2015 Aviva Community Fund finalists announced

Aviva Canada announced on Tuesday the finalists of the 2015 Aviva Community Fund competition.

In its seventh year, the Aviva Community Fund had over 380 submissions in at least one of the three categories: Community Resilience, Community Health and Community Development, and two funding levels: up to $50,000 and between $50,000 and $100,000.

After 18 days, more than 548,000 votes were vast by Canadians from coast-to-coast, Aviva Canada noted in a press release. Winners will be announced on Dec. 2 and posted on the website.

All finalists are guaranteed at least $5,000 in funding. This prize will be allocated to a Canadian Revenue Agency-registered charity, sports not-for-profit organization, fully publically funded elementary (primary) or secondary school, university or college, municipality or government entity of the idea creator’s choice, said Aviva Canada, a provider of home, auto, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance.

With over 7,000 ideas submitted to the Community Fund since 2009, Aviva Canada has provided $5.5 million to 192 winning projects in 73 communities across the country.

“We are proud of the Aviva Community Fund and how it inspires and creates positive change in local communities across Canada,” said Debora Hendrickson, senior vice president, customer and marketing at Aviva Canada. “We congratulate the 30 finalists who will now be evaluated by a panel of judges, using key criteria including impact on the community, sustainability, submission quality and creativity.”

The judges for this year’s finalists include Mélanie Beaumont (Aviva Canada), Stephen Bryant (Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited), Tim Hoswitschka (Canadian Red Cross), Dr. Gordon McBean (Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction), Kelly D. Murumets (Tennis Canada), Paula Speevak (Volunteer Canada) and Bruce Sellery (personal finance expert, best-selling author, and TV host). The judges will review the ideas to decide which projects will receive funding.

The finalists include:

Category: Community Resilience (For all the “green” ideas that could help create a more sustainable future for generations to come)

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

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

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

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

• Turning the Tide for Turtles (Toronto, ON)

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

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

• Grand nettoyage de la rivière Mascouche (Mascouche, QC)

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

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

Category: Community Health (For ideas that support health and well-being in the community, such as parks, sports fields and playgrounds that make it easier for adults and children alike to lead healthy, active lifestyles)

• Hard-up in the Hazeltons (Hazelton, BC)

• Friends of the Arena (FOTA) Westport ON Community Centre (Westport, ON)

• Hagersville Park Splash Pad Project (Hagersville, ON)

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

• Help Us Help Our Schoolyard (Whitby, ON)

• Pathway to Progress (Tecumseh, ON)

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

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

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

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

Category: Community Development (For ideas that educate, reduce poverty, infuse culture and support important research for the betterment of individuals and the community)

• SideDoor Youth Centre Facility Project (Edmonton, AB)

• Manitoba Stampede Grandstand Restoration (Morris, MB)

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

• Support children affected by parental incarceration (Toronto, ON)

• River Mill Park Bandshell (Huntsville, ON)

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

• Taking The Mount Community Centre to new levels (Peterborough, ON)

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

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

• Hope Begins With A Meal #SoulsHarbour (Halifax, NS)