Crossroads Credit Union announced the recipients of more than $34,000 in funding from the Crossroads Community Investment Fund in Canora on October 18, Credit Union Day, said Leanne Woloshyn, Crossroads corporate services officer.
“Over a year ago, we identified that we have an opportunity to strengthen the impact we have on the communities we serve and also engage our members in the process,” said Woloshyn. “We decided that through the Community Investment Fund (CIF), we would support one major project or program as well as having funds to support projects/programs that apply for CIF and request funding on a smaller scale. The member owners of Crossroads would then vote on their favorite project to receive the major funding.”
The CIF committee selected three projects from the pool of applicants to receive funding for the cost of their project up to $15,000.
The Preeceville School Library received the major funding of $15,000 for its Library Makeover Project after attracting the most votes in voting open to Crossroads Credit Union members from September 24 to October 8.
“The entire community of Preeceville was completely engaged in the voting process and the level of excitement this generated is exactly the outcome we were hoping for,” said Woloshyn.
The Canora Civic Centre Revitalization Project received $5,000 in funding to install new lighting at the civic centre. Aaron Herriges of the Canora Leisure Services Board said once installed, the new lighting will “dramatically cut down our utility usage and provide better vision on the ice for the players and spectators.”
The Wadena School of Dance also received $5,000 for new stage lighting at Wadena Composite School.
The CIF was established in 2009.
“We allocate funds each year to non-profit organizations that support community development,” said Woloshyn. “In 10 years we have donated over $345,000 to more than 110 community projects. We are proud of our co-operative roots and helping our communities will always be a priority. It’s about grassroots, home towns, and cooperation.”
In addition to the Preeceville, Canora, and Wadena projects, numerous other non-profit organizations that support community development and health initiatives received funding from the 2018 Crossroads CIF.
