The Cochrane Foundation hosted its 2025 Granting Ceremony last night (Mar. 25), celebrating the impact of local philanthropy and recognizing this year’s grant recipients.
The event honoured local non-profits and recipients of the Dr. George McQuitty Memorial Scholarship, highlighting the role of community generosity in shaping Cochrane’s future.
Foundation president and encee Tim Harvie presented an incredible $89,412 in capital grants to 19 organizations, plus six $1,000 McQuitty Scholarships to support future medical professionals, for a total of $95,412.
Attendees had the opportunity to connect and witness firsthand how charitable giving continues to make a lasting impact in the region.
Since 1993, the Cochrane Foundation has supported over 105 local organizations, enhancing the community through grants and scholarships. By funding essential services and grassroots initiatives, the foundation ensures charitable contributions make a lasting impact. To date, the endowment fund has reinvested approximately $1.3 million into Cochrane and the surrounding area.
Harvie says contributing to the endowment fund is an ideal way to help support a broad range of Cochrane causes.
"It's something that people should consider, especially in their annual giving or even in their estate giving," he says. "There are so many charities and people doing good work, so how do you pick one or the other? By contributing donations to the Cochrane Foundation and letting us pick, you spread it throughout the town, covering a wide range of groups every year, forever. It's a pretty effective way of of giving you doing your philanthropy."
Whether it's a one-time donation, monthly contributions, or something larger, donations can be arranged through their website, here,
Flowers were presented to philanthropist Alice Payne to thank her for her generous support of the foundation in recent years.
Jeromy Farkas, outgoing CEO of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation who's running for mayor in Calgary, spoke highly of the generosity and ingenuity of Cochranites he's come to know over the last couple of years, saying Cochrane hits well above its weight class.
Grant recipients were Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), Beaupre Community Association, Bethany Care Foundation, BGC Cochrane and Area, Bike Cochrane, Cochrane Art Club, Cochrane and District Agricultural Society, Cochrane & Area Humane Society, Cochrane Lions Club, Cochrane Piranhas Summer Swim Club, Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society, Friends of Glenbow, Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, Jensen Ranch Rescue Society, Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation, Route 22 Artist Collective, Seniors for Kids Society, Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society, and STARS.
Dr. George McQuitty Medical Scholarships were awarded to Brandon Pentz, Ryley Juneau, Jordyn Dvorak, Nicole Gross, Erin Casper, and Alexandra Neill.
The event was sponsored by the Canalta Cochrane Hotel.
How the Cochrane Foundation makes a difference
- Helping address needs in arts, environment, health, education, athletics, animals, and more.
- Community Grants: Supporting essential capital projects for the betterment and longevity of the community.
- Scholarship Programs: Dr. George McQuitty Memorial Scholarship for Cochrane graduates enrolled in a graduate-level studies program at a post-secondary university in medical or veterinary sciences. (CF began managing in 2005)
- Endowments: Ensuring donor contributions make a lasting impact for generations.