Funds help Westman historic building and more

The windows and doors of a historic building in Boissevain are set to be replaced following an addition of grant funding this month.

Sunrise Credit Union announced it will donate $6,000 to the Boissevain-Morton Arts Council project as part of five grant announcements in December. The funding brought the project almost to the total of its costs, so work will begin this winter to source windows and doors, and fundraise a little more, president Lisa Heide told the Sun.

The new features are bound to be an improvement for the building that houses art classes, classes for piano and violin, and a gymnastics club, she said. The century-old building is drafty.

“If the wind is coming from the west, you can practically feel the wind in our main classroom area,” she said. “All the windows up top in the building are, I think, still original” and many are cracked, she said.

The building is about 100 to 115 years old, so many windows are in bad shape.

Besides the arts council, four other organizations received funding from Sunrise’s grant announcement in December: the Grandview Fire Department, the Shilo Military Family Resource Centre, the Waskada and Area Recreation Centre, and the Elgin Community Rink.

Work to replace the historic building’s windows and doors in Boissevain is expected to begin in the spring. This winter may be the last the community will need to put plastic up on the windows to keep the cold out.

“We’re hoping that replacing the windows will help with energy costs,” she said. “I mean, the energy cost alone, the savings, I think, will be huge.”

The arts council is now “very close” to its goal of $130,000 for the project. It received funding also from the Province of Manitoba, the Boissevain-Morton Foundation Inc. and fundraised some in the community.

The $6,000 this year came from Sunrise Credit Union building community grants program fall edition. Combined with other donations in Westman, the credit union issued a total of $29,550 to projects in Westman.

Five projects were selected to disperse the money to this fall, out of a total of 70 applications.

Tim Klassen, president and CEO of Sunrise Credit Union, said he is impressed with the engagement on the grant program since it started in 2023.

“It has been truly remarkable to see so many organizations working to strengthen their communities,” he said in a statement to the public on Dec. 2. Klassen said the credit union issues grants to foster growth in local communities.

The Shilo Military Family Resource Centre, located at CFB Shilo, received $2,100 towards its project this fall.

Youth programs supervisor Shannon Chapman said the money will be used to develop and launch “Rise Up Kids,” a play-based program for youth and older adults that will foster connection.

The program will include workshops, creative arts, and wellness group activities, she said in an emailed statement to the Sun.

“A key feature of this component is the Intergenerational Connection Series, which will pair youth participants with older adults and veterans in the community. Together, they will share stories, collaborate on creative projects, and participate in joint events,” she said.

The program will also look to expand “military kids classroom kits,” which are provided to schools in the area during April. The kits promote themes of resilience during Month of the Military Child. They include activities meant to promote resilience, she said.

The Grandview Fire Department will receive $15,000 from the Sunrise grant announcement this month. The department will use the money to help replace their aging Quick Response Unit, which is dispatched first with a water tank, foam, and a portable tank when a call comes in.

The current unit can no longer meet the community’s needs due to its age and mechanical issues.

The Waskada and Area Recreation Centre will receive $1,450 to purchase and install a second gas deep fryer. The equipment is meant to speed up food service when the venue hosts busy events such as Hockey Manitoba events. The facility is currently the only food establishment in town, Sunrise Credit Union noted in its announcement.

The Elgin Community Rink was granted $5,000 to purchase new rubber flooring that is skate safe. The rink lobby and dressing rooms will see this upgrade, as the previous flooring was removed due to age and disrepair. The rink supports surrounding communities with a venue for skating, hockey and curling.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com