Masinasin Community Square Society in County of Warner receives grant

Posted on June 12, 2025 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In May 2025, the Masinasin Community Square Society in Warner County received a grant of $14,000 from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta’s Community Priorities Fund to renovate the old Masinasin School building for community activities.

Nikki Stevens, a municipal clerk with the County of Warner, says that the Masinasin Community Square Society owns and maintains the old Masinasin School, and for almost 30 years, the building has served as the ‘focal point’ of the community for recreation and fitness. 

“The Society applied for this grant in the hopes to receive funding to assist in upgrading parts of the building, which was originally built in 1952,” said Stevens. “While members participate in cleaning and maintaining the building, it currently requires a large-scale revitalization and refurbishing to continue to serve the community. The grant will allow the bathrooms in the building to be redone, including creating a more accessible space. This means the building can continue to offer local residents a safe and comfortable space to recreate and to spend time with friends and family. We were grateful and happy that our grant application was successful, and that the revitalization can move forward right away.”

Stevens emphasizes that Community Foundation grants very much benefit the Masinasin Community Square Society and other very rural southern Alberta organizations. 

“While those people do not have access to more urban resources, these grants allow them to meet the many social, leisure, recreational and fitness needs of rural residents,” said Stevens. 

“These grants provide additional funding to maintain and repair existing structures. We are very grateful to be able to continue to promote community and healthy living thanks to the assistance of the Community Foundation, our members, and many other organizations.”