Rural Communities Foundation

Gord Tolton and Colleen Casey-Cyr stand on the cement pad that will soon become the Colpman's Drug Store and Soda Fountain and the Pincher Creek and District Historical Society's 36th building. With the help of $20,500 from an RCF grant, another piece of Pincher Creek's history will come alive. We are proud to support these projects and help keep communities and their history vibrant.

Ken and Darcy Davies look forward to replacing the old wooden corral system at the 20 Mile Irvine Rodeo grounds. The rodeo committee received $37,250 to rebuild and redesign the facility. Built in 1986, the wooden boards were beginning to rot. The wooden boards, posts and gates will be replaced with metal to keep the rodeo grounds active for many more years. Throughout the summer, the grounds are used by members of 4-H, gymkhana and mounted shooter clubs. The highlight of the summer is the annual Irvine rodeo.

It takes time, money and volunteers to keep a 110 year-old wooden grain elevator standing upright. The Rural Communities Foundation is pleased to give the Castor and District Museum Society $27,250 to help maintain the elevator. The group plans to use the money to replace the sliding driveway doors, boards and casing on the elevator's exterior and prime and repaint the agent's office.

It's Co-op Week and RCF chair and farmer Harvey Hagman takes time to announce the winners of the foundation's $100,000 grant. Four Alberta communities will share the money designed to keep rural communities sustainable. It is just one more way UFA gives back to its members.

We will be announcing the winners of the RCF's $100,000 grant tomorrow, Oct. 14, at 10 am. Stay tuned to Facebook to hear which Alberta communities will share in the $100,000.