WESTLOCK — About six months after setting up in their new space, the Westlock Community Foundation (WCF) hosted a ribbon-cutting and free barbecue to celebrate their grand opening on May 1.
The three-hour event took place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the new foundation office, located downtown at 102-10011 106 Street just a couple doors down from the Town of Westlock office.
“The grand opening (was held) to celebrate the opening of the community foundation. We’ve been in our new space since November,” said executive director Katie Robertson.
May 1, incidentally, has been proclaimed as Albert and Florence Miller Day in recognition of a local couple with a lifelong commitment to community service. Upon Florence's passing in 2019 and Albert's in 2020, the Miller estate (which was valued at roughly $8 million) was gifted to the Town of Westlock and served as the basis of the Westlock Community Foundation.
As stated on the foundation's website, the purpose of the WCF is to manage charitable gifts from donors in permanent, income-earning endowment funds and to distribute the investment income to other registered charities.
While the town has proclaimed May 1 as Albert and Florence Miller Day, Robertson noted the date is also being honoured this year by the foundation itself.
"The Westlock Community Foundation is launching an annual celebration day called Miller Giving Day and this year the theme is our grand opening,” she said. “This was the first Miller Giving Day and we hope to do this on an annual basis.”
In addition to the ribbon-cutting and barbecue, several WCF board members were also on hand to answer questions about the foundation and how it came to be.
“Anybody that wants to participate (was) welcome to come,” said Robertson, noting that the event was also a chance for residents to connect with friends, family and the Westlock community.
“It’s for all ages, it’s a celebration. We just want people to be having fun and engaging with each other,” said Robertson.
