junior kindergarten enclosure, outdoor classroom, outdoor reading room and a volleyball court.

St. Joseph’s Villa/S.I.M Gym (Seniors in Motion): Dundas, ON – The SIM Gym at St. Joseph’s Villa is a fitness program that supports active aging and reduces the impact of age-related injuries and health problems. Funding from Aviva Canada will allow St. Joseph’s to increase their space and SIM program by 75%, accommodate a growing wait list, add new programs, expand hours of operation and increase membership.

Cameron Street Public School’s Yard Revitalization: Collingwood, ON – Cameron Street Public School will create natural play spaces where children can play and learn throughout their property. Improvements include an outdoor classroom with a sensory and vegetable garden, landscaping, resurfaced baseball diamonds, tarmac areas and a natural playground.

Give our Lions a Place to Roar (Lincoln Centennial Public School): St. Catharines, ON – After over five years with no outdoor play structure, Lincoln Centennial Public School will create an outdoor playground for their community and students, including a special-needs class.

The Cascades Club: Chelsea, QC – The Cascades Club is an active waterfront community organization that has been operating summer camps, as well as swimming and various boating programs, since 1920. Support from Aviva Canada will assist in securing a 1/3-acre waterfront property so the 800 members and hundreds touched through outreach programs may enjoy and benefit from waterfront activities on the Gatineau River.

All Natural Play Area – Centre de plein air Domaine-Notre-Dame: Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques- Cartier, QC – The Centre de plein air Domaine-Notre-Dame is a camp facility that encourages education, respect and accountability. The camp uses science workshops, cooking creation and expression, physical games, horseback riding and general camping to help youth aged 2 to 14 to develop. Funding will help create a cooking laboratory, recycling amenities, resurfacing of sport areas as well as the addition of picnic tables and change room facilities.