Upcoming Events

Family & Friends Community Foundation AGM

Date: May 1, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Churchbridge Community Hall

Ryan Stanko, Four Town Journal Reporter

Guest Speakers:
Justice Donald Layh
Colleen Larocque

Justice Layh spoke about the origins of Family & Friends Community Foundation Inc. He mentioned, “We wouldn’t be here today if it weren't for two lovely ladies; Mary and Jean Welke”. After their husbands’ passing, they approached the lawyer, Don Layh, regarding their estate. The topic of how to keep the money in the community was discussed, and a cheque would eventually be written to establish the funding that helped the foundation’s origin.

“At that time, in Saskatchewan, there was a community foundation in Saskatchewan South, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert; we were the fourth to have a community foundation in Saskatchewan.” They created a steering group which decided on the preliminary board of directors, and included the three communities of Spy Hill, Churchbridge, and Langenburg. A founders group was established, and many people and organizations donated to start this founding fund.

Dr. Wyand worked with the health region regarding fundraising dollars for a hospital project that never came to fruition. These dollars were transferred from the health region to the community foundation to grow the founding fund further. Other community-minded donors were looking to give back to their towns. They entrusted the foundation with their estate to continue helping in areas that they feel are important. Layh said, “We have the vehicle to do things that are important, we give an opportunity to people to do something that is larger than themselves.”

Other community-minded donors were looking to give back to their towns. They entrusted the foundation with their estate to continue helping in areas that they feel are important.

Layh said, “We have the vehicle to do things that are important, we give an opportunity to people to do something that is larger than themselves.”

Cemetery funds were established by many residents who felt strongly about the future maintenance of these areas.

Mervin Ness is credited with having the first idea of donating to a cemetery with his estate.

A story about George Layh was shared and how he chose to create a fund for improvements at the theatre. George was very fond of helping children. The idea of the dancers having to get prepared in the firehall across the street, then run across the road to perform at the theatre spurred him to start the fund for theatre improvements. George also started the Little Red Car fund as well which helps children’s projects in the community.

Lynda Haverstock, appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan in 2000, attended the Family and Friends Foundation inaugural gala on February 28 , 2004 to celebrate the support received from the community.

Patti Zerr and Cherryl Kotzer were mentioned as having an important role to play for organizing the opening gala.

Colleen Larocque spoke next about the importance of Family & Friends Community Foundation Inc. to the local healthcare system.

Larocque has been the manager at the Langenburg Health Centre for over 11 years. “The amount of equipment that has been brought into our building to help our residents, families and staff, I don’t know where we would be without it. I have been on a few provincial health committees…there are some places in trouble. We don’t have that problem in Langenburg and that is truly because of Family and Friends.”

Colleen spoke about the realities of working in her position and how the foundation helps this local area, and is known around the province in the healthcare system.

She mentioned the large list of equipment and renovations that the foundation has helped them with. She added, “We can never thank Family and Friends enough. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all to everyone who does the work and everyone who contributes to the foundation”.

Ryan Stanko, B. Ed., M. Ed.
Editor/Publisher
Four-Town+ Journal
(306) 399-7762
www.fourtownjournal.com