INVESTING IN NORTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN: PRAIRIE NORTH CO-OP ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS TO THIRD ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FUND DURING CO-OP WEEK

Melfort, SK (October 16, 2023) — In August, Prairie North Co-op announced that the Sustainable Communities Fund created in 2021, would take applications in 2023, for the third year. An allocation of $25,000 was made available to non-profit organizations to support community development. “The purpose of the Sustainable Communities Fund is to provide support to capital projects and new programs that will enhance the quality of life for the people in the communities and surrounding region that make up the Prairie North Co-op trading area – Archerwill, Brooksby, Kelvington, Melfort, Naicam, Spalding, St. Brieux, and the hamlets in between,” explains Terry Tremblay, General Manager of Prairie North Co-op.

“Between September 1st, when applications opened, and September 30th, when they closed, we received some very strong proposals,” says Tremblay, “the selection looked at the submissions this year, and took into consideration which communities had received funding in the last two years under the program. Today, I am proud to announce that we have approved the following projects:

Archerwill Minor Ball, funds for bathroom build
Echo Lake Archers, funds for expansion/addition to archery course
Melfort & District Curling Club, funds for accessibility project
Melfort Cross Country Ski Club, funds for Fort a la Corne trail signage renewal project

We are in the process of reaching out to the other applicants to see if there is anything that we can do to support their fundraising goals.”

The allocation for the Sustainable Communities Fund is established each year based on gross sales. In 2023, the allocation was $25,000 to support the development of the communities listed above, through either:
1. Capital projects - build, expand, and/or improve facilities; or
2. New programs - develop and implement new programs that support the people in our communities

“I am grateful to our Board for supporting the fund, and of course our members and customers.” Tremblay adds, “without their support we wouldn’t have the impact that we do throughout our trading area. When our members and customers shop at their local Co-op, that money stays in the community. It employs local people and allows us to work with the charitable groups and non-profit organizations that make our communities such great places live, work and play,” adds Tremblay.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Terri Larsen
Marketing and Communications Manager
Prairie North Co-op
P: 306.527.4792
Terri.larsen@prairienorth.crs | www.prairienorthco-op.crs

*pictured above is the cheque presentation for the Kelvington Walking Trails project funded under the 2022 Sustainable Communities Fund allocation

ABOUT PRAIRIE NORTH CO-OP

Prairie North Co-op operates out of 21 locations – from St. Brieux, Spalding and Naicam in the west; to Melfort and Brooksby in the north; and Archerwill and Kelvington in the east. We serve our members with products and services that help build, feed, fuel and grow the communities in which we live and do business.

We take pride in our community involvement and our commitment to providing quality products and services. Prairie North Co-op employs 296 and serves 12,795 members. We continue the tradition of giving back, not only in patronage refunds to our members, but also through financial support to several local organizations. In 2022, sponsorship and donations totaled almost $154,463 to 223 different organizations in our trading area. Locally invested. Community-minded. Lifetime membership benefits. We are Co-op.