BARRHEAD - The St. Aidan's Community Church of Glenreagh and Bloomsbury Society received a much-needed financial boost in their efforts to help repair the damage caused to the historic church by an arson-caused fire in early December 2023.
On Nov. 19, councillors unanimously approved the society's application for $2,500 under the municipality's Community Grant Policy program.
"We never imagined that St. Aidans would be a victim of crime and that our small group would be faced with a project of this magnitude," stated Brenda Baron in the society's application.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun stated that the society estimates the costs of the repairs to be roughly $20,000.
The policy, which has been in place since February 2021, allows eligible community organizations meeting specific criteria to receive up to $2,500 in funding for a project or event that benefits county residents.
To be eligible for a community grant, groups or organizations must be registered non-profit societies, charitable organizations, volunteer groups, or service clubs that provide services within or that are readily accessible to county residents. Groups must also be in good standing with the municipality and can demonstrate that the grant will be used for a project, service, structure, or event.
Ineligible groups include political parties or other politically affiliated organizations, government agencies or initiatives funded by different levels of government, for-profits, organizations with a closed membership and organized sports teams.
Applicants have up to one year to spend the funds, and once their project is completed, they must submit a final report to the council.
Oyarzun also noted that organizations must contribute at least 50 per cent of the project's or event's budget.
She said that the St. Aidan's Community Church of Glenreagh and Bloomsbury Society is shouldering close to 90 per cent of the cost of the repairs.
Due to the program's popularity, the $15,000 annual fund was exhausted in May 2024, but in August, council removed 2024 recurring grant recipients from the policy, redirecting $9,750 from the grant pool and funding it from the upcoming year-end surplus.
With the society's approval, $4,750 remains in the 2024 Community Grant Policy fund.
Oyarzun said this is the municipality's second contribution to society. At their Jan.16, 2024, meeting, councillors granted the society's request to waive the $1,350 firefighting fee for the fire.
St. Aidan's Community Church was first constructed in 1913 and commissioned two years later. The fire at the church was the second historic church to be torched by arson on Dec. 7; the second happened roughly an hour later in Thunder Lake when St. Mary Abbots Anglican, better known as the Pioneer Memorial Church, was destroyed.
For more information about the project or to ask for additional ways to help, contact Glen and Brenda Baron at 780-699-5788.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com