For six years, Co-op has been helping to build places for everyone – including new funding for a new Community Picnic Area in Brandon, Man.

This year, Co-op is providing $30,000 to bring basketball courts, benches and landscaping to a previously unused area. Students can also use this space as an outdoor classroom and a garden area will be available for community members.
“New Era Parent Council and School are thrilled to receive this generous contribution from the Co-op Community Spaces program. This funding gets us much closer to building a functional greenspace and recreation area for our students, and residents of the neighbourhood, to enjoy for years to come. We are so grateful to have Co-op’s support in building an outdoor space that will significantly enhance our Middle Years students’ recess and lunch hours throughout the school year and we know that the area will be very well used!” said Phil Vickers, Principal of New Era School.
Co-op Community Spaces has been developed to help protect, beautify and improve spaces across Western Canada. In 2020, the program is providing $1 million to 17 community projects from Vancouver Island to Manitoba. Since 2015, Co-op has donated $9.5 million to 132 projects.

“We’re excited to help fund the Community Picnic Area through Co-op Community Spaces. Investing in our community is a value of our co-op, and we’re proud to be part of this program that’s investing in projects to improve communities across Western Canada,” said Lorne Zacharias, General Manager of Heritage Co-op.

“We’re happy to partner with community groups on projects like this. Together, we’re helping to build into and improve our communities for today and into the future.”

The giving program is administered by Federated Co-operatives Limited on behalf of more than 160 independent retail co-operatives across Western Canada that form the Co-operative Retailing System.

For more information about Co-op Community Spaces or to view the complete list of 2020 funding recipients, visit www.communityspaces.ca.