Altona town council members have been making the rounds recently presenting funds from their 2025 Community Grants.
The Town of Altona handed out a total of $156,100 in grants this year, which includes a $100,000 installment of their 10-year, $1 million funding pledge to the Kiddie Sunshine Centre’s expansion which opened in 2024.
Other major donation amounts include $10,000 each to Altona Youth for Christ, The Community Exchange, and the Altona Community Action Network.
“When you look at the programs these places run, they affect many people in the community,” said Mayor Harv Schroeder.
“Youth for Christ definitely looks after so many of the youth programming for the community, alongside all of the other youth groups that happen in town. They run a fairly large program and we know firsthand that they look after a lot of the youth.
“The Community Exchange is a hub in town,” Schroeder continued. “They run so many programs during the week helping people with transportation, food … many people are using that building for so many supports in the community, and just to get information and help direct people to where they can best be helped.”
ACAN’s funds were earmarked specifically for its Community Orchard and Edible Garden Project.
“The garden has exploded over the last four years or so,” Schroeder noted. “It’s another place where people can help support those who may need it.”
Also receiving funding was the Altona and Area Family Resource Centre ($3,000), Altona and District Heritage Research Initiative ($1,000), Altona Elks ($1,100), Altona Minor Baseball ($500), Altona Youth Soccer ($1,500), Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley ($3,000), Gretna Stars Rec. Hockey ($200), Katie Cares ($650), Oakview Golf and Country Club ($2,500), Pembina Valley Humane Society ($1,500), Rhineland Food Bank ($3,000), South Central Cancer Resource ($1,500), Southern Manitoba Concerts ($250), Steps Towards Reconciliation ($2,500), and the STARS Foundation for the air ambulance service ($6,000).
The mayor shared that the granting committee weighs each application carefully, looking at what groups and projects are having the greatest impact in the area.
“We definitely want to support community and those who give back to community,” he said. “We know there’s so many volunteers, and we want to thank everybody who gives, because that’s what makes a community work and that’s why people want to move to communities.”
Applications for the 2026 grants are available now at the municipal office or online at altona.ca/p/community-grants.
The deadline for application is mid-November.
