The Pinawa Foundation hosted their 2026 Annual Public Meeting and Granting Ceremony on June 8th. Board Chair Chris Saunders gave a brief presentation on the Foundation’s recent activities and announced that the Foundation would be awarding over $156,000 at the Granting Ceremony. He announced the creation of two new endowment funds, the Bruna Palleva Fund, established by a local business owner to support youth programs in Pinawa, and the Pinawa Health Auxiliary Memorial Fund, established in partnership with the Pinawa Health Auxiliary to remember community volunteers and Health Auxiliary members that are no longer with us. Chris’ presentation also included a thank-you to Carol Findlay, a long-term board member and treasurer who retired from the Foundation in December after 16 years.
The Foundation reached a major milestone this year; granting over $1.6 Million over the past ten years to groups in Pinawa.
Cindy Litke, Chair of the Granting Committee, then led the Granting Ceremony.
The first grants were from our directed endowment funds. A total of over $7,000 was awarded to seven groups from these endowments; Pinawa Public Library ($809), Art 211 ($1,050, including a grant from the Ron Drabyk Memorial Fund)), Whiteshell Cross Country Ski Club ($577), Pinawa Health Auxiliary ($1,448 from the Fay and Ray Sochaski Family Fund), Whiteshell School Division ($378 from the Ron Drabyk Memorial Fund). Friends of the Ironwood Trail ($2,297) and the Trans Canada Trail ($466). The Foundation and a local resident also awarded the Pinawa Sailing Club a $2,000 grant to support their upcoming Youth Learn to Sail program.
Grants from the Foundation’s Community Projects Month (CPM) Campaign were next to be awarded. Every year the Foundation partners with local groups to raise funds for their projects in May. The foundation tops up these donations by 50% (up to $3,000 per project). This year, the Foundation awarded over $122,700 for 16 projects, including:
Children’s Place Day-Care – New dishwasher/Flooring ($9,950)
Survivor’s Hope – Reaching Out Project ($14,358)
Pinawa Cancer Care – New Stretcher ($13,025)
F. W. Gilbert Parent Advisory Council – Gymnastic Mats ($4,338)
Pinawa Lions Club – Pinawa Birthday Weekend Expenses ($8,277)
Pinawa Public Library – Office Upgrades ($3,375)
Whiteshell Cross Country Ski Club – New All-Terrain Vehicle for Trail Grooming ($7,125)
Courts of Pinawa Club – Automated External Defibrillator ($1,995)
Pinawa Minor Baseball – New Equipment ($1,612)
Two Rivers Seniors –Services for Seniors programs ($11,233)
Pinawa Minor Hockey – Portable Boards ($6,379)
Pinawa Health Auxiliary – Replacement Bed/Mattress Project Year #3 ($19,334)
Pinawa Holiday Cheer Committee – Holiday Decorations ($1,335)
Orville Acres Arena – Brine Line Straightening Project ($12,622)
Pinawa Swimming Pool – Free Swim Program for Pinawa Residents ($4,013)
Pinawa Art 211 – Wellness Workshops ($3,713)
The Foundation also announce their 2026 Thomas Sill Grants. The Arena Board has been given $15,000 for some very needed arena repairs. The Eastern Manitoba Concert Association received $10,000 to improve the lighting system at the community centre. Congratulations!\
The evening ended with the Foundation announcing their 2026 board of directors: Chris Saunders (Chair), Kate Kaminski (Treasurer), Connie Hamon (Secretary), Cindy Litke (Grants Committee Chair/Social Media), Lisa Krupka (Youth in Philanthropy), Kristen Ticknor (Communications), John Tait (Member at Large), Rob Murray (Member at Large), and Liane Weigelt-Tirschman (Member at Large).
If you would like to learn more about the recent activities at the Pinawa Foundation, please see the attached presentation and our annual report.