Community Futures Wild Rose has unveiled the Heart of Our Community campaign.
Starting on Sunday (Dec. 1) local businesses, residents, and organizations from Strathmore, Wheatland County, Rockyford, Standard, Hussar, Gleichen, and Bassano can be nominated for the work they do in the community.
According to Amber Link, board chair of Community Futures, after going on walks to several businesses, many organizations say they are facing hardships as people continue to buy online instead of shopping locally.
"We wanted to find a way to celebrate our small and medium-sized local businesses that play such critical roles in our community."
The organization makes up 15 regions and the group has broken them down into four quadrants.
"Each quarter over 2025 we will be doing that same process for other communities in that Wild Rose region," says Link.
Link mentioned that the upcoming holiday season is critical for businesses as a shop-local mindset has been front and centre.
"We know that they step up continually. Whether it's putting jerseys on the back of young athletes for sports teams or to sponsor community events, or any of the other countless ways that they support our communities."
Residents can visit here to submit nominations from December 1 until February 28.