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Four local organizations receive funding from Building Trades of Alberta

Last Updated Sep 5, 2019 at 12:22 pm MDT

PHOTO. Supplied. Building Trades of Alberta Facebook.

EDIT: A previous version of this article stated that the BTA represents 40,000 members, the correct number is 60,000. 

Four local organizations received a boost in funding from Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) on Aug. 30.

The Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Centre of Hope, Salvation Army and Local HERO Foundation each received a portion of the $750,000, which comes from the group’s “Rebuild McMurray” Hope Fund.

Executive Director of BTA, Terry Parker said that they assessed the organizations based on their needs and how they helped give back to the community.

He explained that the funds were donated over three years post-wildfire.

“We felt there would be enough assistance coming in at the time of the fires and we were looking more at the people who would be needing extra assistance afterwards.”

The Centre of Hope and Salvation Army each received $300,000, the Wood Buffalo Food Bank received $100,000 and the Local H.E.R.O Foundation received $50,000.

Dan Edwards, executive director of the Wood Buffalo Food Bank said the donation will go towards operating costs.

He noted that the food bank’s fiscal year ended in July, so the donation marks a strong start for what it consider a new year.

Meanwhile, Board Chair of the Local H.E.R.O Foundation, Paul Spring noted that they recently lost a portion of their fixed funding, taking $300,000 out of their annual budget.

“The $50,000 is extremely important. It helps keep the service alive and well and funded and makes sure that we can still deliver high-quality medical transport and response and not bill the patient for it.”

Spring added that the foundation is grateful that BTA members came together to make the donation.

The funding was possible through BTA’s 14 provincial trade unions and 60,000 members, along with unions and trade councils from across the country.