Rotary Club of Canmore Awards $65,500 In Community Grants

The Rotary Club of Canmore has awarded $65,500 to 24 non-profit and charitable organizations across the Bow Valley through its 2026 Community Service Grants program.

The annual funding program, led by volunteers and supported through local fundraising, is designed to support what organizers describe as practical, community-driven projects.

“In 2026, the Rotary Club of Canmore awarded $65,500 in Community Service Grants,” said Lynda Damen, chair of community service grants for the Rotary Club of Canmore. “Reflecting the Club’s ongoing commitment to community well-being and locally driven initiatives.”

Founded in 1990, the club delivers much of its impact through its Community Avenue of Service, which focuses on responding to identified community needs. Damen said the grants support grassroots initiatives that strengthen social connection and address key community priorities.

“While modest in scale, these grants are intended to support practical, high-impact initiatives at the grassroots level,” she said.

Funding for the program is generated through community donations and the club’s two primary annual fundraisers, the Festival of Trees and the Golf Charity Classic, with proceeds reinvested in the community.

The 2026 recipients span multiple sectors, including education, arts and culture, recreation, food security, mental health, and environmental sustainability. Grants can reach up to $5,000, with several organizations receiving the maximum amount this year, including Rocky Mountain Adaptive, Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley, and Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation.

Rocky Mountain Adaptive said it will use the funding to support its No Limits summer program, a multi-week, multi-sport initiative for children, youth and young adults living with disabilities in the Bow Valley.

The program offers a range of outdoor and sport activities, such as hiking, biking, climbing and swimming, and is designed to promote inclusion and social connection through sport, according to the organization.

“It is a group program that promotes inclusion in many different sports and socialization with peers at the same time,” said Jamie McCulloch, executive director and co-founder of Rocky Mountain Adaptive.

The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley will direct its grant toward expanding its Hot Meals Program, which operates out of its emergency winter shelter in Canmore that supports individuals who are unhoused or experiencing housing insecurity.

During the most recent shelter season, which ran from Nov. 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026, the organization provided more than 1,300 meals to guests.

“The Hot Meals Program is an essential resource, providing folks with the ability to access nutritious meals that may otherwise be inaccessible due to lack of cooking facilities and high costs of groceries,” said Jessica Klaric, executive director of the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley.

The society said demand for food support is increasing as housing instability deepens in the Bow Valley, with people who are precariously housed accessing meals and support services in addition to overnight shelter guests.

Funding from Rotary will allow the organization to continue and expand the program into the 2026-27 winter season. The organization said the program also connects participants to additional services, including housing support, income assistance, and health care.

At the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation, which operates artsPlace in Canmore, the grant will support both early childhood and teen programming, including the Mini Melodies music program and Youth Arts Collective classes.

“Funding supports our Mini Melodies program, a music program for adults & children ages 0-5, and our Youth Arts Collective Programs, teen classes for ages 13-17,” said Shanon Fitzgerald, director of programs, outreach, and inclusivity at artsPlace Canmore.

The organization said the funding allows it to offer programming free of charge while expanding course offerings in response to community demand.

“Thanks to the continued support of the Rotary Club, we offer these programs for free, and are afforded the opportunity to innovate in response to community feedback,” Fitzgerald said.

This year, the organization expanded its teen programming to include new offerings such as stained glass and poetry, alongside existing classes in painting, songwriting, and ceramics, and added an additional morning session of Mini Melodies to meet demand from families with young children.

Overall, the Rotary Club said each grant reflects a broader model of community reinvestment, supported by volunteers, local businesses and donors, and driven by continued community support.

“Through continued investment in people, partnerships, and community-led projects, the Rotary Club of Canmore remains committed to supporting a strong, connected, and resilient Bow Valley,” said Damen.

See a full list of grant recipients here.