Money to buy Christmas lights for the annual decorating and “lighting up” of downtown High Prairie until 2033 is no longer an issue, thanks to the Buchanan Family Foundation.
On behalf of the Foundation, Donna Buchanan presented High Prairie Community Beautification Association chair Chris Clegg with a ceremonial cheque for $50,000 on Oct. 3.
“What this means is that money will be budgeted to purchase Christmas lights for the next 10 years,” says Clegg.
“This ensures the future of decorating the Civic Square downtown for High Prairie Light-Up, traditionally held the last Friday in November.”
Beautification budgets $3,000 each year for new lights. Clegg says $30,000 will be set aside ($3,000 a year for 10 years) which will still allow Beautification another $20,000 for other projects. As time goes on, the annual $3,000 may have to be increased.
“We have a few things in mind and will announce them when appropriate,” says Clegg.
Buchanan says the foundation was more than pleased to support Beautification.
“Everyone loves the Christmas lights in winter and Light-Up,” Donna Buchanan says.
“We are more than happy to help out.
“Beautification does such a good job in organizing Light-Up. We were made aware of their financial plight and wanted to see Light-Up continue,” she adds.
“We are all about helping the community for the betterment of the community,” she concludes.
Buchanan also thanked Beautification members for their service to the community.
Beautification held casinos for many years and used the money to buy lights. However, on July 25, 2014 the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) ruled Beautification was not eligible to hold casinos and removed them from the list. It was Beautification’s major source of income.
AGLC also ordered Beautification to disperse $36,754.41 to three community organizations of its choice: At its March 23, 2015 meeting, Beautification chose the High Prairie Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 37, the High Prairie Royal Purple Lodge, and the High Prairie Fire and Rescue Society. Each received $12,251.47.
AGLC did allow Beautification to keep the rest of the money leaving them with $50,394.7 in the account.
Beautification did appeal AGLC’s decision but lost.
“The last nine years, Beautification carefully looked after this money knowing the day would come that we would have to go to the community for money,” says Clegg.
“We took this responsibility very seriously and were very careful not to waste any money.”
The day came a few months ago when Beautification’s dwindling bank account had money left for only one more year of Light-Up.
“I called Donna and the rest is history. She and the foundation were more than happy to help. I can’t stress enough to the community what this means. Besides assuring future lights for the Civic Square, it means we do not have to go to the business community or hold raffles to raise money,” says Clegg.
Efforts to raise money will not stop, however.
“We will still be asking the community support us in funding the operations of events like Light-Up,” says Clegg.
“But we will not have to ask for large amounts of money, thanks to the Buchanan Family Foundation.”
As a small token of appreciation, the Buchanan Family Foundation will choose a member to “flip the switch” during High Prairie Light-Up ceremonies Nov. 29 to turn on the lights just after the Santa Claus Parade.