CFLSA celebrates 60th anniversary with grants program

By Lethbridge Herald on February 10, 2026.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The founding members of what would become the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta at their inaugural meeting in August, 1964. Back row, left to right: Lethbridge Mayor Frank Sherring; Ralph C. Tennant; Charles J.F. Beny; William Fairbairn; Sven Ericksen; Reed Ellison. Seated, front, left to right: James K. Ringland; Violet Broder; Ralph A. Thrall, Sr.; Louis Sherman Turcotte.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta (CFLSA) announced Monday they will be celebrating their 60th anniversary with a special one-time grants program. 

Executive Director Charleen Davidson said they want the community to celebrate with them and came up with the idea of providing a one-time fund for celebrations. 

“We invite the communities that make up Southwestern Alberta to join in the festivities by hosting an event of their own so that everyone can be part of the fun,” said Davidson. “We want this year to be filled with celebrations of our work, our community, and the next sixty years.”

The Diamond Anniversary Grants program aims to build and strengthen communities by supporting free and inclusive events that bring community members together to celebrate.

“We don’t normally fund events, so that makes it a little more special. Groups can basically have celebrations across the region throughout the bulk of the year and invite the entire community to participate,” said Davidson. 

Examples of eligible events include, but are not limited to, expanding the scope of an existing annual community event, parade, or festival. One-time community events, such as a community anniversary or heritage event, are also eligible.

“We’re hoping to receive applications from across our region, so that we are able to have a celebration everywhere in the community,” said Davidson. 

This program will award ten Diamond Anniversary Grants of $6,000 each to support community celebrations across the region.

Established by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1966, the Community Foundation is marking 60 years of building community.

“We are very excited to reach this milestone, and to think back on all of the many, many initiatives we’ve supported over the past sixty years,” said Davidson.

She said the foundation has experienced significant growth since its inception, especially in the last 10 that she has been part of it. 

“We’ve had tremendous growth and part of that growth and we’re looking forward to the next 60 years, on how much more growth we’re going to have and how much more we’ll be able to do for our community,” said Davidson. 

More information on eligibility, funding criteria, and access to the application form for the Diamond Anniversary Grants program can be found on the Community Foundation website www.cflsa.ca/grants. 

Applicants must be a Canada Revenue Agency qualified donee or apply in partnership with one. All applications must be submitted online by 4 p.m. on March 31, 2026. 

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact our Grants Coordinator, Caitlin Gajdostik, with any questions they may have atgrants@cflsa.ca or 403 – 328 – 5297.