The Foundation held their annual granting evening on November 14, 2024 at the Boissevain Curling Club. From funds raised in the 2023 year and granted in 2024 the Foundation board chose 18 organizations in Boissevain-Morton to receive $94,188.71 in undesignated grants.

Of the undesignated grants, the largest went to the Turtle Mountain School Division – Parent Advisory Council. They received $25,000.00 for new playground equipment for the Boissevain School. This new equipment will replace the aging equipment and allow all students equal opportunity to access regardless of their abilities.

Other grants show the board’s desire to spread the money around the community. There was $5,022.01 for a new ice machine for the Boissevain Curling Club, $4100.00 for ice commander suits for the Boissevain Fire Department, $1911.24 for new laptop and bookkeeping software for Boissevain Morton Donor’s Choice. There was $19,072.00 for Boissevain Golf Club for new commercial zero turn mower.  Several went to youth organizations; some went to seniors’ groups. There were sports, music, outdoors, the food pantry. The grants covered most of the town.

The Boissevain Bowling Alley have a self-designated fund which they prefer to a grant to young citizens. In 2024, they contributed $3,711.00 to the Turtle Mountain School Division – Parent Advisory Council for their project of replacing playground equipment at the Boissevain School.  

The Boissevain School – Youth in Philanthropy also granted $2000.00. They researched charities in the fall and decided as a group where their money would be most beneficial.  This year they chose:

Boissevain Soccer Association – soccer nets $500
Boissevain Skating Club – CanSkate signage – $250
Boissevain Curling Club – refrigeration plant – $500
Municipality of Boissevain-Morton Parks and Recreation – light for outdoor rink – $250
Boissevain & Area Bowling Association – bowling shoes – $500

When the undesignated grants are combined with the designated and scholarships, Boissevain & Morton Foundation gave back $230,388.45 to the community in 2024.

Boissevain & Morton Foundation was also very fortunate to receive several donations in 2023. From January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 they received a total of $248,736.58 in donations. This certainly helps their ability to build assets and give into the future.

Boissevain School’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program was established in 2006 by then Vice Principal, Colleen Sambrook-Adams. The group was started with the support of the Thomas Sill grant. The group consists of grade 10 to 12 students, who first agree on a list of values that are important to them, then choose and interview groups meeting their criteria and finally come to a consensus on where the money should go. YIP has remained strong throughout the pandemic and looks forward to making more personal connections with community groups.

Eric & Barb Ekin were long time residents of Boissevain. They married in 1968 and were cattle and grain farmers northwest of town before retiring. Barb passed in 2021 and Eric in 2023. Eric remained active with the farm until his health deteriorated in 2022.

In June 2024, the Foundation received notice that Eric & Barb had bequested $100,000 to set up the Eric & Barb Ekin Legacy Fund. This fund, along with many others are invested through the Foundation. In turn, monies made each year are given back to Boissevain and area for community projects.

Boissevain Morton Foundation Executive and Board are excited to announce Carol Light has been hired as our New Executive Director.  Carol will be in the position starting October 10, 2024.

With the assistance of our Assistant Executive Director Maxine Graham, she is looking forward to the Foundation’s future.

Updated office hours and contact information will be updated in due course.

The Foundation held their annual granting evening on November 16, 2023 at the Boissevain Curling Club. For the 2023-2024 year the Foundation board chose 20 organizations in Boissevain-Morton to receive $81,000 in undesignated grants.

Of the undesignated grants, the largest went to the Boissevain School. They received $11,116 for 30 Chromebooks and 10 Ipads. The new technology will come in very handy for students.

Other grants show the board’s desire to spread the money around the community. There was $8,000 for an ice machine for Evergreen PCH, $8,000 for new evestroughing and cornice repair at the Arts Hall, $5,000 for the fire department for new breathing apparatus. Several went to youth organizations; some went to seniors’ groups. There were sports, music, outdoors, the food pantry. The grants covered most of the town.

The Boissevain Bowling Alley have a self-designated fund and try to do something that will benefit young people. In 2023, they contributed $3,330 to the school Chromebook and Ipad fund.

When the undesignated grants are combined with the designated and scholarships, the Boissevain & Morton Foundation gave back $190,462 to the community this year.

They were also the target of a lot of giving over 12 months. From October 1, 2022 to October 1, 2023, they received a total of $127,288.77 in donations. This certainly helps their ability to build assets and give into the future.

Doug and Phyllis Empey operated a grain and beef operation in the Wapaha district. Phyllis was a great farm partner, delivering many meals to the field, as well as working as a school teacher at Wapaha.

They had three children; their eldest son, Blair continues to farm at the home farm northwest of Boissevain. Their daughter, Heather, farms with her husband at Sanford. Their youngest, Mervin, works for Alberta Agriculture at Stony Plain. In 1987 Doug and Phyllis retired to Boissevain, although were still active at the farm when needed.

They started their fund with the Boissevain & Morton Foundation in 1999. Each year they selected an organization that would benefit from their self-designated fund. The bequest is now given to St. Paul’s United Church annually. Phyllis passed away in July of 2014. Doug now resides at Westview Lodge.

In early 2023, it was announced that the Provincial government was granting the North American Wildlife Enforcement Memorial Museum and Educational Centre (Canada) Inc under the Manitoba Heritage Trust Program (administered through the Winnipeg Foundation), situated at the International Peace Gardens, $125,000.  These funds were then sub funded into the Boissevain & Morton Foundation creating the North American Game Warden Museum Fund.  Each year the museum will receive designated monies from this fund from the Boissevain & Morton Foundation.  Donations for this fund can be made online through the Winnipeg Foundation website.

The Ed and Muriel Clark family were long standing citizens of Boissevain who helped fabricate the community. Eddie Clark was an instigator in the creation of the Boissevain and Morton Foundation in 1975.

Muriel (Tuffy) Clark decided in 2020 to start a new Family Field of Interest Fund for town beautifcation. Disbursements from this fund is decided by the Board of Directors and is given out annually.
He was on the Boissevain-Morton Arts Council in 1989 and brought in funds to start the murals. The family have been an integral part of how our community has prospered, involved with many committees and boards over the years.

Photo: Ed & Muriel Clark with children, Bill, Brian and Janice

The Margaret Cemetery is a small rural resting place with a rich history dating back to the early settlers of the Margaret region with the first burial in 1888.

The Margaret Cemetery Perpetual Fund has been established for those who are interested in making a donation to assist in the upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery, whether it’s in memory of a loved one or on behalf of an organization or service group. The fund is managed through the Boissevain & Morton Foundation Inc.

Bernard (Ben) Fast was born on April 6, 1924 in Tiegerweide, Russia to Katarina and Gerhard Fast. He immigrated with his family to Canada later that year. While attending  Boissevain High School he lived with family near Whitewater Lake and commuted to Boissevain by train which, in those days, stopped at the Cadzow station. After completing high school, he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942-1945. Following graduation from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Engineering in 1950, he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway as Deputy Regional Engineer Prairie Region. He met his future wife, Mary Patricia McGinnis at the CPR and they were married in 1970. He died in 2011.

 “My siblings and I remember Uncle Ben as the “cool” uncle who traveled to what seemed to us to be exotic places and brought us amazing presents. He was reserved, he loved to play golf, he was kind and thoughtful. He lived lightly on the earth,” recalls Margaret Fast.