Miywasin Moment: Grant boosts local Indigenous family programming

By JoLynn Parenteau on October 19, 2022.

Miywasin staff accepted a Canada Post Community Foundation grant on Friday.--PHOTO BY THERESA PRICE

A knock at Miywasin Friendship Centre’s kitchen on Friday literally opened the door to opportunity.

Canada Post team members Theresa Price, Murray Price and Melanie Beresnak surprised Miywasin staff with an oversized cheque presentation for a grant of $12,000 from the Canada Post Community Foundation, benefitting programming for Medicine Hat’s urban Indigenous families.

The Canada Post Community Foundation provides grants to charities, community organizations and schools to support programming for children and youth. Since 2012, the foundation has granted more than $12.3 million to 1,100 projects across Canada, increasing the capacity of an organization to create or expand services, such as purchasing new equipment or launching new programs.

“What an exciting day for Miywasin Friendship Centre and also our community of Medicine Hat,” declared Canada Post retail lead hand Murray Price at the cheque presentation. Award recipients are selected by a local committee of current and retired Canada Post employees.

“Miywasin is the third organization in town since 2012 to receive a grant. It’s great when donations can stay in the community. It’s a huge sense of pride.”

The grant will boost funding for family programming including Mommy and Me, which takes caregivers and young children aged 0-6 swimming. Miywasin’s youth program makes a big splash with older kids on days they meet to swim at the Big Marble Go Centre, promoting physical activity and creating opportunities for family bonding.

“Swimming together helps us meet the goals of our medicine wheel; the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual,” explains Miywasin’s Carol Syrette. “Caring for our physical self is really important. But it’s also about getting to know each other, having fun and building community.”

In an email to Miywasin executive director Jeannette Hansen, the Canada Post Community Foundation wrote, “We see such great submissions highlighting important work done across Canada. We are grateful for your commitment to children and youth in your community. Thank you for providing us the opportunity to learn more about your amazing program. We wish you all the best with your community endeavours.”

The Friendship Centre also received a framed art print of a colourful oversized stamp and matching envelope depicting a scrapbook paper-look treehouse scene.

Conceived by Chad Roberts Design and illustrated by Joanna Todd, the limited edition stamp’s colourful treehouses are meant to “inspire imagination, offer a place for make-believe play and provide a setting in which to dream.

The treehouse symbolizes our belief that creating spaces – literal, virtual and figurative – where children can play, dream and thrive is of vital importance,” reads Canada Post Community Foundation’s website of its 11th charitable stamp. One dollar from the sale of each stamp booklet supports community grants nationwide.

A dozen grants are being awarded in Alberta this year. Elsewhere in rural southern Alberta, Black Diamond’s Oil Fields Curling Club is receiving $3,900 for its Study Buddy program, which provides academic support for mentees who face barriers to accessing other one-to-one tutoring services.

New in 2022, the foundation is launching an annual Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, valued at $50,000. The Northern Nishnawbe Education Council in Ontario is the first recipient. Funding will support volunteers in cooking four or five hot meals each week for 73 families.

Funds for Community Foundation grants come from annual in-store campaigns, employee donation support and sales from the special fundraising stamps. Donations to the Canada Post Community Foundation can be made at any time.

“Miywasin Friendship Centre is a place where young kids can come to, where the Elders can come to. Where better for the kids to learn from the Elders? Everybody feels safe here,” remarked Price.

Reflecting on Saratoga Park’s MÃ©tis settlement history and pointing to the Saamis Tepee’s moniker as a nod to our city’s heritage, Price said, “The Indigenous community has been part of our history long before Medicine Hat became Medicine Hat.”