Mountain View County council has been given an update on some of the activities and plans of the Sundre-based Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society (GNP). The review came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Marita Stermann, executive director with GNP; Dolores Dercah, chairperson; and senior advisor Lorey Marsden appeared as a delegation before council.
GNP creates, plans and delivers preventive programming under the Facility Community Support Services mandate. It offers employment support, healthy family programming, continuing learning opportunities for adult learners, and other services.
On average more than 100 people contact GNP every week, with 55-60 per cent of inquiries coming from county residents, said Stermann.
“We have created a community facility where people learn about volunteer opportunities, conduct meetings, access computers, search job boards, participate in learning opportunities, register for events, newcomers to the community get connected, and you can talk to someone who really cares,” said Stermann.
Current GNP community initiatives include a community garden project, addictions coalition, Call to Action Suicide Awareness campaign, Sundre Seniors Connections, Cook up Connections Project, and Coordinated Community Response to Address Elder Abuse.
The Sundre Santas hamper program is administered under the GNP umbrella.
Stermann said provincial funding through Children’s Services is set to expire in April 2019.
“With the anticipated loss of nearly $43,000, the budget for 2019 looks very bleak,” she said. “We are obligated to create a balanced budget and with the anticipated loss are forced to drastically cut the level and access to community social services.
“Our facility provides a tremendous amount of public services, benefiting residents of all ages and creating a connected, thriving, engaged and inclusive community.”
GNP is asking the county to provide $30,000 in 2019.
