Prescott Learning Centre Playground grand opening in Spruce Grove. Photo submitted.
Alberta Blue Cross is bringing their ‘Built Together’ grant back for a 10th straight year to help fund healthy living infrastructure projects around the province.
The program opened on May 15 and will stay open until September 18 for communities to submit their projects to. Five projects across the province will receive $50,000 from Alberta Blue Cross in each of the following areas: Calgary, Edmonton, a secondary city, a rural community, and an Indigenous community.
Brian Geislinger, Vice-President of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement at Alberta Blue Cross, oversees the selection process of the grant winners. He spoke in an interview about the grant and some of the things it has funded.
“Over 10 years, we’ve provided $2 million to 43 projects across the province. Previously funded projects included cycling paths, playgrounds, outdoor rinks, sports courts, skate parks and outdoor gyms. We’re happy to be continuing the program this year,” he said.
When asked about what kind of support went out to Indigenous communities since the program first started in 2013, Geislinger discussed projects they have funded in the past.
“In 2022, our grant recipient was the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement for their new walking track. Other recipients included a skate park for Elizabeth Métis Settlement, a community playground for Enoch Cree Nation, and an outdoor fitness challenge park for Maskwacis. We’ve been happy to provide a wide variety of support for really diverse projects across the province, and we’re certainly looking to continue that,” he said.
“We had about 100 applications for the program last year, and a record 9 applications came from Indigenous communities. We’re hoping to get even more applications from Indigenous communities this year,” he added.
For more, Geislinger says that “all of the information and application details are all available on the Alberta Blue Cross website,” which can be found here.
Listen to the full interview with Brian Geislinger below:
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