Message from our CEO
We have so much to be thankful for this year and really what we are most thankful for is people. Our donors and community members continue to give generously to make sure that our community flourishes.
Often “giving” can mean a donation, but it’s not just that. We are so lucky to be surrounded by people who kindly share their talents, treasures, and ties. National Truth and Reconciliation day is a great example of this as so many speakers shared their knowledge and experience.
On September 30th, our team participated in different activities on truth and reconciliation. We each had the opportunity to listen and learn from many different peoples’ journeys and stories. I mention this not just to reflect on that day, but to look forward to the days ahead. At the event I attended called Reconciliation Forward, the question was asked, “What are you going to do on October 1st?” It gets at the idea that we all need to make sure reconciliation is not just a one-day event. It’s one of the many things I took away from that day and as a team we’ll be meeting this month to talk about what we learned and what we can do next.
Thank you to all the organizers and speakers at the National Truth and Reconciliation events and thanks to everyone who continues to make our community a better place.
With gratitude,
- Donna Ziegler on what’s new at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation
- Brooklyn Coulson on the Charity Resource Hub
- Em Ironstar from the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance
- Karley Stangel and Luke Schenher from the Saskatchewan Community Foundation regarding the summer student program
- Mariana Hinojosa Centella and Laurie Hudyma from the Regina Floral Conservatory
- Stephanie Taylor from Regina Transition House
- Grant Karst, a retired financial advisor, a board member and fund advisor at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation
- Adriana Garcia from Access Communications on the Children’s Fund
- Jenna Murdock and Dana Haukaas from the Moose Jaw Humane Society (and Foxie the dog who is this month’s newsletter cover model)
- Shauna Forbes from the SCEP CENTRE
- Linda McKenzie who is a fund advisor the Pet Vet Support for Remote Communities Fund at SaskCF
- And Aaron McRann from the South Okanagan Community Foundation
Thanks to all our guests and views. You can watch all the episodes here on our Youtube channel.
Season 4 of Planting Seeds is out now!
Last month we held another of our Family Tree Celebrations. It’s one of our favourite events as it celebrates new funds and those celebrating a milestone year as well.
We love getting to meet and visit with the people behind the funds and hear the stories of why they joined the Saskatchewan Community Foundation. These stories are often shared during the “open mic” part of the program where people can stand up and talk about their funds, but there’s also many conversations and introductions that happen around tables over drinks and appetizers. We often hear from people that the evening “fills their cup” leaving them feeling energized and joyful.
Thanks to everyone who came out to our latest celebration. Our next Family Tree Celebration will take place in the spring. Not a fund advisor? Reach out to our Legacy Giving Advisor Jenna Peoples to find out how you can start your own fund.
Fall Family Tree Celebration
SAVE THE DATE:
Our annual Com
mUNITY for Women fundraising breakfast is coming up on the morning of February 2, 2027. Stay tuned to ours socials and website for exciting updates and to purchase tickets now.
New Fund Story
Weyburn Communithon Fund
While this fund is new at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation, the work done by the Weyburn Communithon goes back more than 40 years!
The Weyburn Communithon is an annual event that started back in 1981 and has invested over $4 million back into the community of Weyburn!
The 30-hour fundraiser airs on AccessNow TV and is hosted at the Weyburn Legion. It is truly a community-based undertaking that uses 75 volunteers and features local talent including schools, bands, choirs, and entertainers.
This year, money raised will go to:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn,
- Weyburn branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association,
- CNIB Foundation,
- Envision Counselling and Support Centre,
- Inclusion Weyburn,
- Southeast Advocates,
- Weyburn Care-a-Van Society,
- and the Weyburn Humane Society.
The live telethon will kickoff from the Weyburn Legion at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 23, running continuously until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Legacy Impact Story
Mary and Vern Fowke Fund
A Legacy that is truly living on
We’re so lucky to have many recent new funds but it’s also very important to us at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation to celebrate our funds that began years ago. We are proud to honour the people who started those funds now and after they’re gone.
This month, the Mary and Vern Fowke Fund turned 25 years old. This fund is dedicated to charitable work in Southern Saskatchewan, including the Community Foundation, and was started by Mary and Vern Fowke in 2001. This past May, Vern Fowke passed away at age 96. He was predeceased by his wife Mary Fowke who died in 2005.
Mary and Vern Fowke gave so much to Saskatchewan. They spent a lifetime making our community kinder and better through their volunteering work and their work with various organizations, including the Community Foundation which Vern was a long-time board member.
Both Mary and Vern had so many community accomplishments including Vern being honoured in 2019 by the United Way of Regina with the Red Feather Loyalty Award. It was presented to a donor who has a long history in our community through United Way Regina. The United Way said that “His generosity spans decades of commitment towards local programs that help bring forth change to help enhance the lives of those living within our city.”
Mary also had a long list of sharing her time and talents, one of our favourite stories is that in the summer of 1993, Mary flew to St. Louis, Missouri with the Canadian Red Cross to volunteer for three weeks to help those afflicted by spring floods, after seeing reports of the devastation. She said simply at the time “I did it because I saw a need and I had the ability to meet that need.” Working for 12- and 14-hour days, she was in the front line of service, interviewing flood victims regarding their needs and assisting them in getting the help they needed. Seeing what people dealt with, and their courage, strength and optimism, reinforced her belief in service and helping others, as she said, “It makes you realize that (material) things aren’t that important”.
