Vital Signs: Taking the Pulse of Southwestern Alberta (Part 1)

Have you ever wondered what some of the big issues in southwestern Alberta are? With its annual Vital Signs report, the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta presents important issues, topics, and themes in six key impact areas. The Community Foundation uses Vital Signs to build local knowledge, set strategic priorities, inform granting, and connect donors with causes close to their hearts. One of the issues identified in this year’s report is the high rate of interpersonal violence in Alberta, the highest in the country, and the resulting demand on local women’s emergency shelters, which are increasingly forced to turn away women and children in distress due to a lack of space. Other issues include the impact of Alberta’s economic downturn on local food banks across our region, the cost of sport in Alberta, and the low percentage of high school completion rates. The speaker will address these and other issues identified in the 2016 Vital Signs report. Vital Signs is an initiative of the Community Foundations of Canada, and is published annually by community foundations across Canada. Founded in 1966, the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta currently has just under $25 million in assets. Thanks to the financial support of generous donors, the Community Foundation awards over $700,000 in grants annually to registered charities across the region. Speaker: Charleen Davidson Charleen Davidson joined the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta as Executive Director in April 2016 after working for the Alberta Museums Association, where she was the Director of Operations and the Project Manager for the Museum Flood Funding Program. A 14-year resident of Lethbridge, Davidson has also worked extensively in the not-for profit sector in the community. She was earlier the Executive Director at the Lethbridge HIV Connection Society and volunteered as a city-appointed member of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives Board of Directors, among other community service interests. Davidson has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Lethbridge and a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto. Her passion for history and archaeology has taken her world-wide, from nearby Taber, AB, to Israel and across Canada. Her passion for community led her to the Community Foundation, and she is very proud to be its Executive Director. Moderator:   Dianne King Date: Thursday, January 12, 2017 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)