Alberta Blue Cross soon to open CCRP applications

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

Alberta Blue Cross has brought back its COVID Community Roots Program (CCRP) for 2022, with applications soon to open. 

Since 2020 when the program was initiated, Alberta Blue Cross has awarded over $260,000 in grants to 59 projects across rural Alberta. 

“The CCRP started in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to do as much as we can to help support communities in Alberta,” explained Sheena Moore, communications officer with Alberta Blue Cross.

“We have had some communities that have been awarded grants multiple times, but it does shift. We have communities from all over Alberta that have received grants through the CCRP.”

Strathmore was awarded a $5,000 grant through the CCRP in 2021 to establish the Station Community Garden behind the municipal library.

The Town of Strathmore partnered with Communities in Bloom, Strathmore FCSS, Strathmore Municipal Library, Indigenous Liaison and the Happy Gang Society in their application for the grant, which assisted in funding the garden’s construction.

“It’s, from what I understand, to help community groups and organizations promote physical and mental wellness, socialization, cultural knowledge, natural spaces and intergenerational learning,” said Moore.

Brian Geislinger, vice president corporate relations for Alberta Blue Cross, emphasized the intent to support community organizations at a grassroots level.

“We’ve all been hard hit by COVID-19 and the pandemic over the last two years, so we saw really high interest in this program,” said Geislinger. “We got questions from organizations that were eager to see us continue the program and even though the pandemic has eased off, a lot of communities are still dealing with the lingering effects.”

Geislinger added that following the wave of grants in 2021, the Alberta Blue Cross received very positive feedback from the Strathmore community and organizations which contributed to establishing the garden. 

He said it was unclear whether an organization local to Strathmore would apply again for a CCRP grant but hopes to simply continue supporting grassroots organizations and projects.

“We’ve had a number of inquiries from across the province already,” he said. “So, we’re seeing some early interest in the program, which is really gratifying and hopefully as we’re continuing to spread over the program over the next couple of months, we expect to see a lot of interest in it again.”

Information about the program, as well as the application process are on the Alberta Blue Cross Website. Applications for 2022 grants will begin to be accepted on April 4.