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Aviva Canada announces grand prize winners of Aviva Community Fund competition


December 2, 2015   by Canadian Underwriter


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Aviva Canada has announced the 15 grand prize winners of the $1 million Aviva Community Fund (ACF).

More than 548,000 votes were casts by Canadians during the 18-day voting period

Aviva Canada, a provider of home, auto, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance, announced the winners of Wednesday, one month after naming the 30 finalists. More than 548,000 votes were cast by Canadians during the 18-day voting period.

The winners have been selected by a panel of independent judges, Aviva Canada said in a press release. Each of the finalists will receive at least $5,000 toward their cause or a registered charity of their choosing that is engaged in similar work.

“We continue to be impressed with all of the great ideas submitted to the Aviva Community Fund, and it’s clear that investing in our communities is near and dear to the hearts of Canadians,” said Debora Hendrickson, senior vice president, customer and marketing at Aviva Canada. “Congratulations to this year’s ACF winners, bringing our donation total over the past seven years to over $6.5 million shared by 222 great projects across the country.”

The winners are as follows:

Category: Community Resilience (environment, climate, disaster relief and prevention)

• Asphalt to Oasis – the Greening of the St. Anthony yard (Ottawa, ON) – $100,000

Old asphalt will be replaced with a water permeable, child-friendly surface that allows rainwater to drain into the soil rather than pollute the rivers through the sewer system.

• Emma’s Acres: Reintegration, Restoration and Food Security (Mission, BC) – $45,000

Together victims/survivors of crime, offenders and ex-offenders grow organic vegetables, herbs and fruits for sale at local markets and for donation to food banks and community kitchens.

• Grand nettoyage de la rivière Mascouche (Mascouche, QC) – $48,000

Debris in the community’s main waterway will be removed and turned into a work of art, raising awareness for recycling and the impact of pollution.

Category: Community Health (health, sport, active living and play)

• Bloc sanitaire pour la FCP / Sanitary block for the FCP (Lévis, QC) – $50,000

Updating the facilities in this therapeutic riding centre for disabled individuals to comfortably serve visitors’ basic needs.

• Friends of the Arena (FOTA) Westport ON Community Centre (Westport, ON) – $50,000

Upgrading the arena’s aging infrastructure.

• Hagersville Park Splash Pad Project (Hagersville, ON) – $50,000 *Broker Supported Grand Prize *

Construction of a new accessible splash pad to be enjoyed by the children of Hagersville and five surrounding communities.

• Hard-up in the Hazeltons (Hazelton, BC) – $100,000

A new outdoor arena will offer hockey, figure skating, school and public programming to an economically-challenged community.

• Help the St. John’s Farmers’ Market move to its new home! (St. John’s, NL) – $50,000

The new site featuring more space for vendors to sell healthy produce locally, a community kitchen, a public square, a playground and more.

• Sacha’s Park – where EVERYONE can play! (L’Orignal, ON) – $100,000

A new fully-accessible playground so no child will be left out because of a disability.

• Wayne John Searle Memorial Rec Complex Needs a Makeover!! (Placentia, NL) – $50,000

A safe and accessible playground to bring life, laughter and play back into an important community hub.

Category: Community Development (education, skills training, culture, research and basic needs)

• Hope Begins With A Meal #SoulsHarbour (Halifax, NS) – $100,000

An ACF winner two years in a row. Phase two funding will enable expanded hours of operation, fully accessible washrooms and more.

• River Mill Park Bandshell (Huntsville, ON) – $30,000

Completion of a permanent bandshell in downtown Huntsville, where residents and tourists enjoy local community concerts and celebrations.

• SideDoor Youth Centre Facility Project (Edmonton, AB) – $50,000

Increasing the current two days per week after school drop-in program for grade 6-12 students to expand their services to five days a week.

• Support children affected by parental incarceration (Toronto, ON) -$50,000

An after-school peer mentorship program for vulnerable children and youth affected by parental criminality and imprisonment.

• Taking The Mount Community Centre to new levels (Peterborough, ON) – $100,000

Installing a new elevator so residents can move freely throughout a complex that offers affordable housing and a harvest centre for low-income families.

Funding awarded to grand prize winners was based on the amount requested in their idea submission, Aviva Canada said.

Related: Aviva Community Fund returns for the seventh year

The following finalists received $5,000:

• Advancing Research-Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Fibromyalgia (Toronto, ON)

• Agriculture urbaine sur le toit d’un CPE (Garderie) (Montréal, QC)

• Cultiver la solidarité; le Potager de l’école d’Oka (Oka, QC)

• Foreshore to Forest: Restoring Shawnigan Lake’s Watershed (Shawnigan Lake, BC)

• From the Road to Recovery – Healthy Turtles, Healthy Wetlands (Selwyn, ON)

• Habitat Restoration for Atlantic salmon and native species (Sherbrooke, NS)

• Help LAWS’ Community Programs (Smiths Falls, ON)

• Help Us Help Our Schoolyard (Whitby, ON)

• Let kids be kids with a natural playground for Blake! (Toronto, ON)

• Manitoba Stampede Grandstand Restoration (Morris, MB)

• Mettez du vent dans les voiles des jeunes / Get Kids Sailing (Montréal, QC)

• Numérisation du Fonds Rosaire Vigneault & climatisation (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC)

• Pathway to Progress (Tecumseh, ON)

• The Temple of Light Goes Green! (Kootenay Bay, BC)

• Turning the Tide for Turtles (Toronto, ON)


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