The Community Playground Project in Kenton, MB, is one of 14 projects selected to receive a portion of the $1 million Co-op Community Spaces funding in 2025.
This week the Kenton Community Enterprise (KCE) is receiving $39,000 in support of this project.
“Our support for the Kenton playground project is about more than equipment—it’s about creating lasting spaces where families can connect and kids can thrive,” said David Wowk, General Manager of Valleyview Co-op.
"We were lucky enough to have one of our local projects get chosen for this and it's quite a feather in the cap to be chosen and to receive this money on these projects," he adds.
This is the second Community Spaces grant Valleyview Co-op has helped bring to the region in two years, following last year’s $100,000 contribution to the Virden Ag Society for a new barn. "These investments reflect our long-term commitment to building strong, sustainable communities,” adds Wowk.
The Valleyview Co-op team got a chance to tour the site of Kenton's greenspace, the home for the new playground. "It's pretty exciting. You like to see that development in those communities because again, they want to keep them as vibrant as you can and we're very proud to be a part of that," he says.
"We have a store in that community, and we appreciate all the patronage that we get from our customers in that trading area. And you know we see that as a vital part of our business, right. But at the same time, it's also about trying to build the community and Co-op plays a vital part in that and giving back. And we're just very, very pleased to be a part of it and to get this money for the Kenton Community Enterprise," adds Wowk.
Co-op Community Spaces is designed to help protect, beautify and improve spaces across Western Canada.
Since 2015, Community Spaces has invested $14.5 million in 203 projects in three categories: recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture.
FCL administers Community Spaces for more than 150 local Co-ops operating in 650 communities.
“Hearing the news that we received the Co-op Community Spaces grant was so exciting! Living in a small town, sometimes getting projects moving can be challenging. It is the people of our community who always step up and donate time or money to projects. When we receive a large amount like this from organizations like Co-op, the excitement is felt by everyone,” shared the members of the Kenton Community Enterprise.
With the United Nations declaring 2025 the International Year of the Co-operative, this year’s program carries greater purpose and significance than ever before. Through initiatives like Community Spaces, Co-op is proud to celebrate the meaningful contributions co-operatives – such as our Co-op – make to communities at home and around the world. Learn more about the program and its recipients at communityspaces.ca.
Photo Credit: Amber Vandale Torrance
(Left to right) Nicole Wilson is a committee member of the Kenton Playground Project, James Wilson (Nicole’s son), and David Wowk is the general manager of Valleyview Co-op. Pictured on the site of the future Kenton Playground.