Description

Address: 103, 579 3 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0H2

Date: August 20, 2026 | Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Contact: Niki Gray, Executive Director  niki@cfsea.ca  403.527.9038

Program:

3:10 PM – Speeches and Ribbon Cutting (Chamber, CFSEA, Dignitaries)

3:30 PM – Cake Cutting

3:45 PM – Networking

Mission: We foster meaningful connections between philanthropy and the community for the perpetual benefit of Southeastern Alberta.

About: The Community Foundation is a public Foundation governed by a Board of Directors and registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. Donations made to the Community Foundation are never spent, they are invested. The investment revenue is then distributed back to charitable organizations across Southeast Alberta through grants, in perpetuity.

The original idea for the Community Foundation came from a local area rancher, Mr. John P. Ignatius, who had supported other Community Foundations and sought to have a local organization provide similar community benefits. John made the first endowed donation of $25,000 and encouraged his many family, friends, and colleagues to follow his example.

The Medicine Hat Community Foundation was then founded in 1992 through an act of Legislature of the Province of Alberta. John passed away in January 2000 and, true to his word, left the vast majority of his estate to the Foundation.

John’s financial contribution was in excess of $2.4 million, but his biggest legacy was the original creation of the Foundation, which continues to support vibrant, healthy, caring communities across Southeastern Alberta—today, tomorrow, forever!